Vintage Plumb vs Council Hudson Bay Velvicut

Double Ott

Double Ott

Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
1,479
Awhile ago (8/21) I posted some pictures of a sweet Plumb single bit with a 22 haft on her. My intentions were to take her up to camp and use her on a windfall popple tree we have there. I ended up with a short trial of her and she did a nice job limbing the tree. I also used a CT Velvicut Hudson Bay for a comparison of the two.

Both have approximately 22" handles and both had their edges profiled before we got to camp.



While they both did a good job of it, I have to give the CT HB the nod here on performance between the two. I would have preferred a 28" boy's axe size haft vs the 22" these had for this job, but they did work out.

KellyPerfectvsCouncilVelicut010-1.jpg


This may have been a rather poor test for these two, as I had split some firewood prior to using these to limb the tree and I really did a job on my back doing the splitting the firewood. I have some messed up discs in my lower back and didn't accomplish what I had set out to do with the Plumb or the CT. But, M3mphis asked me to post some pics of the Plumb, so here they are.

Thanks for looking, Tom [URL=http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz21/doubleott/?action=view&current=axe_to_grind.gif][/URL]
 
Tom, more nice pics, Sir! That Plumb is sure handsome! What qualities do you think made the CT outperform the Plumb?????

Take care,

Matt
 
Thanks for the review and pics. It's good to know that there are still axes being made that can compete with and even outperform a quality vintage axe.

I'm curious though, if you look at the underside of the HB head is there any sign on the haft that the head has shifted at all? Is it still rock solid tight?
 
Square_peg said:
Thanks for the review and pics. It's good to know that there are still axes being made that can compete with and even outperform a quality vintage axe.

I'm curious though, if you look at the underside of the HB head is there any sign on the haft that the head has shifted at all? Is it still rock solid tight?
Click to expand...

Pegs....always doubting the HB's....:p
 
i have several of these nice Plumb axes:D, one in particular is a real favorite. it cuts good into green wood and is easy to handle, swing. the cheeks and the edge profile makes it a real cutter
i have a few Hudson Bay choppers also, with different length handles, i just havn't had time to swing them much for comparison, i've had L4 and L5 fused so i don't do much heavy chopping these days
 
Thanks guys for the nice comments. M3mphs, all I can say is that the HB Velvicut simply out cut the Plumb. While both bits were sharp, the HB seemed to cut faster than the Plumb. If was as if the HB was sharper than the Plumb. Maybe the curved edge profile on the Plumb vs a rather straight edge on the HB bit.

Peg, I let my 12 year old nephew, after some instruction, use the CT HB last week to cut down two small popple trees at camp. I'm not quite sure how he managed to do it, but he sure scuffed up the head and the upper part of the haft on the HB. Note how the poll is rather bright and the rest of the bit is darker = scuff marks. Since it didn't affect the performance of the axe, I left it the way it was. That maybe why you asked the "Q: about the head on the HB. It is tight & snug as can be.

Thanks again guys, Tom [URL=http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz21/doubleott/?action=view&current=axe_to_grind.gif][/URL]
 
Nice comparison. You don't see many tests between two USA made axes anymore. Even if it is old vs. new.

nice pics. That Plumb sure is a nice one.
 
Nice post, good lookin axes. I just came into a velvicut, and have yet to put it through the paces. I am hoping this weekend. Can you tell, is the poll on that plumb hardened? It looks like it has a rafting design to it, just wondering if you think or can tell if it is hardened or not. Excellent read, thanks for putting it together.
 
If you watch the vidoe on the making of the CT HB Velvicut, I'm pretty sure that the edge is hardened while the rest of the head/poll is left as it comes from the forge.
Because of this review, and that video, I've been forced to order one of these for my own. I've been collecting hawks over the last few years, and only have one axe.
I'll have to decide if I think it's weight to power ratio is worth taking on backpacking trips. I've been trying to go lighter and lighter, got a Silky folding saw and a Mora Ultralight machete to try to lighten the load. Maybe a 2# axe is too much? I've carried heavy loads in the past, but my aging knees don't like it so much.

Either way, I will enjoy owning an axe like this on trail or anywhere.
 
foxx said:
.....try to lighten the load. Maybe a 2# axe is too much? I've carried heavy loads in the past, but my aging knees don't like it so much.
Click to expand...

I'm with ya. A 55lb. pack feels heavier now than it did 10 years ago. On my last hike a couple weeks ago I brought my Tommy Axe. With the sheath that's 2-1/2 lbs. It was nice to have along but I'd sure like to get my pack down to ~45 lbs.
 
By the way, what would you guys classify the the head pattern on this Plumb? Kinda of a Cedar pattern with a Rafting poll. But it's not a true Cedar or Rafting pattern.







Thanks, Tom
 
I have 3 or 4 of those, from hatchet size to full size single bits. I always called it a Cedar, but you are correct, according to the agreement in the early 1900s, it doesnt match the photo descriptions. Also, I believe only Plumb made that pattern, and it was used for Boy Scouts, Plumb Victory, Plumb Guranteed, and Plumb DefenseAx to name a few. The DefensAx I have still has the paper label on head and handle, dont think I have ever shared it. Those are quite the workers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top