Got a Hudson bay axe from S&N about 15 years ago, it had a china made head, which was warped. S&N went under, came back to life and now has USA made heads. Have a 3.5 lb axe and It is of excellent quality and feel. One thing in my experience that S&N doesn't do is sharpen their axes to a fine edge. Must be a policy that says you should sharpen it to your own like. I have no problem with that as I can and should know how to sharpen it myself. Still about $100 cheaper than a Granfors, and just as good overall, better in some areas.
Absolutely my experience as well. When they came back to producing them in the states it took a while for them to build their rep back up of quality, might still be working on it. Like you, I've never had one sharpened when it arrived which is fine. Once their axes have an edge on them they are phenomenal. I truly think that Snow and Nealley has the best steel out there. Not sure what it is but I rave about it in any video I do using their axes.
Good vid....all I use is Snow and Nealley...my 3.5lb is my go to...absolute quality...splits and chops. I use a file to keep it sharp...not a problem at all. Keep up the vids. ..cheers from Amish country Ohio
A 2.5 lb boys axe is IMO the best all around axe. Small and light enough to easily carry and large enough to tackle all but the biggest trees in the Appalachians.
@@bladesandbows1521 I just subscribed 😀. I am buying just one at 24"... Deciding between the CT Velvicut and Woodcraft pack axe, Akka, or maybe even the Snow and Neally (I love Amish workmanship)... What do you like the most for mainly splitting (a saw will do the felling)... What's the difference between the two Council Tool products?
Did you thin that handle at all? if not, it looks like they must have thinned it since my review. Mine was one of the worst examples of over-thickening in handles that I've seen and that's saying a lot. I've been wondering if they fixed that. Unfortunately, like most axe companies, they are no longer sticking with traditions and they don't have any competent choppers informing design modifications.
I thinned out my 3.5# S&N our Best axe. It swings so much nicer and the fawns foot was way too big. Also took about 1.5 hrs with file and puck on the edge. But at $65 it now works way above its "budget" price.
Ben I’m having a hell of a time getting mine sharp. It’s weird, but I can’t get a good edge on it. It’s supposed to be 1080 steel, so that’s good high carbon steel. I’m wondering if my stones just aren’t good enough quality to bite into this steel. I have lots of old true tempers, Collins, plumb, council etc, and I’ve never had this issue. My stones are all cheap ones, but they’ve always worked in the past. Idk whats going on, but I can barely get it cutting paper. You didn’t have any issues like this?
Ben that 3v is supposed to be tough stuff. I just bought a new knife and I was considering something made with 3v. Price is pretty high though. So I went with the mora bush craft black in 1095. But I’ve gone at this thing using my lansky puck, then 400/1000 water stone and strop, then I tried my belt sander and some water Stones. Then I tried sand paper and a mouse pad going up to 3000 grit. That came out with a damn nice polish, but it was as dull as a butter knife. Then I just Tried last weekend with my knock off edge pro stones,220 up to 2000. Then yesterday I tried some various oil stones. So idk. It’s weird. I can usually put a pretty decent edge, atleast one that will cut paper. I’ve tried it all. So know I just ordered some Norton India oil stones. Gonna try these now. I really love the look of the axe, and they’re reasonably priced. 1080 steel is phenomenal too. And they’re half thd price of GFB or HB or council velvicur. So I wanna love the axe. Really like they’re 3.5lb felling axe. I’m gonna give it to someone more experienced in sharpening then me and see if they can get it sharp. If not I’ll call snow and nealley and see what they say, it’s a perfect bushcraft/pack axe.
I’m loving this mora so far. I like the steel so much I ordered a mora draw knife. Awesome tool for hanging axe heads and thinning handles. As for the snow and nealley axe. I’ve literally spent upwards of 12hrs sharpening. I finally got it semi sharp. A workable edge for felling and splitting. Still won’t cut paper though. Usually I can put atleast a paper cutting edge on a axe in an hour or less. So idk what’s going on. Its by far the weirdest situation I’ve ever come across. Now I’m eyeing the Husqvarna 26 inch multi purpose axe made by Hults bruks. It’s a steal at 60 bucks. But I think the safest route is to buy a vintage Norland or Collins Hudson Bay and hang it myself. Nothing beats that vintage steel. And if it’s made it all these years without breaking you know it’s solid. I just need a solid pack axe for camping and bushcrafting.
Ben I had my dad sharpen my snow and nealley since he’s been sharpening longer then I’ve been alive and he got it razor sharp. He said I had the bevel set wrong. Really don’t know how what he did was different. But it worked. I’m so glad cause the axe is just perfect. 24 inches 1.75lb head. Not to small and not to big. I still wouldn’t mind adding a norland to my collection. But they seem to be really popular right now, since they’re all going for 100 bucks on eBay. I just got a Sager chemical double bit on eBay for 20 bucks. So there’s deals to be had
I take my factory new heads to a belt sander to set the main bevel, there’s a lot of metal to hog off,,. Then hand polish with wet dry paper, buffing wheel, then diamond stone, then strop, then she shaves hairs. Takes a while to get there with a new edge.
Thanks for sharing 😊 nice ax😊
Got a Hudson bay axe from S&N about 15 years ago, it had a china made head, which was warped. S&N went under, came back to life and now has USA made heads. Have a 3.5 lb axe and It is of excellent quality and feel. One thing in my experience that S&N doesn't do is sharpen their axes to a fine edge. Must be a policy that says you should sharpen it to your own like. I have no problem with that as I can and should know how to sharpen it myself. Still about $100 cheaper than a Granfors, and just as good overall, better in some areas.
Absolutely my experience as well. When they came back to producing them in the states it took a while for them to build their rep back up of quality, might still be working on it. Like you, I've never had one sharpened when it arrived which is fine. Once their axes have an edge on them they are phenomenal. I truly think that Snow and Nealley has the best steel out there. Not sure what it is but I rave about it in any video I do using their axes.
@@bladesandbows1521 Agreed, thanks for the review, I was thinking of getting the smaller axe, so your observations were helpful.
Good vid....all I use is Snow and Nealley...my 3.5lb is my go to...absolute quality...splits and chops. I use a file to keep it sharp...not a problem at all. Keep up the vids. ..cheers from Amish country Ohio
Decent at splitting?
@@Zanathane yes works great
A 2.5 lb boys axe is IMO the best all around axe. Small and light enough to easily carry and large enough to tackle all but the biggest trees in the Appalachians.
@@bladesandbows1521 I just subscribed 😀. I am buying just one at 24"... Deciding between the CT Velvicut and Woodcraft pack axe, Akka, or maybe even the Snow and Neally (I love Amish workmanship)... What do you like the most for mainly splitting (a saw will do the felling)... What's the difference between the two Council Tool products?
Awsome
Did you thin that handle at all? if not, it looks like they must have thinned it since my review. Mine was one of the worst examples of over-thickening in handles that I've seen and that's saying a lot. I've been wondering if they fixed that. Unfortunately, like most axe companies, they are no longer sticking with traditions and they don't have any competent choppers informing design modifications.
I thinned out my 3.5# S&N our Best axe. It swings so much nicer and the fawns foot was way too big. Also took about 1.5 hrs with file and puck on the edge. But at $65 it now works way above its "budget" price.
very nice. You just made me want to get one. Thanks. (nope, I want two - one the same and the 3-1/2 as well. Thanks :)
Well Paul, S and Nealley have an AMAZING steel that they use.... I'm not sure if it is
Just got a new snow an nealey Hudson Bay camp axe, and o couldn’t be happier
Ben I’m having a hell of a time getting mine sharp. It’s weird, but I can’t get a good edge on it. It’s supposed to be 1080 steel, so that’s good high carbon steel. I’m wondering if my stones just aren’t good enough quality to bite into this steel. I have lots of old true tempers, Collins, plumb, council etc, and I’ve never had this issue. My stones are all cheap ones, but they’ve always worked in the past. Idk whats going on, but I can barely get it cutting paper. You didn’t have any issues like this?
Ben that 3v is supposed to be tough stuff. I just bought a new knife and I was considering something made with 3v. Price is pretty high though. So I went with the mora bush craft black in 1095.
But I’ve gone at this thing using my lansky puck, then 400/1000 water stone and strop, then I tried my belt sander and some water Stones. Then I tried sand paper and a mouse pad going up to 3000 grit. That came out with a damn nice polish, but it was as dull as a butter knife. Then I just Tried last weekend with my knock off edge pro stones,220 up to 2000. Then yesterday I tried some various oil stones. So idk. It’s weird. I can usually put a pretty decent edge, atleast one that will cut paper. I’ve tried it all. So know I just ordered some Norton India oil stones. Gonna try these now. I really love the look of the axe, and they’re reasonably priced. 1080 steel is phenomenal too. And they’re half thd price of GFB or HB or council velvicur. So I wanna love the axe. Really like they’re 3.5lb felling axe. I’m gonna give it to someone more experienced in sharpening then me and see if they can get it sharp. If not I’ll call snow and nealley and see what they say, it’s a perfect bushcraft/pack axe.
I’m loving this mora so far. I like the steel so much I ordered a mora draw knife. Awesome tool for hanging axe heads and thinning handles.
As for the snow and nealley axe. I’ve literally spent upwards of 12hrs sharpening. I finally got it semi sharp. A workable edge for felling and splitting. Still won’t cut paper though. Usually I can put atleast a paper cutting edge on a axe in an hour or less. So idk what’s going on. Its by far the weirdest situation I’ve ever come across. Now I’m eyeing the Husqvarna 26 inch multi purpose axe made by Hults bruks. It’s a steal at 60 bucks. But I think the safest route is to buy a vintage Norland or Collins Hudson Bay and hang it myself. Nothing beats that vintage steel. And if it’s made it all these years without breaking you know it’s solid. I just need a solid pack axe for camping and bushcrafting.
Ben I had my dad sharpen my snow and nealley since he’s been sharpening longer then I’ve been alive and he got it razor sharp. He said I had the bevel set wrong. Really don’t know how what he did was different. But it worked. I’m so glad cause the axe is just perfect. 24 inches 1.75lb head. Not to small and not to big. I still wouldn’t mind adding a norland to my collection. But they seem to be really popular right now, since they’re all going for 100 bucks on eBay. I just got a Sager chemical double bit on eBay for 20 bucks. So there’s deals to be had
I take my factory new heads to a belt sander to set the main bevel, there’s a lot of metal to hog off,,. Then hand polish with wet dry paper, buffing wheel, then diamond stone, then strop, then she shaves hairs. Takes a while to get there with a new edge.
Yea S&N makes it a point not to final sharpen their axes so the owner can sharpen/grind as they like
👍❤💯🤙
Nice video. I like the looks of that axe the handle looks thin and well shaped. Did it come like that? Enjoy the peace and quiet. Dan from Oklahoma.
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