Maine Axes -post 'em up

Speaking of JMTCO, I got this today. I came here to ask if anyone knew what it was, never heard of them. Nice coincidence.

 
This was at an estate sale 2 weeks back. I didn't know at the time what it was, but the internets sorted me out, and I went back and got it the next day (cheap). Neat little cruiser in great shape.

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I live in upstate NY and oddly, we're driving 22hrs west and north to go canoeing. I'll try and get a more interesting photo of it there.
 
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The diamond M with the two crescent moons. I have one. Mine doesn't have Brecks on it. I think the logo was discussed before but I can't remember if anyone came up with information.
 
jblyttle said:
Anyone know who made this?

IMG_20170709_204103 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20170709_204029 by Justin Ly
jblyttle said:
Anyone know who made this?

IMG_20170709_204103 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20170709_204029 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20170709_204114 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
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Collins made at least some of the Brecks Victor axes. Brecks is for Joeseph Breck & Sons.
I think those crescent moon M stamps have been identified. I was thinking it was Mann but it makes sense that I could be mistaken on that and it is Collins.
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Collins made at least some of the Breecks Victor axes. Brecks is for Joeseph Breck and Sons.
I think those crescent moon M stamps have been identified. I was thinking it was Mann but it makes sense that I could be mistaken in that and it is Collins.
 
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garry3 said:
Collins made at least some of the Breecks Victor axes. Brecks is for Joeseph Breck and Sons.
I think those crescent moon M stamps have been identified. I was thinking it was Mann but it makes sense that I could be mistaken in that and it is Collins.
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Did a little more digging. The crescent moons with a m is said to resemble a design found on a paper label of a Mann axe. Not at all sure just who made it.
 
grafton said:
That LL Bean head is a little bit later model I think. As far as my research can tell and from the examples I have collected, the 50's and earlier heads were a different shape. I would guess 60's through 80's for that head but I am not exactly certain when they (S&N) changed the shape. There are at least 4 variations of the LL Bean Hudson Bay head, all with different shapes. The original handle would have been about 23 inches unless it was the shorter Penobscot kindling hatchet version.
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Grafton, I’d love to hear more details on your S&N Hudson Bay axe research. Specifically the characteristics of the 4 variations and corresponding time periods (I know I’m assuming that the ll bean products you're referencing were the same as the S&N product and if that’s not the case I should be set straight).


Below is a S&N HB I got a few days ago. It's in great condition but I'm pretty sure the haft wasn't original so I still have to figure out what I'm going to do about that. There are also a couple of pictures with my ‘new owners’ Penobscot kindling axe for comparison. Anyway, I'm curious about the age and from your comments I would guess pre 60s (that's a big window) and it makes me curious about the 4 variations you mentioned. For example, one of the primary differences in the axes below is the angle of the blade slope. The older axe has a 25 degree slope while the newer one has a 40 degree slope. It looks as though the axe you are commenting on has a 40 degree slope as well. Are there just the 2 different angles over time or are there others I haven’t seen? Other differences would be length (old is 5 13/16", new is 6 3/4"), wedge shape and pre-blade poll length (old is 1 7/8", new is 1 3/4").


Thank for any and all insight you have to share! And I apologize if some of this is covered earlier…most of the pictures don’t appear give the age of the post.


Great stuff all around, thanks all!


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If you need a spanner wrench to get that big wedge out...

That is cool. Your first post here and I gather not your first rodeo G Glenn Bailey .
Very different heads - at least from one another and time. Seeing them together is telling. Thank you :thumbsup:

Any good stories on either?
 
Agent_H said:
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If you need a spanner wrench to get that big wedge out...

That is cool. Your first post here and I gather not your first rodeo G Glenn Bailey .
Very different heads - at least from one another and time. Seeing them together is telling. Thank you :thumbsup:

Any good stories on either?
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Thanks! Got lucky on the old one- poorly posted action site grab. The other I bought new- I was excited to support the new S&N owners. It's great for limbing on slopes- using the blade as a hook for moving brush is invaluable with questionable footing.
 
That older Hudson Bay by S&N is in great shape Glenn. I have three of that style, one is marked L.L. Bean. I also have an L.L. Bean Hudson Bay that appears to have been made by Collins. My opinion is the older S&N axes are a superior design. Mine came on three different length handles 18, 22 and 24 inch. Not sure if any of the handles are original but they all are old and well-fitted with the big iron wedge that S&N was known for.
 
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