If you are looking for hiking trails, nature clubs, or trips in your area. Take a look at http://trails.sierrablub.org. You can search for hikes rated by difficulty or length.
Are trying to stay away from factory farmed foods? Take a look at EatWild.com for safe, healthy, natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork, dairy…and other wild edibles. They have an extensive directory of local purveyors of grass fed meat, eggs, and dairy in all 50 states.
EatWild provides:
- Comprehensive, accurate information about the benefits of raising animals on pasture.
- A direct link to local farms that sell all-natural, delicious, grass-fed products.
- Support for farmers who raise their livestock on pasture from birth to market and who actively promote the welfare of their animals and the health of the land.
Take a look at the Monterey Bay Aquirium’s Seafood Watch guides. They have six regional guides, a national guide, and a sushi guide. The Seafood Watch is your best source for ocean friendly fish and species to avoid.
There are three categories on the list:
1) Best Choice
2) Good Alternatives
3) Avoid
Best Choices are abundant, well managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.
Good Alternatives are an option, but there are concerns with how they’re caught or farmed—or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.
Avoid for now as these items are overfished or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.
You can either download the guides or order a printed copy. There is also an iPhone app.
www.montereybayaquarium.org
We are now officially taking orders through the website at JHollywoodco.com. Start shopping now! We have a nice selection of Council Tool axes with more on the way soon. Snow and Nealley Axes are also in stock.
We have gotten our initial orders from Council Tool, Snow and Nealley, and Tennessee Hickory Handles. I also have 18 vintage axes that will be posted up periodically as they are handled and restored. It looks like I will not be getting an order from Gransfors Bruks. They will only be selling to vendors that have a physical location in the future. I will try to get some Iltis Oxhead items instead. We are set to open soon.
Yesteryears Tools is an amazing Internet magazine with information on hand tools, their makers, and their markings. Although the description says hand tools, the focus here is on vintage axes. They have a huge library of re-drawn axe labels, re-drawn etchings, and some detailed company history.
YesteryearsTools is an Internet Magazine that concentrates on hand tools, the toolmakers and the tool distributors that operated mostly between the mid-1800s and mid to late-1900s. Particular attention centers upon the markings and labels of such makers and distributors, specifically those that can be classified as manufacturers and/or major distributors. In some situations individual makers, such as blacksmiths and certain retailers, may also be topics for discussion. Other articles will concentrate on nomenclature, variety and the diversity of design for certain tools. Under no circumstances are these parameters considered to be restrictions but they do constitute the primary focus of this magazine.
Although the emphasis is on American tools and concerns, those falling into similar categories that were made or operated in other countries are also of interest. More specifically, we eventually expect to also discuss axe manufacturers from Canada, Australia, England and some European countries. Included will be an overview along with representations and depictions of the markings and labels that various axe and edge tool companies used.
Follow the Link Below:
Aberl (Germany) http://www.aberl.info/
Barco Industries (Reading, PA) http://www.barcotools.com
Note: Now producing the “Kelly” branding of axes that were previously made by other companies
Bahco (Sweden) http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/
Note: New production axes are apparently made in Germany…but there is some discrepancy here
Bark River Knife & Tool (Escanaba, MI) http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/
Note: Also provide axe profiling, grinding, and sharpening services
Council Tool Company (Lake Waccamaw, NC) http://www.counciltool.com/
Note: These are 100% USA Made
Craftsman (USA?) http://www.sears.com/
Estwing (Rockford, IL) http://www.estwing.com/
Firestone (Tucson, AZ) http://www.mcgowanmfg.com/index.cfm?category=1
Fiskars (Finland) http://www3.fiskars.com/
Fitzi (Switzerland) http://www.werkzeugschmied.ch/
Forrest Tool Company (Durango, CO) http://www.maxax.com/
Garant (Québec, Canada) http://www.garant.com/
Gerber Legendary Blades (Finland?) http://www.gerbergear.com/
Note: Gerber is now a Fiskars Brand. Fiskars and Gerber have a similar product offering.
Gransfors Bruks (Bergsjö, Sweden) http://www.gransfors.com/
Hultafors (Sweden) http://www.hultaforsgroup.com/
Note: Hults Bruks is now part of Hultafors Group. I don’t think they are using the name Hults Bruks anymore
Husqvarna (Sweden) http://www.husqvarna.com/us/
Note: These are re-branded Wetterlings axes
Leborgne (France) http://www.leborgne.fr/index_en.html
Lee Reeves (Shattuck, OK) http://ssidders.tripod.com/id69.htm
Leonhard Müller & Söhne (Austria) http://www.mueller-hammerwerk.at/
Marble’s (USA?) ???
Note: Still produced but I don’t think they are made in the USA
Ochsenkopf Äxte (Germany) http://www.gedore.de/
Note:”Ox Head” branding for USA market
Note: Stihl re-brands these axes for the US market…they use the “Iltis” line of Ochsenkopf axes
Note: Makes the axes used in Stihl Timer Sports
Pfeil Tools (Switzerland) http://www.pfeiltools.ch/
Plumb (Philadelphia, PA) http://www.cooperhandtools.com/
Note: Produced “Keen Kutter” for a time in addition to Kelly
Note: Current production is by Cooper tools with their headquarters in Houston, TX
Roughneck (UK) http://www.olympia-tools.co.uk/
Snow & Nealley (Brewer, ME) http://www.snowandnealley.com/
Note: Raw forgings are imported from China, tempering/handling takes place in Maine
Note: Best Made Axe Co. sells rebranded versions of these.
Stihl (Germany) http://stihl.com/
Note: These are rebranded Ochsenkopf “Ilsit” axes. Also, Stihl previously sold re-branded Fiskars axes….as far as I know they no longer do.
Tosa Uchi Hamono (Japan) http://www.cartercutlery.com/imported-forestry-tools
True Temper (USA?) http://www.amestruetemper.com/
Tuatahi Axes (New Zealand) http://www.tuatahiaxes.com/
Note: Highly regarded for their race axes, but make work axes as well
Vaughan (USA?) http://hammernet.com/
Note: Produce the “Supersteel” and “Sub-Zero” brandings
Wetterlings (Storvik, Sweden) http://www.wetterlings.com/
Companies in red are currently stocked by J. Hollywood Edge Co.
Here is another great free axe guide. This one is from Gransfors Bruks. A printed copy of this book comes with all of their axes. You can download a pdf copy just in case you want to check out the book without buying an axe.
Here are some great videos of the forging process at Gransfors Bruks. Our first order of these fine axes will be in soon.
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory, Part I
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory, part I from susan perdok on Vimeo.
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory, Part II
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory Part II from susan perdok on Vimeo.
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory, Part III
Gränsfors Bruks, the factory, part III from susan perdok on Vimeo.
Thanks to Bart Eefting and Susan Perdok for posting these videos.
If you are into axes and have not yet read or heard of the manual written by Bernie Weisgerber you need to go and download it right now. It is a great intro into the history, use, and proper care of axes. It’s also free to download! Get it here: An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual
Here is a brief excerpt giving a synopsis of the manual:
“We cannot explore everything there is to know about axes in this publication. What I would like to share with you is a brief background on the development of axes, the hanging and sharpening of axes, how to use an ax, and detailed information on certain ax patterns. I’ve tried to place the discussion within the context of working with axes today and from a historical perspective of their use within the USDA Forest Service.
In An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual, you’ll find:
- A brief look at the history of the ax, especially its evolution in America
- Types and patterns of axes and adzes, showcasing some examples from my personal collection and some from old catalogs
- How to hang and sharpen an ax, two essential skills for anyone using an ax
- Various examples of using axes, incorporating historical material
- Where to buy a good ax
- Some other good references about axes that you may find useful.”
I am currently waiting for a copy of the video program, An Ax to Grind (99-01-MTDC).
