Anybody have one of these? I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't be using mine, a new one is $400-$500 and apparently they are collectibles.

I got mine from my Grandmother. It could have been bought new anywhere from the early 1900s to the 1960s. I'm sure there is a website somewhere explaining how to figure that out. It could even have been my grandfather's, who was was lumberjack after he left the farm as a teen, which would place it around 1905, give or take a few years.

I use mine between my hammock and sleeping bag when winter camping, and even as the floor "tarp" when winter camping in a tent. It's a little heavy, but when not using a heater, I've found nothing better. Last year, I camped in -15F weather in my hammock, not a problem.

I have to agree with you on these blankets. We bought ours years ago at the Ben Franklin in Grand Marais. We inherited another from my mother in law. They are made of the first shearing of the sheep. That makes them super soft and not scratchy like army blankets. Super warm, but yet breathable.

Yes you can buy wool blankets for much less. But you will get what you pay for concerning wool blankets. Some wool blankets I’ve seen I won’t put on an old horse.

Hudson Bay blankets were worth thier weight in gold way back then, and worth the purchase price now. Ours is the six point size, or (six beaver pelts). Use it and enjoy it.

You are fortunate to have one, and I would think using it is a good thing. That is what it is for. There is nothing better than wool, IMHO.

I wish I had one. I know they are still for sale through The Bay department stores, and every time the Canadian dollar sinks I'm tempted to get one. Does anyone know how the new ones from The Bay (not imitations) compare to the old ones in quality?

We have two, wy wife stole this one (first Pic) for 10 dollars at a garage sale.
The second picture of the blanket at the top came from my wifes parents, my wife said she would not take ours out camping.

Jaywalker: "I wish I had one. I know they are still for sale through The Bay department stores, and every time the Canadian dollar sinks I'm tempted to get one. Does anyone know how the new ones from The Bay (not imitations) compare to the old ones in quality? "

Jaywalker, next time you go to Duluth get ahold of me.
When I dug these blankets out of the basement just now the wife said she would consider selling one. We do not have kids to pass them along to and we just don't want to sell one of them to anyone. (We never use them)

She could change her mind about selling one (Not Sure) but I'm guessing the price could be bartered to something reasonable.

Use it, enjoy it and remember your Grandmother.

Wow! They are selling for up to $700.00.

Some good historical information on Wikipedia:
Hudon's Bay point blanket

when I learned how expensive these things are my initial reaction, because the blankets I have bought were around 1/10th the price, is it is too valuable to take out in the woods. But upon further thinking, that is what they were designed for, it is easy to see why these were so popular among the Indians to barter for.
I have no idea what would work as well, laying it in the hammock so it overlaps and hangs out allows easy entrance, when I lay down I wrap it around me. It is breathable and being thick supplies a lot of insulation. Cozy warm, and like a Duluth Pack, nearly indestructable.

Apparently gold prospectors sometimes used these as screens to filter gravel, then washed them out and dried them and sleeped in them that night.

This thread compelled me to dig ours out of storage. It is very warm but very heavy. I am scheduled for rotator cuff surgery and can not even lift the blanket to fold it.

Does anyone know how to determine the age of the blanket?

Unas10: "This thread compelled me to dig ours out of storage. It is very warm but very heavy. I am scheduled for rotator cuff surgery and can not even lift the blanket to fold it.


Does anyone know how to determine the age of the blanket?"

The one on my bed says (5 centuries of selling blankets Millennial edition, 1670-2000). As I remember I bought it in 1999. There should be a label on it that you can look online to figure out the date.

LindenTree: "Jaywalker, next time you go to Duluth get ahold of me."

Will do!

Does anyone know how to determine the age of the blanket?"

There are a few websites that can help in determining the age based on the size and style of the label. I still cringe thinking about my grandpa and the two huge Hudson bay blankets he let his Golden Retrievers use in the winter in their kennel. His own grandfather was a railroad man and a bit of a card player I'm told. I guess he won them in a card game somewhere along the line. This would have been happened before WWI.