A christmas present

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yoippari

Joined
May 8, 2004
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The set includes a carving knife, a steel, meat poker fork with stand for keeping it off the table when serving.

The bolsters are silver and the handles are blacktail antler. The fork is the only one that still has a buttcap. The knife has a "false" edge on the back. The knife is pretty thin so while the false edge is flat it is thin enough that it could probably still cut.

The knife has a logo on it that reads:
H.S.B. & CO.
OVB
OUR VERY BEST
REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

Grandpa tried to polish it up before giving it to me, but it looks like he just scratched it up. The steel is pretty standard but it has been used. Eveything has a good patina on it and does not rust.

If any of you have more information on this set I am curious to know more.
 
I can't give you any info, but a BEAUTIFUL Christmas gift!Something to treasure for a long time. I hope told your Grandpa how much you appreciated it..
 
My grandma said one of her friends gave it to her because "she is the only one she knew who likes old things." So it isn't a priceless heirloom or anything, but it is a nice set.
 
yoippari said:
The set includes a carving knife, a steel, meat poker fork with stand for keeping it off the table when serving.

The bolsters are silver and the handles are blacktail antler. The fork is the only one that still has a buttcap. The knife has a "false" edge on the back. The knife is pretty thin so while the false edge is flat it is thin enough that it could probably still cut.

The knife has a logo on it that reads:
H.S.B. & CO.
OVB
OUR VERY BEST
REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

Grandpa tried to polish it up before giving it to me, but it looks like he just scratched it up. The steel is pretty standard but it has been used. Eveything has a good patina on it and does not rust.

If any of you have more information on this set I am curious to know more.
Click to expand...


The set was made by Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. of Chicago, which started business in 1855. You have a real piece of authentic Americana there. O.V.B. was one of their many trademarks. I have seen the O.V.B. trademark on other knives, and currently AG RUSSELL distributes the Fisk Bowies with the O.V.B. trademark I believe.

HSB also distributed Marbles knives, Winchester flashlights, and a ton of other hardware items and went through several buildings. Their second building burned down in the great Chicago fire of 1871. They were in business until the early 60's when they sold off all their hardware line to the True Value line, I think and went solely into real estate ventures and then were swallowed up somewhere later.

Personally, were the set mine, and it has already been scratched up, I would give the steel a nice satin finish, and then find a case for it and keep it in the family as a user. Based upon when they started using the OVB trademark, I would guess your set was made in the 1950's or early 60's, but I could be wrong. Any antique dealer could tell you more.

Hang onto it! A nice carving set with some history behind it is a great legacy to pass on to your family and enjoy at all those "special carving" occassions.

Regards,

Norm
 
yoippari said:
My grandma said one of her friends gave it to her because "she is the only one she knew who likes old things." So it isn't a priceless heirloom or anything, but it is a nice set.
Click to expand...


One of my most priceless heirlooms is a claw hammer...good quality, but most important is that it was used daily by my maternal Grandfather (Pa) who was a carpenter. If the house catches fire, I will grab it right after SHMBO and the cats.

I think that at a point in every man's life, objects from Fathers and Grandfathers carry such a value...treasure it.
 
Nice set! I love the old stuff. Might have to find me one of those!

Info from Camillus' website. http://www.camillusknives.com

GROWTH AND DIVERSITY
The Roaring '20's witnessed the continuing growth and diversity of the Camillus Cutlery Company. Several new knives were added to the their line, as well as the introduction of stainless steel to the production process. The company also began producing character knives, which were a different slant from the working knives Camillus became known for. Such pieces honored President George Washington, super slugger Babe Ruth, and space traveler Buck Rogers. Without a doubt, these knives increased in value years later. Camillus also expanded into private label manufacturing, turning out knives for well-known retailers like:


Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. - O.V.B. (Our Very Best). H.S.B was one of Camillus' larger private label customers.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. - Craftsman & Dunlap, and Stay Sharp
F.W. Woolworth - Kent
Simmons Hardware Co. - Keen Kutter
A.F. Shapleigh Hardware Co. - Diamond Edge
The advantage of private label manufacturing afforded these companies the
opportunity to offer high quality knives, under their own brand name, to the
general public by way of retail stores or catalog orders. All the retailers mentioned above were hardware distributors, selling to various retailers. Though, Sears "broke the mold" by being the first distributor to sell directly to the general public by way of their famous catalogs. Thus, their knives were readily available to a wide range of people. Even today, Camillus Cutlery still devotes a considerable amount of time, effort, and resources to private label manufacturing. Sears' Craftsman brand multi-blade pocket knives are still manufactured by Camillus, as well as manufacturing knives for other well known companies. It's this same dedication to quality in manufacturing - under the Camillus banner or someone else's - that has Camillus still out front as the leader in private label knife manufacturing.
 
learn something new every day....wow


Nice carving set. I would keep it clean and ready for use. It is not a museum piece. With time (and use) it will become YOUR heirloom to pass down to your grandkids.
 
Personally, were the set mine, and it has already been scratched up, I would give the steel a nice satin finish, and then find a case for it and keep it in the family as a user.
Click to expand...

The whole set already has a pretty good patina on it. How would I do a satin finish. The knife is prrtty thin, I don't want to remove much metal.

The fork was definetly a user as both tines are a little chewed up on the end and one is a little shorter than the other.
 
Funny, I saw something almost identical at my grandparents house this holiday. I didn't look at the brand, but that built-in fork stand really stood out!

Good gift!

Nam
 
yoippari said:
The whole set already has a pretty good patina on it. How would I do a satin finish. The knife is prrtty thin, I don't want to remove much metal.

The fork was definetly a user as both tines are a little chewed up on the end and one is a little shorter than the other.
Click to expand...

Other folks may have different methods, but I would just get some green scotch brite pads, spray the metal with WD-40 and give it a good rubbing. The metal will uniformly give way to a brushed satin look, and after wiping off with a clean towel it should hold that look indefinitely. If it ever starts to rust or stain just repeat the process.

Regards,

Norm
 
Svashtar said:
If it ever starts to rust or stain just repeat the process.

Regards,

Norm
Click to expand...
Norm is quite right and if the scratches on it are really bad that's what I would do as well.
Barb has a similar set that's all high carbon steel and turns all shades of the rainbow when cleaned and left untended in the drawer.
When I do use it I just wash it in warm soapy water, steel the blade, do the carving, wash again and put up until the next year.
Like the old high carbon steel paring knives the patina won't come off in normal use, just gets prettier IMO.:D
 
Yoippari,
Your beautiful carving set inspired me. I almost got one just like yours on Ebay, but lost out to a higher bidder. I did manage to pick this one up. Made by Meriden Cutlery, Patented in 1873. Workmanship is very good. The handles seem to be bone. Two pieces are cracked on the reverse side.

The steel is hexagonal, rather than round, and the "flats" are actually concave. The point is very sharp...combination ice pick perhaps?

Steve
 
My steel is round with a good point on the end.

Yours seems to be a bit higher quality than mine, or at least more decorative.
 
More decorative, but no higher quality than OVB. I really liked your set. I'm going to keep watching Ebay for one like it.

Steve
 
Steve, what do you know about, "Double Shear Steel?" I may have the information in my Machinery Handbook, the Bible of machinists everywhere, young or old, but haven't had the gumption to look.:rolleyes: ;)
The best I can remember is that it's a very early steel, well sorta anyway.
Then it seems that something was said about the rivets in the Titanic being made from one of the "shear steels" as well.:confused:
The best that I recall, may be wrong, is that the shear steels were subject to holding slag in the mix if not forged properly.:confused:
I tried Googleing Shear Steel and Antique Shear Steel along with a couple of other subjects with shear steel in the wanted info and got damned little to nothing, nothing informative anyway.
It also seems that the Shear Steels played an important function in the early development of steel as we know it today but damned if I haven't forgotten what I knew.:rolleyes: :grumpy:
Perhaps I should've done a search on the company that made your set instead?

Anyway you may have more than you know since it appears your set was made from Double Shear Steel.:eek: :D :cool:
 
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