It followed me home

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Just picked up a True Temper Black Prince/Walland Vale double bit today for $2.00. The head's on upside down, just like the first OP pic. But it is in great condition with very, very minimal edge damage and only surface rust. Its on a 35" right now, and it weighs 5lb overall. I plan to clean it up and put it on a 30". Pics to follow!
 
These planes are dusty, but under the dust they are quite nice. In fact, they are razor sharp.

Craftsman
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Stanley's
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Old Dexter carbon steel. Took a nice edge. Can't decide if I should leave it alone, or cut it down to a belt knife size.
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Check out the size of this froe, Yo.
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Heavy beast. I can't help but imagine it turned into a big chopper...
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Only marking is this "P"
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Take care,

Matt
 
I like that froe. Looks like an old one. Well made froes are wedge shaped and should be half an inch thick at the back of the blade. They are forged. New froes are ground out of 1/4" stock and welded onto the eye. The thin backs of new froes don't split as nicely.

How about a picture of the profile of that froe?


I'd leave the old knife as is. Those old 440 carbon blades really take an edge well. I have a couple smaller ones I keep in the kitchen. Just don't put that old wood handle in the dishwasher. It won't last.

One more thing on the froe - I'm surprised to see it wedged. Must be an after market handle. Nothing wrong with that.
 
Square_peg said:
I like that froe. Looks like an old one. Well made froes are wedge shaped and should be half an inch thick at the back of the blade. They are forged. New froes are ground out of 1/4" stock and welded onto the eye. The thin backs of new froes don't split as nicely.

How about a picture of the profile of that froe?


I'd leave the old knife as is. Those old 440 carbon blades really take an edge well. I have a couple smaller ones I keep in the kitchen. Just don't put that old wood handle in the dishwasher. It won't last.

One more thing on the froe - I'm surprised to see it wedged. Must be an after market handle. Nothing wrong with that.
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Thanks, Pegs. Here ya go.

0.495" although I wiggled it a bit when fiddling with the camera. It's more like .48". Good call, Pegs.
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Edge.
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Spine.
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The thickest part is actually the middle on this one. It tapers to the spine, which you can see against the calipers in this pic.
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Pegs, regarding the Dexter knife - isn't 440 stainless? I'm just not sure what I'll really use it for as it is. It wouldn't make a good chef's knife with as much curve as it has. I bet it would make a great boning knife, but I would want it shorter for that personally. What do you think?
 
M3mphis said:
Pegs, regarding the Dexter knife - isn't 440 stainless?
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Yes and no. There is a 440 stainless (440A) that is frequently used for knives. But the old time 440 carbon steel (440C) was not stainless or was maybe semi-stainless. Many old hunting knives were made with 440 carbon steel (440C). I know Schrade used a lot of it. I still have one of those. It's excellent steel. Sharpens up way nicer than the 440 stainless stuff. Takes and holds an edge better, IMO. It patinas to a nice marbled black finish. It will rust if abused.

This explains it.

http://www.northamericanknives.com/knife_steels

Back in the 70's I had an Uncle Henry 440C knife. That thing was bullet proof. You could throw it, chip bricks with it, do anything to it and it would take it and ask for more. My 440C kitchen knives look like yours and they behave like my 440C Schrade.
 
Matt,
I would leave the knife as is. It really looks like it would be a great user in the kitchen.... Also, that froe is a beast! Hard to find tools of that quality now a days.

Jim
 
Here is what followed me home this past sunday. At my sister's for brunch and her boy friend asked if I wanted it. I can't turn down old hand tools. Its a Carborundum Co. Niagara No. 4 Model 60.

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rjdankert said:
Here is what followed me home this past sunday. At my sister's for brunch and her boy friend asked if I wanted it. I can't turn down old hand tools. Its a Carborundum Co. Niagara No. 4 Model 60.
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I've got one similar. Clamps to a tabletop, right? Very handy for roughing in edges, and you can extemporize a water trough to keep the stone wet.
 
rjdankert said:
Here is what followed me home this past Sunday. Its a Carborundum Co. Niagara No. 4 Model 60.
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Sweet!

I've been looking at those old hand-crank grinders on the bay but I haven't found one that was that wasn't ridiculously priced. It would be fun to play with. I'll just keep my eyes open and eventually I'll find one.
 
Square_peg said:
Yes and no. There is a 440 stainless (440A) that is frequently used for knives. But the old time 440 carbon steel (440C) was not stainless or was maybe semi-stainless. Many old hunting knives were made with 440 carbon steel (440C). I know Schrade used a lot of it. I still have one of those. It's excellent steel. Sharpens up way nicer than the 440 stainless stuff. Takes and holds an edge better, IMO. It patinas to a nice marbled black finish. It will rust if abused.

This explains it.

http://www.northamericanknives.com/knife_steels

Back in the 70's I had an Uncle Henry 440C knife. That thing was bullet proof. You could throw it, chip bricks with it, do anything to it and it would take it and ask for more. My 440C kitchen knives look like yours and they behave like my 440C Schrade.
Click to expand...

440C is classified as a stainless steel. It's just less stain resistant than 440A, but with better edge retention. ;)
 
Square_peg said:
I'll start. This is an axe I grabbed at an estate sale this afternoon. Whoever hafted it must have been drinking.

Legitmus1.jpg


I only bought it because it was cheap and has decent pedigree.

Legitmus2.jpg
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Whew...for a minute there I thought maybe I had been hafting them wrong all these years :)
 
Square_peg said:
Sweet!

I've been looking at those old hand-crank grinders on the bay but I haven't found one that was that wasn't ridiculously priced. It would be fun to play with. I'll just keep my eyes open and eventually I'll find one.
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Thanks, I've never priced them. Hope you can find one. I think this one came from a garage sale.
 
This followed me home last night...

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It's a table saw, band saw, jointer/shaper, spindle sander, lathe, and drill press!!! :thumbup:

My drawknife needs a new handle, what was I supposed to do!??? ;)
 
M3mphis said:
My drawknife needs a new handle, what was I supposed to do!??? ;)
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Seems the only rational thing you could do.
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They're amazing tools. They really work at each of their various tasks. The only issue I have with them is that it takes time to switch the setup from one task to another. It's less convenient. For that reason many of them end up being sold with low hours on them.

The real plus about a Shop Smith is that it takes up a lot less real estate than the 5 or 6 tools it replaces.
 
Square_peg said:
The real plus about a Shop Smith is that it takes up a lot less real estate than the 5 or 6 tools it replaces.
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That's the key for me. I have a small two car garage with a Yukon in it and tons of kid toys. All my tools have to fit in the remaining lack of space. :mad:
 
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