That's a new one on me!

[The Fort]

So today I aquired a bnib Canal Street Cutlery 3 blade stockman. It has nice jigged bone scales and was produced in 2007. What I found unusual is that all three blades are polished on the mark side only. The pile side of the blades resembles the "As Ground" finish sometimes used by Case. Is there a reason to for this? Does it make the knife more or less desirable? I'm just curious as to what some of you guys may be able to tell me about this. Thanks in advance!

 

[philllll]

That's a very traditional practice. A lot of vintage knives will have a "crocus" finish on the mark side and a "glazed" finish on the back side. I don't remember exactly why it was done.

 

[blademan 13]

I believe the reasoning may have been cost related. That and etches were more clearly defined on a polished surface. I have always favored the practice.

 

[Wowbagger]

Ha, ha,

Fits in with my saying I used recently in another thread : "But it looks good for the photo shoot."

I was going to say that it was a movie prop and was only ever used with the one side facing the camera.

BS of course.
I never heard the

: A lot of vintage knives will have a "crocus" finish on the mark side and a "glazed" finish on the back side

thing.

I been interested in pocket knives for forty years or more. Haven't been around the good ones much though. Shows how much I have to learn.

 

[pertinux]

More on the Crocus finish from early in the Old Knives thread (with weigh-ins from the big boys) here, and here.

If you search this forum for "crocus" and select "show posts," you'll find more...

...but the above is enough for me.

Hope this helps.

~ P.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Canal Street did this for a long time.

 

[The Fort]

I knew I could count on you guys. Thanks for the great info!