Edge shave tools begin to appear in ads during the mid 1800s. There were edge irons, and edge burnishers etc. prior as well as edged leather goods such as harness and belting, etc. It is assumed the practice of edging with a piece of glass was done prior to the edging tools we a familiar with today. Apparently there were old timers who still preferred the glass method at the time R. A. Salaman wrote Dictionary of Leather Working Tools c.1700-1950.
If one is attempting to re-create the secondary items of a professional leather worker such as a harness maker in America during your period, rounding and burnishing edges is in my opinion justified.
Look at some of Stuart Lilie's work. He has probably got as much study of original pieces in his line of work as anyone I know of.