First Head Knife-Used

[MMArmoury]

I just managed to pick up my first head/round knife, after a long search through many antique shops (I couldn't afford a new one). I picked up this nice Osborne for just $35, the blade measures exactly 4.0 inches wide, the knife overall is exactly 6.0 inches long. The blade is marked "C.S. Osborne & Co." in a circle, and the inside of the circle is marked "Newark". There is also a deep cross stamping above it. I know what head knives are for, what I am interested in is the history of this one if there are any knowledgeable collectors here, dating, etc....And yes I have already started cleaning it up, so please don't tell me it's a priceless 19th century rarity.

Edited September 15, 2011 by MMArmoury

[bruce johnson]

I just managed to pick up my first head/round knife, after a long search through many antique shops (I couldn't afford a new one). I picked up this nice Osborne for just $35, the blade measures exactly 4.0 inches wide, the knife overall is exactly 6.0 inches long. The blade is marked "C.S. Osborne & Co." in a circle, and the inside of the circle is marked "Newark". There is also a deep cross stamping above it. I know what head knives are for, what I am interested in is the history of this one if there are any knowledgeable collectors here, dating, etc....And yes I have already started cleaning it up, so please don't tell me it's a priceless 19th century rarity.

The knife is at least 100 years or better. CS Osborne changed addresses in 1906 from Newark NJ to Harrison NJ. Probably they had some old stock that still had the Newark marking after that for a while, but that is the timeline. The cross looks like a factory marking and not an owner's mark added later, but this probably not 100% for sure. They did do a size marking with "X" markings at one point. The single X was a 6-1/2" wide, the XX was 6-3/4, and the XXX was 7" wide. That is the subject of some mild debate but the old catalogs listed the X markings that way. Some people say the X was a quality mark - the more Xs, the better the knife. I don't think so. They did list a second quality knife of the same stylein the catalog for a bit less. That said, the X marked knives I have had were marked between the CSO trademark and the brass, but no reason to think they might not have got close with the makers stamp and put the X above on your particular knife.

I like those CSO knives quite a bit. They are a good mix of fairly easy to profile and sharpen, but still hold their edge for a good while. I would taper that bevel back more than what it is. It looks pretty steep. It is going to take a few hours to do right, but will be worth it when you are done.

[MMArmoury]

I have been cleaning it up over the past few days, it looks very nice, the pictures don't do it justice. I have also been carefully putting an edge on it, I have gotten a clean even bevel. I bought a new hard stone (about 600 I think) but that is the highest I have now, I know I need to go finer. Do I need one more step up in a stone, or do I go straight to a strop and rouge?

[gtwister09]

Here's something to back up what Bruce said earlier about the "X" designations concerning their size.

Regards,

Ben