Can Anybody Identify The Maker Of This Bech Splitter?

[Logans Leather]

Does anyone recognize this splitter?

Can anyone tell e who made it?

Do they make them still?

Looks like it may be a one-off made in a machine shop, but made darn well!

If I cannot find a maker nor any patent or licensing info on it, I may start having them reproduced. I have a great machinist here in town who can fabricate all the parts and will grind the blades, and one of the best blade makers/swordsmiths in the country is right here in town too(K.C. Lund) and he can do the heat treat on the 01 steel blades. We can even offer pattern welded (Damascus) blades if anyone wants to pay a ridiculous amount for one

Let me know if y'all are interested, so I can look into whether or not it will be worthwhile to have these cranked out.

[oltoot]

That's my bet: one of. You do not say how wide the cut is. Were I to go to the trouble of having it repo'd, I would be sure that it was at least 8 in and I would also look into modifying it slightly so that it could use Osborne # 86 blades which are now commercially available.

[Trox]

That's my bet: one of. You do not say how wide the cut is. Were I to go to the trouble of having it repo'd, I would be sure that it was at least 8 in and I would also look into modifying it slightly so that it could use Osborne # 86 blades which are now commercially available.

Hi, this is a bit of topic; you mention the Osborn # 86 eight inch blades was commercially available. Do you know where they are? I need one for my 8 " splitter and I cannot get hold of any.

In advance thanks

Tor

[oltoot]

Well, I'm old and its been awhile but it would have had to have been either from Osborne itself or Montana leather Company in Billings, Mt. BUT, I would fall back on my wife's answer to just about everything and say, just Google it.

[Trox]

Well, I'm old and its been awhile but it would have had to have been either from Osborne itself or Montana leather Company in Billings, Mt. BUT, I would fall back on my wife's answer to just about everything and say, just Google it.

Hi, Thank you.

I always try google before anything else.

I have tried the Osborn company, Campbell Randall, Bruce Johnson and many more with no luck. I sent my old blade for sharpening and the company ruined it. I have found one place in Germany that has a new blade for it. However, they charge more for a blade than a new # 86 six inch splitter will cost me in the USA. I checked out the Montana leather company web site and they do not sell any splitters, except the cheap Tandy (toy) splitter. I doubt they have blades for a splitter they do not sell. Thank you anyway, my search continuous

[cem]

I'd definitely say it's a one off as well as it's not cast, looks like a well made little splitter.

Clair

[Logans Leather]

Thanks for all the input. As is, this one cuts 3 7/8". If I do reproduce them, I will definitely make them wider. The blade on this one is 5 7/8" wide, but the cut is narrower due to the width of the roller. Most if the elements are milled out of 5/8" billet aluminum, so no parts are cast. I will look into making one for the Osborne #86 blade, but my bladesmith is one of the best in the country. I do understand the desire for easily replaceable blades though.

[Logans Leather]

By the way, the Osborne 86 has a 6" blade, or rather it is 8 1/2" wide with the mounting lugs, but has a 6" edge. Cobra Steve sells them at Leather Machine Co.

http://www.leathermachineco.com/catalog.php?item=40

I imagine he would be happy to sell just the blades as well

[Trox]

Was

By the way, the Osborne 86 has a 6" blade, or rather it is 8 1/2" wide with the mounting lugs, but has a 6" edge. Cobra Steve sells them at Leather Machine Co.

http://www.leatherma...log.php?item=40

I imagine he would be happy to sell just the blades as well

If this answer was intended for me I know that Steve will. However, I do not have a six inch version, I have a eight inch and a ten inch #86 version (the eight inch need a new blade). According to Bruce Johnson (who knows his splitters) the Osborn # 86 was made in 6,7,8,9,10 and 12 inch versions. Now only in a six inch version. However, in Germany they sell the Osb.# 86 (new) in a eight inch version too.

Thanks

[Logans Leather]

Ooh! I never knew they came in different sizes. I always assumed that different sizes would have different model numbers. I'll have to keep my eyes open for bigger ones. And I'm always looking for a Krebbs splitter. Used Dave Brannan's years ago and fell in love with it!

[Logans Leather]

Nice article on splitters:

http://campbell-bosworth.com/articles/Splitting-Machines.pdf

[Trox]

Nice article on splitters:

http://campbell-bosw...ng-Machines.pdf

Thanks Logan, I have seen this nice article before, very informative. Each tool has it own catalog number, however the tool can have different sizes. Like the edgers, they come in several sizes and has one number for each style.

I found a new (to me) Osborn site https://www.osborneleathertools.com/index.php The one I knew from before was this ; http://www.csosborne.com/. There been some discussions about the # 84, who I believe is the finest pull true splitter available. It was not listed in the "old" web page and it could only be found at some foreign dealers, like in Germany where its been available for a long time. OK here it is in the new page https://www.osborneleathertools.com/category.php?cid=12. It is a fine machine from the original Newark NJ pattern, it is also stamped Newark NJ instead of New Jersey because of that same reason. Nobody is making the Krebs splitter anymore, however the 86-A has the same adjusting leverage. However the similarity stops there. I have heard the Chase splitter is a good machine, it is one 12 inch available for 450 $ from Bruce Johnson leather; http://brucejohnsonleather.com/content/index.php/leather_tools_for_sale/leather-bench-machines-leather-splitters-and-skivers/ If I should limit my self to one splitter I would choose the # 84 because of it versatility.

Thanks

Tor

[Trox]

If I would want to buy a # 84 splitter the Osborne company redirects me to their German Agent.

The German agents double the price from 600 to 1200 $ and add put tax on it. I do not even live in Germany, why do I have to be cheated in this way, I wonder.

I live in Norway and buy most of my tools from the Internet anyway. Shipping is about 20 $ more from the US than it is from Germany. I wonder how they can justify the double price? The 600 $ the machine cost in the US is for material, salaries and so on, they struggle to keep the price down in a difficult time for all American businesses.

Then they allow their German European agent to double the price, do that helps them sell more splitters? I do not think so. I will not feed the fat and greedy, I will buy my tools elsewhere until the Osborn company starts with international shipping. Like both Dixon and Vergez Blanchard offers.

Their older tools are of better quality anyway, I buy from Bruce Johnson He has been very good to me. He always sell good tool to a nice price, both my #86 comes from him. And he gave me a very good deal on the ten inch machine; Thank you Bruce.

And Happy New Year all.

Thanks