Lamson Goodnow & Co. Centennial Edition? Cast Steel 10" Honing Steel George Washington Bust Buttcap USA 1870-90

Antique Lamson Goodnow & Co sharpening steel marked 'cast steel' indicating it was made with a high quality crucible steel; shear steel that was melted into small crucibles. Guard is a cast pewter alloy and the handle is a nice old rosewood with a cast brass hanger and buttcap with the bust of George Washington on the cast brass fittings.

It definitly shows several lifetimes of use but is all there and is a great example of a fine American 19th century sharpening steel. 

Silas Lamson began making scythe handles in Sterling Mass in the early 1800s he moved to Shelburne Mass in 1837 and joined with Ebenezer Goodnow to form Lamson-Goodnow Company in 1842 and changed to Lamson & Goodnow MFG Co in 1853.

The marking 'Lamson Goodnow & Co' might suggest pre-1853 manufacture but the cast pewter guard looks like later 19th century manufacture and Lamson & Goodnow along with many other New England makers did special centennial year series.