LF&C 8” Chef Knife Carbon Steel Rosewood 1920s-60s USA

The knife dates from approximately 1920 to 1950 and was made by LF&C; Landers Frary & Clark in New Britain, CT, most likely under their Universal brand, but the marks are lost. Chef knives by LF&C have a very distinctive square-shouldered, narrow bolster that sweeps in deeply to join the blade; once you recognize this feature, it's hard to miss. They made knives OEM for many other companies, but LF&C was the only one to use that shape.

This knife has been sharpened a little; it will be eligible for a thinning before too long, but has a sharp, tough, slightly thick edge right now. The handle shows lots of wear but is still solid and secure. It's hard to find smaller chef knives from this era; it's clearly been heavily used but still has lots of life left. A full refurbishing and thinning will really bring it back to life, but it's ready to be a workhorse currently, priced accordingly.