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Home | Vintage American Knives & Cutlery | J Russell & Co 11" Bullnose Knife Hand Forged Carbon Steel Ebony 1872-

J Russell & Co 11" Bullnose Knife Hand Forged Carbon Steel Ebony 1872-1880

£208.91
£208.91
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Made by the J Russell Green River Co. at their new Turners Falls factory, at the time the worlds largest cutlery factory. Hand forged blade is hot stamped "J Russell & Co  Patented 1872". In 1880 all Russell knives were marked with an acid etch rather than this hot stamp so luckily for us it can be dated within an eight year period. 

The slightly center swelled shape ebony handle is amazingly free from cracks and is held fast with 5 iron pins and applied iron bolsters pinned in place. This design is a classic New England solution to non-integrally bolstered handles tendancy to swell at the blade handle junction. 

The blade had been sharpened in just enough to benefit from a light thinning behind the edge, this has been done without disturbing the age of the blade through its scratches, light pits and pepper spots. 

11" cutting edge, 16 3/4" overall length and weighing in at 11.8 oz

This is a carbon steel knife. Carbon steel is expected to develop a dark patina with use. It needs to be hand washed and towel dried soon after use. Do not air dry. Do not put it in the dishwasher. Long exposure to moisture and debris will result in rust. Any rust development should be removed with a light abrasive.

Use on a quality wooden cutting board will help the knife stay sharper for longer. Use on hard surfaces like plates and bamboo will reduce the edge life and can result in edge damage.

We recommend hand sharpening on whetstones. We have found that most western knives perform best with a medium finish starting around 1000 grit. Avoid pull through sharpeners and non-water cooled mechanized sharpening. Steel honing rods work well with this knife.

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