Lamson & Goodnow steel help

Logrus9

Logrus9

Joined
Jul 9, 2010
Messages
63
I picked up "practice" knife at a flea market for $1, it looked like it was carbon steel because it had a nice patina over most of the blade.

When I got home and cleaned it a bit I saw the engraving, it's an outline of the US with an oval reading Lamson & Goodnow Mfg. Co. and the handle is stamped 6280 I think, there is a big split through the number.

The confusing part is the blade is stamped "chrome tool steel" but it looks like high carbon.

I know it has no real $$ value, I'm just curious if anyone knows about the blade steel.
 
"Chrome tool steel" will probably also be high( or at least medium) carbon steel.

IF it's actually an older piece, it could still be worth alot more than you gave for it.
 
Russ, you're right, it's certainly worth more than I paid for it, I just didn't want to seem like I'd been watching too much Antiques Roadshow and had found my next mortgage payment. :D

I tried taking pictures but the only charged up camera couldn't take a close up that was worthwhile.

It's valuable to me because it needs new scales, I have to create a new straight edge and either regrind the spine or incorporate several dings into some kind of filework pattern.

I've read about using electrolysis to clean the steel, but I think if it has chrome in the steel you can't do that because it makes the solution poisonous.
 
The pics are bad, but will give you an idea of what needs fixing.

79735825.jpg


98151996.jpg


21029200.jpg
 
Considering the shape it seems to be in, you might not be loosing anything by
working on it....BUT....just to be sure, why not show some (better) photos
over on Bernard Levine's sub-forum (here on BF)..? You'll get better info there.
 
L&G have been forging knives for well over 100 years in Massachusetts and still do. their Lamsonsharp brand is well respected. I doubt your knife has much monetary value but, with some work, it can be a great kitchen tool. They don't talk about the steels they use but the modern stainless knives behave something like 440A.
 
The chromium tool steel is probably not stainless, but something like O7 tool steel. Basically it has a little chromium in it to allow hardening in oil and reduce warping or cracking, but not near enough chromium to be stainless. It would be similar to Case's CV steel, without the vanadium (the V in CV), or to O1 tool steel, with less Manganese and more Chromium. It could also be something like 52100, with enough Cr added to form a considerable amount of carbides and increase both hardenability (oil vs water) and wear resistance.
 
Thank you, from these comments and Bernard's in another thread the main point for me is that I can't treat it like 10xx carbon steel when heat treating or using electrolysis for rust removal.

I'll have to do some more reading, but the blade is still good for practicing sanding, grinding and handle installation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top