Thread: Sterling Harley

This blade was sold by Harley of 33,34 Old Haymarket of Liverpool back in the day. Harley is listed to have been a planemaker and I expect an ironmonger and cutler as well. The 'NEVA' trademark on the backside tang indicates it was made in Sheffield by John Clarke and son, 1892-1921. The blade is a 'rattler' grind and has plain evidence of the lengthwise grinding striations on the blade's faces.

The sterling scales were made by Foster and Baily of Providence, Rhode Island, 1878-1898

Lots of work in this one. The scales were badly dinged up around the edges, so jigs were made to tap and straighten as best I could. A bit of judicious sawing on the inner wedge for clearance, finally got it pinned.

A friend gave me this blade, saying it was bad and he wanted nothing to do with it. Looked OK to me? In fact, it was unused in appearance. As I got it on the hones, I saw what he saw. It was off, BAD! It seemed to be warped or mis-ground in a most peculiar way as, when swooping it upon the stone, the front side did fine yet the bevel was not touching the hone in the middle of the back side.

Several sessions doing the craziest things to bring that backside in finally paid off. In the process, the bevels grew until finally, the middle of the back bevel formed and things felt normal on the stone.
Using a single layer of tape, I coaxed it into submission in several sessions and finally got it shaving cleanly.

I could write a book on the experience, but it would consist of mostly expletives unfit to read!
I feel I owe my friend a dirty deed in exchange!

Anyhoo, all's well which ends well~