Northfield

[LongBlade]

Another nice pic Jay ... Certainly seemed to make sense once electricity was available to supplement with water power - I imagine the steam engines which ran the factories were not removed with the advent of electricity..

Thanks for that information Lee
WOW...Thierry France! (Farther East than I assumed)

Here's another photo but it says Thiers as a location (so now I am thinking perhaps the other photo was Theirs and not Thierry - not sure) ... This may or not be the same cutlery but obviously same work conditions with their dogs

Actually if I remember correctly what I read was that laying down was much more comfortable in addition to some ergonomic consideration..

(Wow - we are off track from Northfield but can't help ourselves ...

[JAMESC41001]

Looks like a prison camp

[FRJ]

Those pictures show a pretty rough work environment.
And snakes too.
In Lee's picture the fellow in the back is partaking of that preventative snake bite medicine.

[Waukonda]

I dont normally go out looking for this pattern, but I also don't pass up a Northfield.

[BWT]

Very nice Ike I'm like you, I wouldn't pass on a Northfield either, good find!!

[FRJ]

I dont normally go out looking for this pattern, but I also don't pass up a Northfield.

Waukonda, I think you did the right thing.
That is a very nice old Northfield in a very sophisticated pattern.

Thanks for showing it here.

[Waukonda]

Thank you, Bill and Joe.

[danno50]

Beautiful knife, Ike! Pachyderm tooth handles to boot!

[stumpstalker]

I just discovered this distinctive Thread.

Don’t get me wrong; this Forum is loaded with great Threads. Launching this one, as FRJ has done, with original “field research”, by going out to the site of this abandoned knife company and to report what remains alongside Northfield Brook adds a welcome dash of visual scope to our indoor hobby.

And super examples of vintage knives, Northfield, Excelsior, have followed in profusion – - many in surprisingly high condition; as well-as an illustrated re-visit to the scene and up-date by FRJ and LongBlade .

I do not believe copyright law allows me to reproduce it, but under "Northfield, Connecticut", in Wikipedia, prominent are references to the former knife manufactory ("shop", in old New England parlance) and the public park that exists there today. Maybe someone on here has had a hand in that.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this Thread.

[FRJ]

Thank you for your post stumpstalker.
The Northfield site is indeed a state park. Mercifully the state has done nothing to "improve" the area.
It looks, I assume, as it did when the buildings were removed from the foundations. However that happened.
I hope for a return visit to the area soon.
I'm glad you enjoyed the thread.

[1967redrider]

Another nice pic Jay ... Certainly seemed to make sense once electricity was available to supplement with water power - I imagine the steam engines which ran the factories were not removed with the advent of electricity..

Thanks for that information Lee
WOW...Thierry France! (Farther East than I assumed)

Here's another photo but it says Thiers as a location (so now I am thinking perhaps the other photo was Theirs and not Thierry - not sure) ... This may or not be the same cutlery but obviously same work conditions with their dogs

Actually if I remember correctly what I read was that laying down was much more comfortable in addition to some ergonomic consideration..

(Wow - we are off track from Northfield but can't help ourselves ...

Thiers France Cutlers IMG_8567.JPG

Might as well be rowing a Spanish Galley.

[JohnR]

This Northfield is why I love collecting vintage knives, never know what you will find. Bought it last week and when I received it I did a light cleaning, I have a method that removes dirt and grime but does not damage the patina, I have had etches appear that were not there. That was the case with this Northfield, I knew about the light UNXLD etch but what appeared with the light cleaning was a "Northfield Saber Blade" etch, for me it puts this already rare 3 1/2" coke bottle jack way over the top.
This is my first Northfield, have been trying to land one for years but always miss out, it was worth the wait.

[TPK]

This Northfield is why I love collecting vintage knives, never know what you will find. Bought it last week and when I received it I did a light cleaning, I have a method that removes dirt and grime but does not damage the patina, I have had etches appear that were not there. That was the case with this Northfield, I knew about the light UNXLD etch but what appeared with the light cleaning was a "Northfield Saber Blade" etch, for me it puts this already rare 3 1/2" coke bottle jack way over the top.
This is my first Northfield, have been trying to land one for years but always miss out, it was worth the wait.

Very cool find John! Congrats! Truely a beautiful piece of cutlery!

[LongBlade]

Sweet Northfield John ... Northfields are not the easiest knife to find particularly in good condition - I think many reside in collections... nonetheless can I ask what your method is for cleaning?? - as I prefer the gentle cleaning myself that preserves patina etc I am curious as to how you approach it my friend - especially how it brought out the etch ...

[JohnR]

Sweet Northfield John ... Northfields are not the easiest knife to find particularly in good condition - I think many reside in collections... nonetheless can I ask what your method is for cleaning?? - as I prefer the gentle cleaning myself that preserves patina etc I am curious as to how you approach it my friend - especially how it brought out the etch ...

Lee, I settled on using 1500 to 2500 grit metal polishing sandpaper and only using light pressure, I wipe it down several times with Balistol and a microfiber cloth as I'm doing it. I was a little nervous at first but so far it has brought out any remaining etch and does not appear to scratch blades. You could not even see the etch on the Northfield before I started on it, I was very surprised to say the least.

[Waukonda]

What a great find, John! Really nice one.

[LongBlade]

Sweet Northfield John ... Northfields are not the easiest knife to find particularly in good condition - I think many reside in collections... nonetheless can I ask what your method is for cleaning?? - as I prefer the gentle cleaning myself that preserves patina etc I am curious as to how you approach it my friend - especially how it brought out the etch ...

Lee, I settled on using 1500 to 2500 grit metal polishing sandpaper and only using light pressure, I wipe it down several times with Balistol and a microfiber cloth as I'm doing it. I was a little nervous at first but so far it has brought out any remaining etch and does not appear to scratch blades. You could not even see the etch on the Northfield before I started on it, I was very surprised to say the least.

Thanks John - sounds and looks like it worked very well ... I've basically used fine steel wool (0000) and oil which removes basically dirt but does not touch patina (and nothing will remove black spider marks except the dreaded buffer which will never happen on my watch or many others I know such as yourself ) - but I am always hesitant to touch any blade with an etch but it seems to me you hit on something very worthwhile given you couldn't read the etch prior to cleaning - Cool ... Thanks again ..

[FRJ]

John, you have a real beauty there. A wonderful pattern.
Thanks for asking about the cleaning, Lee.
I was curious myself and it, along with the gorgeous knife, contributes nicely to the thread.

Thanks for the great show, John.

[JohnR]

John, you have a real beauty there. A wonderful pattern.
Thanks for asking about the cleaning, Lee.
I was curious myself and it, along with the gorgeous knife, contributes nicely to the thread.

Thanks for the great show, John.

Thank you Joe, appreciate the comments

Here is a picture of the knife before cleaning, I think I removed just enough of the 100 years or more grime without losing the history behind the knife.

[FRJ]

I wonder if anyone would be interested in these polishing papers.

https://www.amazon.com/Tri-M-Ite-Polish ... 7360&psc=1

I have had mine for a few years but I haven't used them.

[FRJ]

WOW!
It's always nice to have a before picture.
Nice work, John.

[danno50]

Great knife, John! Excellent work on bringing out the etch!

[KAW]

Way to go John!!! its been years for me too... but I'm still searching... and thanks too for describing your cleaning method... may I suggest making a YouTube video showing your technique?

Thanks Joe for the lead on the 3M polishing sheets. Amazon is showing them currently out of stock, but says the should have them again by Oct 6th.

[FRJ]

Thanks Joe for the lead on the 3M polishing sheets. Amazon is showing them currently out of stock, but says the should have them again by Oct 6th.

I just used a piece of the coarse sheet today to clean up an old fishing rod reel seat. A challenge by any reckoning.
It certainly helped.

[LongBlade]

Here's a recent Northfield that floats my boat ... and a good addition to my whittlers !

Northfield Congress Whittler - 3 & 3/16" closed - Ivory with curved shield - Master sheepfoot (seen on many congress whittlers) plus 2 secondary blades (pen and coping) and all snap & are tight - Long pulls through the tang (not often seen and often discussed as to why - recently I read in the Sheffield Exhibition book that long pulls through the tang were the signs of a skilled cutlery - many IXls that were Exhibition knives had long pulls through the tang - nonetheless if you look closely at those pulls one can see the hand made nature of the knife given the pulls are not exactly the same spot etc on each blade ... Not easy to find a Congress Whittler nevermind a Northfield ...