W. & H. HUTCHINSON SCALPEL QUESTIONS 1850?

[winchester907]

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND THIS SCALPEL BY W. H. HUTCHINSON WHILE LOOKING FOR POCKET KNIVES. IM GUESSING THE BLADE LOOKS LIKE SURGICAL STEEL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE END OF THE BLADE IS CHIPPED? OR IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY. CAN IT HAVE A NEW FORMED TIP OR SHOULD IT BE LEFT ALONE, AND WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. THANKS.

[tjmurphy]

Today, "surgical steel" is used to describe stainless steel and the blade on that knife/scalpel looks to be high-carbon steel. My opinion is, though it probably does not mean much, that if the tip is broken off, fix it. Don't know for sure if it's broken or not.

[smiling-knife]

Yes the tip was broken-off. It once came to a very sharp point. A search online for 'bistoury' images will produce some examples for comparison. Regarding your second question, it depend on what you want to do with it. Reshaping it will reduce the collector value IMO.

[winchester907]

THANKS FOR THE HELP. AS SOON AS I PUT IN BISTOURY IMAGES IT CLEARED UP ALOT. ONCE I KNEW WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR , THERE ARE SOME ON E-BAY ALSO. IT LOOKS LIKE A 25$ KNIFE? IM AMAZED AT SOME OF THE ITEMS IM FINDING, BUT YOU HAVE TO SHAKE THE BUSHES PRETTY HARD ANYMORE. THANKS AGAIN.