1880s Antique Rusty Cleaver Restoration - Restoration Videos

Hello dear friends. I am now publishing my new video and present it to your liking. Although it seemed as one piece, it has been a hard cleaver restoration. This restoration includes techniques which can be applied on other cutting tools.
First of all, thanks to Lawrence who sent me this product from U.S.A, Memphis. From the information I got from Lawrence; this is an American Foster Bros. Hog Splitter made between 1878-1890. He said this belonged to his grandfather and has been sitting in his garage for a long time. Before starting the restoration, I couldn’t read the writings on it. I saw the number “10” after sandblasting. Unfortunately Foster Bros. logo was long gone due to years of wear & tear. But Lawrence says that he can remember the logo on it.
Cutting edge has been sharpened before, in a amateurish way. Because of this, the cutting edge has lost it’s straight form. The metal part of the handle was in very bad condition and weak. Where the handle and the body of the cleaver connects, although it would be really hard to bend it there, was bent. The wood handle and the rivets were not originals. Where the hole for hanging the cleaver is located was severaly bent to one side.
In the light of this information, after dissambling the handle I sandblasted the rust away. I saw the number “10”. To re-do the edge and the handle part, I cut it. After normalizing it, I re-ground the edge, then removed all the corrosion and the wear time has caused on the metal surface. This is a matter of preference and I prefered it to do it this way. After these, I hardened the edge. By the way, because high-carbon steel was expensive compared to lower carbon steel back in 1800’s, bladesmith’s used to use high-carbon steel on the cutting edge and low-carbon steels for the body, forge-welding them so it would be cheaper to make a new but functionable tool.
I welded a new piece where I have cut the handle part off.I made a new cross-guard for it.The old cross-guard must have been made out of sheet metal.Because it would be impossible to force a rigid metal part over the shoulder there.So I have decided to make the new cross-guard out of aluminium. I fitted the cross-guard before the welding so it was nice and easy.Choosing a wood for the handle, I decided to use walnut which I thought was appropriate wood for it.I used hidden rivets on it.
A nice sharpening and lots of fruit-vegetable cutting tests awaits you.If you are not subscribed, you can subscribe to my channel, hit the like button if you liked the video and if you have a question about the project, you can comment under the video. Don’t forget, I read every single comment. See you again in new projects, goodbye