old DEXTER carbon steel butcher knife

Prompted by Jlew55's "big knife" shown earlier today, here's one of my own favorites. ;-) A little over 17" in total length, its blade is roughly 12" long.

Marked with its maker's name and model# 38712R on one side of its hardwood (walnut?) handle, it also bears a stamped "HARRISON CUTLERY CO." logo on that side of its blade. The backside end of its handle features a little carved-in 'star' (perhaps a 'personalization mark' by a previous butcher/chef owner?) as well as evidence of a little 'rodent gnawing' which belies the story of how it came to be mine -- it is actually about the only single item (worth keeping anyway?) which I found laying in the dirt in my crawlspace after I bought my house a few yrs ago. I then cleaned it up somewhat with the wire-wheel/steel wool and re-oiled its handle, that's how it appears here. Despite all that it actually retains a surprisingly *sharp* cutting edge...this was also apparently quite a high quality knife. :-) The DEXTER (-RUSSELL CUTLERY) name and Company still exists today as matter of fact, this particular model# no longer appears in their catalog but this one is likely the current equivalent?

http://www.dexterrussellcutlery.com/dexter-russell-traditional-12-butcher-knife-4641-012-12bu/

This link from the same homepage supplies the history/lineage of the various names/companies involved in its manufacture:

http://www.dexterrussellcutlery.com/about-us/

FUN TRIVIA FACT: since I found it under the house and cleaned it up, I never really thought I'd wanna ever *use* it for anything beyond 'old shelf dressing'. Also accidentally, it was still laying around under the backseat of my truck (long after I actually cleaned it up/etc...it just never made it back outta there?) so during my recent "family reunion weekend" it actually DID end up getting used to slice up a watermelon or three, once I noticed one of my nephews attempting to carve open the 1st one with some or other measly little kitchen knife. Even more amusing was a comment or two overheard from a little group of nieces watching while I then retrieved it from my truck ... "he's got a machete" or somesuch...? <ROTFL>

But anyways the watermelon(s) was delicious along with being well-sliced. And neither I (nor anybody otherwise) is currently requiring medical treatment for tetanous (however one spells that) due to "rust" that I know of. ALL GOOD...? <giggle>