Made by the J Russell Green River Co. at their new Turners Falls factory, at the time the worlds largest cutlery factory. Hand forged blade is hot stamped "J Russell & Co  Patented 1872". In 1880 all Russell knives were marked with an acid etch rather than this hot stamp so luckily for us it can be dated within an eight year period. 

The slightly center swelled shape ebony handle is amazingly free from cracks and is held fast with 5 iron pins and applied iron bolsters pinned in place. This design is a classic New England solution to non-integrally bolstered handles tendancy to swell at the blade handle junction. 

The blade had been sharpened in just enough to benefit from a light thinning behind the edge, this has been done without disturbing the age of the blade through its scratches, light pits and pepper spots. 

11" cutting edge, 16 3/4" overall length and weighing in at 11.8 oz