I was robbed!!!...or maybe not
John Longwitz-Doraville, GA
>Bid on, and won, a #3 Bailey on eBay. Pics were beautiful and the only disclaimer was it might have been restored. Arrived yesterday and the excitement mounted. Three patent dates, SW iron, large adjustment knob, type 12. Japanning 100% and looks to be original. No sign of ever having rust anywhere and just about dead mint. Whoa!!!..no lateral lever. Careful exam showed it broken off the frog clean as can be. No problem, says I, as have an extra #3 frog. While checking out if the replacement fits properly discovered the previous owner filed the mouth open at least an eighth inch. Probably explains why the blade, although sharpened properly, was lowered way past the norm. He was probably making such large shavings they wouldn't pass and hogged out the mouth to correct. Now I got a $52 (counting shipping) bookend. But wait! Iron and cap iron will go for maybe $20 on the 'bay. Lever cap another $12-$15 or more on the right day. Knob and tote, which are truly beautiful honey brown with finely spaced dark streaks looking like from the same log will bring another $20-$25, and large adjusting knob another $5+. Now I'm beginning to understand why some folks choose to part these things out.
