Vintage corn knife hand sickle

Vintage Keen Kutter corn knife / hand sickle from the Shapleigh Hardware era, cleaned, sharpened, and ready for use or display, with the original paper “Keen Kutter – Shapleigh Hdwe. St. Louis” label still visible on the blade and a solid original wood handle with a warm oiled finish.

Detailed Description

This is a vintage Keen Kutter corn knife / hand sickle from the Shapleigh Hardware Co. era, made in St. Louis, Missouri. The blade has the classic curved profile with rolled rib along the spine and a factory recess that still holds the original paper label reading “Keen Kutter – Shapleigh Hdwe. St. Louis.” The handle is the original straight hardwood grip on a gracefully curved steel shank, giving it a great in-hand feel and a strong visual line for display.

The tool has been carefully cleaned and conserved, not over-restored. Loose rust and grime were removed by hand, leaving a dark, even patina on the blade and shank. The cutting edge was dressed to remove small chips toward the point and brought back to a good working edge suitable for light garden or yard work. The handle was cleaned, lightly sanded, and finished with boiled linseed oil and a beeswax/mineral-oil topcoat, preserving its original shape, facets, and small character marks.

The original Keen Kutter paper label is worn around the edges and shows age flaking, but the logo and “Shapleigh Hdwe. St. Louis” text remain legible and are a key feature for both Keen Kutter and farm-tool collectors.

Approximate dimensions (measurements are approximate; minor variations possible):

• Overall length: about 16–17 in.
• Blade length along the curve: about 11–12 in.
• Handle length: about 5–6 in.

This knife is suitable as a functional vintage tool for careful users, or as a piece of rustic farmhouse / shop decor. Like any older cutting tool, it should be used with appropriate caution and kept away from children.

A printed care sheet with basic maintenance and storage tips is included with purchase.

Condition notes (post-restoration):

• Blade: stable dark patina; light pitting and age marks remain, especially toward the point and near the edge; edge reshaped and sharpened to a continuous working edge.
• Label: original paper label present in the blade recess; worn and flaking at the edges but readable.
• Handle: original hardwood, tight to the shank, with minor age checks and small dings; refinished with oil and wax, no cracks or repairs.
• Hardware: rivets and pivot tight; no structural cracks observed.

Bullet Highlights

• Vintage Keen Kutter corn knife / hand sickle
• Shapleigh Hardware era: “Shapleigh Hdwe. St. Louis” label
• Original paper label preserved in blade recess
• Curved steel blade with rolled rib along spine
• Original straight hardwood handle, tight and solid
• Carefully cleaned, de-rusted, and conserved (no over-polishing)
• Edge reprofiled and sharpened for light garden use
• Warm oiled and waxed handle finish with visible grain
• Excellent rustic wall or shop decor piece
• Printed care sheet included with purchase