Item NA9 - Henry N. Dean (New Bedford, Mass) Ship Builder’s Slick
Henry
Dean worked as a blacksmith on the New Bedford waterfront for 60 years, from
1839 when he made whalecraft for Alden Snell on Rodman’s wharf. After a
blacksmithing partnership with John Sawyer (Dean & Sawyer) he worked on his own
on North Water Street as an iron work manufacturer (ship hardware) and then as
an edge tool maker from 1889-1897, when he retired. This slick is a great
example of his work. This is a clean, tarnished but not pitted socket slick
with a working width of just a tad over 3 inches. The blade is 7 ˝ inches long
from edge to shoulders, and is 14 ˝ inches long to the top of the socket and is
clearly hand forged. The hickory handle looks original. It has one check in
the center, through a lanyard hole midway, and was fitted at one time for an
iron hoop end. The blade is marked, “H.N. DEAN / CAST STEEL” and has a very
small additional “H.N.Dean” next to this. I have not seen this second mark
before. “VAY” lightly stamped on the blade was probably an owner. This slick
is clean and without significant pitting. It is Fine.
Price - $150.00