Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-03
MAKES WONDERFUL KNIVES.
Secret of Tcmpering Steel by Which
He VIII Not Profit.

'N''''-os
A Secret of Tcmpering Steel by Which
He Will Not Profit.
Dan Stockton has the secret of
tempering steel that was believed
to have been lost with the death
of the makers of the famous To-
ledo blades, writes the Fort At
kinson (Wis.) correspondent of
the Chicago Chronicle. And this
secret will die with him. for he cam
not tell how he does it. 1t is all in
his head and finds expression in lis
work, but if he wished he cLuld not
tell his process. Dan makes carving
knives, not swords, but the knives
are of quality so rare that the old
Toledo sword is the only thing that is
o fitting comparison. A few people
in Chicago, New York, Cincinnati and
Milwaukee have knives made by Dan
which they would not exchange for
the weight Of the knife in gold, if
another could not be procured, and
the knife is not light either
These carvers are marvels. Their
temper is so fine that they will keep
razor edge for years, with nothing but
steel as sharpener, and they are
source of constant delight to those for
tunate enough to possess them, and
perpetual guarantee of good nature
in the head of the household who
does the carving. But the knives are
not on the market and money cannot
buy them. That is to say, he does
not make them for every Tom, Dick
and Harry who comes along with the
price and wants knife. He only
makes them for his friends and for
those who are fortunate enough to get
friend to intercede for them to have
Dan make them knives. To these
people he charges nominal price,
which is not i'll the least commensu-
rate with the value of the knife.
Dan is about fifty five years old
and has spent his whole life on these
waters. He is blacksmith by trade,
knocked around the West for while,
was with the army during the Civil
War, acquiring in military service so
much rheumatism that he cannot fol-
low his trade, though very expert at
it. He can temper steel as no other
man can and has plenty of work tenn
pering tools to cut stone, which is
great industry here, but he never has
work enough to interfere with his 60
ing down on Koshkonong every Sat-
urday for two days of shooting and
fishing. He will make the seven
miles down to Sim Cards place if he
has to pull boat all the way, and
when he is there he is in his element,
no matter what the season of the
year.
Dan has been making these won.
derful carving-knives for great many
years, and he can make any kind of
knife you may draw him q plan of
better than any one else in the coun-
try, but he cannot make business of
it, He would no more think of hav.
ing two knives to make at the same
time than he would of flying. II
would disturb him SO that he could
not make any to have three to finish
at once. He has proper pride in
his work, and the knife, when finished.
bears sd. Stocking" in bold lettering
on the blade, and epicures who do
dainty and artistic carving are proud
enough to show knife with that I'M.
print.
DIR. Franklyn II. Tower, of Mil
waukee, had a knife made from spe-
cial design he drew himself that is the
envy of all his friends, but they can
not get similar ones because they do
not know Dan Stocking. Postmaster
John A. Childs, of Evanston, has
made all his club friends jealous by
showing them one of Dams carving
knives, and Mr.. Loudon, of the Skin
ner & Loudon firm in Cincinnati, has
done the same thing in the Queen
City, while George Taylor is boasting
of their wonderful quality around
Marinette. ~.
Dan takes proper pride in making
such knives as no one else can make,
but If he should make any money out
of his krives he would be miserable.