Antique L. & I. J. White Drawknife – 6.5” x 4” Heavy Blade – Buffalo, NY Carpenter Tool

This authentic 19th-century L. & I. J. White drawknife (draw shave) is a high-grade American edge tool manufactured in Buffalo, New York. Designed for timber framing, coopering, and heavy woodworking, this tool features a thick, hand-forged steel blade engineered for smooth wood removal.

• Blade & Markings: Stamped with the desirable "L. & I. J. WHITE / BUFFALO, N.Y." maker's mark. The heavy high-carbon steel blade displays a dark, honest historical patina with light surface character and smooth aging.

• Handles & Tangs: Dual splayed handles fitted with original hardwood grips and secured by thick iron ferrules and capped tangs. The handles show smooth wear from years of shop use while providing a comfortable, firm grip.

• Condition: Good antique condition. Free from structural cracks or major edge deep nicks. The bevel retains good steel geometry for sharpening and functional wood-shaving work.

History

Founded in Buffalo, New York, in 1837 by brothers Leonard and Isaac J. White, L. & I. J. White was one of America's premier 19th- and early 20th-century tool manufacturers. Celebrated for their exceptional edge-holding capabilities and proprietary laminated steel forging processes, their tools—ranging from adzes and axes to drawknives and chisels—were the preferred choice among professional shipwrights, coopers, and timber framers across the country.

Drawknives of this heavy profile were essential hand tools used for debarking logs, shaping timber beams, and sculpting curved wooden components before the advent of automated planing machinery. Today, L. & I. J. White tools are highly prized by timber framers, green-woodworkers, and collectors of early American edge tools.

Dimensions

• Blade Width (Cutting Edge): 6.5 inches

• Blade Height (Spine to Edge): 4.0 inches

• Overall Width (Handle to Handle): ~15.0 – 17.0 inches

• Spine Thickness: ~0.25 inches (1/4")

• Total Weight: ~1.5 – 2.5 lbs