I got what I think is a pretty decent chisel for about 25 cents at an estate sale. It’s a 1 1/4″ bevel edge paring chisel. After wire brushing the crud and paint off, I can read the following:
ERIK ANTON BERG
LSKILSTUNA
SWEDEN
Under the word SWEDEN is what looks to be a shark.
My search of the internet took me to a list of sales where there may have been some similar tools. Does anyone know of this maker and the quality of his products? Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Mack
Replies
mack the sign of the shark is used in another present day swedish product - sandvik-. whether this has any connection?? i dont know. sandvik line includes scrapers, saw's, the knew hybrid japnese saws(cheap ) and also chisels more readily available in europe.20 years ago the quality of steel was premium. now it's still ok , but like everything else. ...... i like these mystery of old stuff , i'll be watchin' this post.. cheers.. bear
Mack,
I've seen 'em at tool collectors' meets. I've never bought any but they sure have a good reputation. Berg chisels bring a premium price and it's not collectors that pay it; it's always knowledgeable woodworkers. While I prefer old chisels (gotta say that the prototype Lie-Nielsen I've been using is equal to or better than any of my old ones) most of those I use bring a turned up nose from those who hunt for the Berg chisels. Some day I'll find one at a decent price to play with.
Edited 5/12/2003 9:50:01 PM ET by Larry Williams
Larry,
Thanks for the reply! I was really lucky at this sale. I have a pretty good eye for "junk" and quality. When I picked up the chisel it was really covered with crap but it had a good "heft" and a nice sound when I struck it. When I wire brushed it and saw that it was made in Sweden, I was happy as I have one other chisel that has no brand, just the words "made in Sweden" on the back. It is my very favorite one. Now it turns out that the new one is not only Swedish but a stand out among the very good!
The cardboard box it came out of had some other items, a chisel handle ( which it turns out fits the Berg), a tiny caliper (goes to 2" or so) made by Starrett and some sort of revolution counter, also made by Starrett (pat. date of 1905) and a guard for doing molding on a Craftsman radial arm saw (in original box). There were a couple of other small items as well for a total price of $4.00
I should have bought a loto ticket!!!
I'm curious if anyone knows about the "Berg" company. I read on another site that they were out of business. Do you know when the company was active? what else they made?
Thanks again for the info!
Mack
The first letter is an "e"...Eskilstuna...and I would guess that it's a tuna rather than a shark! But I could be wrong. A google search for Eskilstuna and frequent searches on eBay will yield more information. And I'm confident a few people on the forum will offer some more informed background on the E.A. Berg and Eskilstuna trademarks.
Look closely at the blade...you should see a seam where the harder business end of the blade meets the softer shaft. I was lead to believe this was unique for its time (though perhaps I'm perpetuating a myth!).
I have a couple of these which I scavanged from my dad's toolbox including a nice 2" butt chisel. All had been used to pry open paint cans, lever more than their share of wallboard and doors into place, and could still hold enough of an edge to hand tool the hinge mortises on a door and jamb. All still have their original handles...all date to the 1950's.
Nice find! That chisel will last you yet another lifetime!
tony b.
Hi Mack,
Larry's right, the Berg chisels really hold an edge and are of better quality than any modern western chisel, and alot of the others from the 1850's to 1950 period.
Eskilstuna is a town about 60km west of Stockholm, where they were made.
Keep it, use it. You won't be disappointed.
eddie
(who's gradually reverting back to a working set of Berg chisels from an eBay 'bargain' set of quality chisels that don't really hold their edge)
EA Berg chisels are an extremely fine quality that last forever when properly cared for. The Swedish steel of the time was some of the finest world wide for tool making. It is most definitely a shark not a tuna. You got a real treasure.
Just checked my dad's chisel that I have, it says E.A. Berg, ESKILSTUNA SWEDEN. I have to look for others when I visit my mom.
Eric Anton Berg began forging straight razors in Eskilstuna at the age of 23. His straight razors are noted for quality materials, (high carbon steel) and finish, expert heat treat, well ground and final finish.
He built the EA Berg forge and expanded in 1889 to include the manufacture of knives and tools. Berg was a pioneer of quality control and heat treat, with molten lead quenching. EA Berg razors and chisels are renowned for their quality and durability.
The company was later purchased by Sandvik in the 90’s and later Bahco.
The Shark and Anchor were Berg trademarks. I have several EA Berg straight razors with the Shark trademark. They are beautifully crafted razors and fine shavers.
EA Berg chisels are noted for their quality carbon steel, expert finish, and hard curled birch wood handles.
The short answer is, EA Berg are excellent chisels, and a smoking buy at 25 cents.
I just picked up a 1/4" one at a flea market in Plant City Florida. I didn't know what is was but I could tell it had quality to it. In fairly rough shape the guy wanted $2. I offered him a buck and he took it. I have cleaned it up just a bit and sharpened it to a fine edge. It is sharp, sharp. Wow. It will cut end grain pine like butter. Hope it holds it.
These are some of the finest chisels you could ever come across. The shark is the trade mark and indicates the great Swedish steel the rivals the best anywhere. I am 3rd generation woodworker and been in the business for 40 years and am always on the lookout for a set or even individual Eric Anton Berg shark chisels, made in Eskilstuna, Sweden. My father and grandfather who immigrated from Sweden had them but someone else got them. You got a great find.
I have the full set of EA Berg chisels - the wooden storage box as well, which itself is almost a work of art. They actually put some thought into it. I feel very fortunate.
They were given to me by my father shortly before he passed on and it was a gift to him from my Uncle in Europe. Fortunately, as my father was a farmer they didn't see a whole lot of action so they're almost in pristine condition.
I'd hazard a guess to say they're at least 65 years old. When I was a young sap my father always told me Sweden made the best steel and I have to believe he was right.
It holds a razor sharp edge like nothing else. Swedes hit the sweet spot with respect to just the right amount of hardness and just the right softness. I'll leave it to the metallurgists to explain the technical aspects. I'm sure there are modern comparables out there but with a price tag to match.
I use them rarely, preferring instead to use my less expensive Marples and Sandviks so as to keep the grinding and honing of the EAB's to a minimum.
Someday I'll part with them of course. My children are all in the professional fields occupationally, so I'm a little reluctant to pass it down to them where I'm sure they'll be used as paint scrapers or putty knives. *Shudder*
So I'm leaning towards selling it to those who'll appreciate them.
I'll look for you in old Honolul-a
San Francisco, Eskilstuna,
You're gonna have to leave me now, I know
But I'll see you in the sky above
In the tall grass, in the ones I love
You're gonna make me lonesome when you go
"Blood on The Tracks" ! A fine collection of ditties and moanings-on. It's the only one o' his I still play occasionally.
Not in the shed, mind. There, it is BBC Radio 3 (classical weirdness) or fantastical guitar playing by various South Americans - although that Jason Vieaux is also allowed to pluck now and then.
What musical noises do others like to play in their workshops, if any? Not that I'll have heard of 99.9% of them, as I am an old scrote now, curling a lip at the thumpa-thump, banga-bang, whines & hoots of the younger folks' "music". :-)
Lataxe, a fuddy-duddy.
I think John needs his dosage adjusted.
My own "dosages" were adjusted in 1968 and I've been all the better for it. Oh yes I have!
Who was a hippie and who was a freak, then? Who was an okie from Musgokee? I think we should be told.
Photos always help.
Mind, if you can remember the 60s .... you weren't there. :-)
Lataxe
I could not grow facial hair yet in the 60s. The witness protection program prohibits me from posting photos.
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