What happened here?

[Scott W]

Was it a drop or weak steel? This is as found in that pile of chisels from that toolbox.  Looks like the steel has cracks maybe a 3/4 of inch from the edge.

[toolmiser]

Too many paint cans?

[iclark]

Perhaps someone really messed up a heat treatment.

[Tony Z]

Agree w/heat treatment issue, looking like chisel was not "drawn back" after HT, leaving the steel brittle.

[Timberwolf]

Agree w/heat treatment issue, looking like chisel was not "drawn back" after HT, leaving the steel brittle.

.....................
That's it....

[AHill]

Another vote for a messed up heat treatment - or letting the tip get too hot when grinding a new edge. Those cracks and chips are indicative of a brittle edge. The only way to fix that is to grind away the edge to remove the cracks, then re-temper the blade. It's short enough as-is. Based on the coarse scratches on the back side, it appears this was a beater chisel in its previous life.

[Scott W]

Makes sense. Sad though b/c I'd never had this style of chisel before and I really like how it feels in my hands. Anybody know what is called?

[andrewb]

Makes sense.  Sad though b/c I'd never had this style of chisel before and I really like how it feels in my hands.  Anybody know what is called?

Stanley Everlasting and agreed - once you pick one up, you don't want to put it down.

[Ron Brese]

<p>

Was it a drop or weak steel? This is as found in that pile of chisels from that toolbox.&nbsp; Looks like the steel has cracks maybe a 3/4 of inch from the edge.

</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Too heavy a hand on the grinder.&nbsp;Very likely that someone got that chisel way too hot when grinding and then quenched it in water causing it to crack.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Ron</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

[wmesquite]

<p>

Was it a drop or weak steel? This is as found in that pile of chisels from that toolbox.&nbsp; Looks like the steel has cracks maybe a 3/4 of inch from the edge.

</p><p><br></p><p>I think they tried to use it as a cold chisel&nbsp; <img src="https://www.forums.woodnet.net/images/graemlins/yellowno.gif" data-sceditor-emoticon="
" alt="
" title="
"> and cut some steel with it. Big chunk out of edge, no colors from heat treat, doesn't show signs of being freshly ground. These chisels do have solid steel from end of handle to tip, easy to see someone thought it could be used that way. Notice how it split the steel in the middle where the socket is formed- they don't delaminate like that very easily. If you look at this slice of one, you'll see how striking the end hard enough would do this.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-stanley-everlast-chisel-1835944124">Cut Everlast</a></p><p><br></p><p>I love the way Everlasts feel in the hand and have about 20&nbsp;wood ones, including some Wood's patent pre-Stanley. The longer 20's (with a neck,&nbsp;as shown in the link)&nbsp;don't have quite the same feel as the 40/50 style shown by OP, but are still really nice. The early black rubber handled ones have the same feel and steel and cost half as much. But the vast majority of the black plastic ones have a different shape and feel&nbsp;just like the ubiquitous yellow handled&nbsp;60 style chisels. FWIW&nbsp;&nbsp;the numbers I used here are the catalog numbers used by Stanley.</p><p><br></p><p>Wade</p><p><br></p>