Thanks for the information. I read the company history and find it
interesting.
While the Kangaroo trademark is mentioned nothing is said about the Iron
Cross stamped beside the name of: Robt. Sorby. I have remove the rust, made
a handle and sharpened the gouge. It works good but requires frequent
sharpening in hard wood. I compared it to carbon steel and HSS. The
Sorby's caststeel came in third. When caststeel was first introduced it
must have been the best material for edged tools in those days.
Now that the gouge is in good shape I'll kept it as a collection item.
Maybe some day I'll find out what year it was made.

"Alun Saunders" wrote in message
...
Bjarte Runderheim wrote:

"Denis Marier" skrev i melding
...

I was given an old rusted gouge. The handle of this gouge looks
mediocre. When removing the rust the stamping read: Robt. Sorby,
caststeel. Beside the name was an Iron Cross also stamped. On the
other side I also found a stamped figure that appears to be a
Buddha in meditation? I wonder how old is that gouge and who were
the original tool makers?

Try this:
www.robert-sorby.co.uk/

On the section on the website about the history of the Robert Sorby
company there's mention of a Kangaroo trademark ... could look a little
like a Buddha I suppose if it was rusty enough

--
Alun