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Smithey Ironware

Smithey No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet

Hand-polished smooth interior recreating the pre-WWII Wagner/Griswold finish. Made in Charleston, SC.

Smithey No. 12 cast iron skillet with polished interior

$250

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Our take

Smithey is small-batch heritage cast iron from Charleston, SC. The No. 12 (12-inch, ~7-8 lbs) ships pre-seasoned with grapeseed oil and has a hand-polished smooth interior that develops seasoning faster than rough-finish cast iron. Same iron physics as Lodge — same heat retention, same indestructibility, same induction compatibility — but with a craft finish. The price reflects American small-foundry manufacturing and finish work, not better cooking performance per se.

Pros

  • Polished smooth interior — seasons faster than rough-finish iron
  • US small-batch manufacturing in Charleston, SC
  • Same cast iron benefits — induction-OK, indestructible

Cons

  • Premium price (~7x Lodge for same cooking performance)
  • Heavy (~7-8 lbs for the No. 12)
  • Single helper handle ergonomics differ from a long handle

Citations

  1. [1]Hand-polished smooth interior cast iron, pre-seasoned with grapeseed oil, made in Charleston, South Carolina — Smithey Ironware About page