Lodge 3-Notch Skillet Value Guide

The Lodge 3-Notch Skillet is a quintessential piece of mid-century Americana, representing the era when Lodge transitioned from single-notch designs to improve stability on gas ranges. These unmarked pans are highly collectible for their smooth casting quality and their historical role as the primary workhorse in 1940s American kitchens.

What Is Lodge 3-Notch Skillet Worth?

The typical price range for Lodge 3-Notch Skillet is $25 - $28 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Surface smoothness and the absence of 'pitting' from sulfur or acidic cooking significantly impact the $25-$28 price range.
• The presence of a 'spinning' or 'wobbling' base caused by heat warping can reduce the value for functional users.
• The quality of the factory-style seasoning or the presence of original milling marks on the interior cooking surface.
• Structural integrity, specifically checking for hairline cracks in the sidewalls or at the handle junction.

How to Identify Lodge 3-Notch Skillet?

• Look for a distinct heat ring on the base featuring three notches located at the 9, 12, and 3 o'clock positions.
• Identify the inset mold mark or size number, typically a '3', located at the 12 o'clock position on the bottom of the pan.
• Confirm the absence of a brand logo, as these pans were produced as 'unmarked' Lodge pieces prior to the late 1980s.
• Check for a small 'incised' letter or molder's mark often found at the 6 o'clock position near the bottom rim.

History of Lodge 3-Notch Skillet

Lodge transitioned from a single-notch heat ring to this three-notch design in the early 1940s. The three notches were added to provide better stability on gas range grates. These unmarked pans were the workhorse of American kitchens for decades before the company began adding its logo to the bottom in the late 1980s.