That’s how all mine look, flame, couple slices of bacon, and a couple of eggs are all that is needed!!

Nice piece btw.

SKILLET. Not a pan. ;D

I found this in a box of junk. Seems in pretty decent shape.

The cooking surface is smooth in most areas, but something is cooked on or maybe it was rusty at some time.

you can season it if you want but looks good.

Throw it in a good hot fire.

Looks pretty good, some carbon build up on the exterior. Can use as is with a good season but I would strip to bare metal with a lye soak. Electrolysis works as well.

I prefer the non heat methods to avoid the risk of warping or cracking due to excessive uncontrolled heat. If I had to use heat I would use oven cleaner and the self clean cycle in the oven as that's a more controllable process.

Once stripped to bare grey iron wash it up good in HOT water then tuck into a warm oven to dry, you want to avoid flash rust. Then reseason, three THIN coats.

hot water and a stiff brush , then dry something and your good to go

if you worried about the build up of stuff not on the cooking surface , don't

I have some you can't even tell the brand the gunk on the bottom and sides is so thick , but no issue cooking with it

if you want to strip it , suspend in a lye bath

I punched the reset button on one last night it is Wagner 1891 this a post wagner ,wagner name borrower that called themselves Wager 1891
didn't pay much for these and they are not really anything special so in the wood stove with a ripping hot fire pulled it out this morning and washed and seasoned it

the day I bought them this summer , they had been used but never much.

GREENCOUNTY I put my wife's no sided frying xpan in my outdoor wood burner. Thought it should burn it off and come out nice. It came out warped and headed to the scrap pile. Guess the fire in it gets to hot. Won't do that again good thing it was a modern lodge they still make and not one of my great grandmothers pieces so I was able to order a replacement.

If you put it in a fire don't use the kind of wood you heat with. You dont want it hot like hedge or oak or something. Scrap framing lumber works. Easiest way is put it in a self cleaning oven and put it on clean. Let it cool, wash it, then season it.

Electrolysis is the best way to clean them, burning in a fire is too risky.
Once warped , they never hold a good nonstick bottom .
I've seen people sand blast them, and maybe on the outside , would work , but never on the cooking surface.
JMHO.