- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 65,547
I came across this old feller the other day, priced at around $3, in a shop that doesnt usually stock knives, and despite his worn out state, I thought he deserved a better end than a junk shop trash can. This old knife has worked some long hours and seen some hard times I reckon, yet someone still cared about him enough to fix him up a bit when he was broken and keep on throwing him a few chores every now and again. Ill warrant he was still scraping out some old gentlemans pipe bowl right until the end.
When I got the old knife home and wiped off a bit of the pipe soot, I could see that it was made long ago by the Mulberry Cutlery Company, a mark used by the firm established by Lewis Barnascone. Having never previously heard of this cutler until I came across a Barnascone knife a few months ago, I found the story of the company an interesting and rather touching read.
The Barnascones were (Italian) Swiss Catholics, who apparently came to Sheffield in the early 19th century. According to Geoffrey Tweedales encyclopaedic Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers, citing an earlier work, the Barnascone business was founded by Lewis in 1820. After Lewis died in 1849, aged only in his late 40s, his nephew Quirico Barnascone adopted the name Lewis himself, being joined in business by his uncle Henry Barnascone, and later by his three sons, John, Lewis, and Charles.
In 1877, Quirico Lewis Barnascone died suddenly, aged 62, with his widow dying 10 years later, aged 52. The Barnascone sons continued to run the Sheffield company, but in 1906, Lewis relinquished his share in order to concentrate on running the Barnascones Paris branch, which sold bicycles and cars. He died in Paris in 1925, having reached the grand old age of 73.
Sadly, in 1909 Charles fell from the cliffs at the English seaside resort of Blackpool, and was drowned. He was aged 55. His brother John, continued to run the business until after WW1, but it didnt survive the 1930s depression.
While, like many folk of their day, some of the Barnascones died tragically young, they all have descendents living today, as I found out while researching my first Barnascone knife. They also sometimes pop up on knife forums! Ive read posts elsewhere by several members of the Barnascone clan, including Quirico Barnascones Great Great Grandaughter and Henrys Great Great Grandson.
The Barnascone tuxedo knife carries Lewis Barnascones name ('Lewis' over 'Barnascone' over 'Sheffield'), along with the firms attractive grasshopper (actually a cicada apparently) mark. The Mulberry Cutlery Company takes its name from the Sheffield street where Quirico Lewis Barnascone moved his business in 1880.
I may occasionally slip the slim MOP Balloon knife into my pocket, but I reckon the old Jack probably deserves a rest unless I should happen to take up pipe-smoking of course!
Its nice that like Lewis Barnascones descendents, these old knives are still around to help mark the life of an old Swiss cutler, who once journeyed to Sheffield.
Jack
When I got the old knife home and wiped off a bit of the pipe soot, I could see that it was made long ago by the Mulberry Cutlery Company, a mark used by the firm established by Lewis Barnascone. Having never previously heard of this cutler until I came across a Barnascone knife a few months ago, I found the story of the company an interesting and rather touching read.
The Barnascones were (Italian) Swiss Catholics, who apparently came to Sheffield in the early 19th century. According to Geoffrey Tweedales encyclopaedic Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers, citing an earlier work, the Barnascone business was founded by Lewis in 1820. After Lewis died in 1849, aged only in his late 40s, his nephew Quirico Barnascone adopted the name Lewis himself, being joined in business by his uncle Henry Barnascone, and later by his three sons, John, Lewis, and Charles.
In 1877, Quirico Lewis Barnascone died suddenly, aged 62, with his widow dying 10 years later, aged 52. The Barnascone sons continued to run the Sheffield company, but in 1906, Lewis relinquished his share in order to concentrate on running the Barnascones Paris branch, which sold bicycles and cars. He died in Paris in 1925, having reached the grand old age of 73.
Sadly, in 1909 Charles fell from the cliffs at the English seaside resort of Blackpool, and was drowned. He was aged 55. His brother John, continued to run the business until after WW1, but it didnt survive the 1930s depression.
While, like many folk of their day, some of the Barnascones died tragically young, they all have descendents living today, as I found out while researching my first Barnascone knife. They also sometimes pop up on knife forums! Ive read posts elsewhere by several members of the Barnascone clan, including Quirico Barnascones Great Great Grandaughter and Henrys Great Great Grandson.
The Barnascone tuxedo knife carries Lewis Barnascones name ('Lewis' over 'Barnascone' over 'Sheffield'), along with the firms attractive grasshopper (actually a cicada apparently) mark. The Mulberry Cutlery Company takes its name from the Sheffield street where Quirico Lewis Barnascone moved his business in 1880.
I may occasionally slip the slim MOP Balloon knife into my pocket, but I reckon the old Jack probably deserves a rest unless I should happen to take up pipe-smoking of course!
Its nice that like Lewis Barnascones descendents, these old knives are still around to help mark the life of an old Swiss cutler, who once journeyed to Sheffield.
Jack
