Flea Market Sheffield

Chris Montgomery

Chris Montgomery

Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
2,183
This past weekend I took my daughters, 4 and 6 year olds, browsing the local flea markets and antique shops. One we went to had a large selection of knives. I was looking them over when the fellow that was working asked if I saw anything I wanted to look at. Having several of interest but overpriced I said no. I did mention I liked old slipjoints. He told me he had just gotten two old ones and would have them in the shop Tuesday. So on my lunch break I stopped in, to my surprise they were both I Xl George Wostenholm stag handled knives. One he wanted to "get looked at" the other he would sell. I wanted both. I started trying for both and almost had them both but in the end I just got the one. It had more patina and no bolsters but didn't appear to have ever been sharpened post production. I was hoping somebody could help me get an idea on date on make. I am not concerned about worth because I am sure its worth way more than I paid for it to me, after all I got an antique Sheffield made slip joint for less than a new Old Timer peanut.

I can't start a thread on my laptop but I can post images in one. I can start a thread on my phone but I can't post images from it so give me a bit and I will get some pics up.

Chris
 
9456453630_40b6494f84_z.jpg

9456451126_5a8d5aa051_z.jpg

9456451934_2d8cd10f52_z.jpg

9456452758_20f2031703_z.jpg

Any information would be appreciated but I welcome comment also. I am loving this little knife. It has great walk and talk very nice half stops with the back springs flush at all three stops. The pulls appear to be forged in and the master blade has pulls on both sides. I am going to keep trying to get the other knife also, just hope he will sell it to me. Thanks for looking.

Chris
 
A thread title guaranteed to get my attention! :D Great knife Chris, and in excellent condition. I picked up an old Wostenholm on Saturday that really had the heck beaten out of it, but the blades (or what's left of them) are still solid). These are realy well made knives and you have a fine piece of Sheffield history there. Hope you manage to get the other knife too :thumbup:
 
Thanks Jack. Feel free to share pics of yours,I know I would like to see it. Even if I never know when this knife was made I am very happy with it and who doesn't like showing off a new purchase. Thats part of the joy of the forums. My idea of the ideal gentleman's knife has always been a slip joint with stag ivory or pearl, so what more could I really ask for.

Chris
 
The stuff of dreams! Looks very decent and tidy knife, one I'd like anyway.

Sunk-joints, coined liners and shadow construction, plus the cut-outs for access. Perhaps jigged bone rather than stag, but nothing inferior about that at all! From what I can see from the pics, doesn't look over cleaned, tang stamps good&sharp etc. I like the symmetry, equal end frame and bar shield, lot of quality here. You could check the 'Sheffield a Golden Age' thread as I believe this belongs there as well, I would say it's pre World War One. Others know more than I do though.

Extremely nice item.

thanks, Will
 
That Wostenholm is really great looking. Congratz on that great find! :)

I love the look of that worn-out-stag handles. There´s still a lot of life left in that knife.
 
I am amazed you managed to hand over your money without being shoulder charged from behind, by the time you recover the dark one ( yes we know who he is ) has taken the knife - paid of it, and disappeared...
 
A great looking old knife. It looks like its faired very well, where and what ever it has been used for.

I think Mr Black might be quite jealous! :)
 
Thank s very much gents. Will, at first I was thinking jigged bone also, still could be, but the jigged pattern is different enough from one side to the other that I started thinking stag. If it is bone its the coolest jigged pattern I have seen. I was thinking the date would be somewhere along the same lines as you. From my limited knowledge I figured 1890-1910. But thats speculation. I am still shocked that I got it and can't contain the smiles.

I will try to post it in the Golden Age thread. I love that thread, so much eye candy. My wife caught me looking at in and had to sneak a peak over my shoulder because she thought I might be looking at the kind of eye candy the internet is known for.

Chris
 
Last edited:
Congratulations on an excellent find.:thumbup:
Can't tell from the photos - do any of the tang stamps say "England", or do they just say "Sheffield"?
 
Chris Montgomery said:
Thanks Jack. Feel free to share pics of yours,I know I would like to see it. Even if I never know when this knife was made I am very happy with it and who doesn't like showing off a new purchase. Thats part of the joy of the forums. My idea of the ideal gentleman's knife has always been a slip joint with stag ivory or pearl, so what more could I really ask for.

Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris, here some pics of another Wostenholm I have, from the 1920's I believe. :)

Jack

















 
Sorrry if my last comment seemed short or lacking respect. I was in between cars to work on and was busy.
Jack to make up the lack of England stamped on the tang I will have a pint with it in your honor. I know that may not make up for it but its what I can do.:thumbup:

Chris
 
Berkley said:
A strong probability that it was made before the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, that required country of origin marking. America was a major market for Wostenholm.
Click to expand...

True, but I don't think this was an export model but a stay-at-home.
 
What makes you think so?
(I know the "England = >1890" thing is just a rule of thumb - and as Bernard Levine is fond of pointing out, "rules of thumb will poke you in the eye".:p)
 
Last edited:
Chris Montgomery said:
Chris Montgomery said:
There is no England on the tang.
Click to expand...

Jack Black said:
I'm loathe to take it back :D ;)
Click to expand...

Sorrry if my last comment seemed short or lacking respect. I was in between cars to work on and was busy.
Jack to make up the lack of England stamped on the tang I will have a pint with it in your honor. I know that may not make up for it but its what I can do.:thumbup:

Chris
Click to expand...

Chris, I was only joking! Very sorry if that wasn't clear, please accept my apologies :)

Jack
 
Chris Montgomery said:
There is no England on the tang.
Click to expand...

Berkley said:
A strong probability that it was made before the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, that required country of origin marking. America was a major market for Wostenholm.
Click to expand...

willgoy said:
True, but I don't think this was an export model but a stay-at-home.
Click to expand...

Berkley said:
What makes you think so?
(I know the "England = >1890" thing is just a rule of thumb - and as Bernard Levine is fond of pointing out, "rules of thumb will poke you in the eye".:p)
Click to expand...

Are we talking about the STAINLESS Wostenholm? ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top