Jack Black Question!

[John A. Larsen]

Jack, I have a single bladed knife marked "W.H. Wragg, Sheffield, England". On the other side it says "Stainless". I found a video on You Tube entitled "W.H. Wragg Sheffield England Stag Knife-I paid 18.50" and it is the exact same knife, but mine is in much better condition. The man in the video, with some comments, thinks the knife might be 100 years old, I do not, not marked "Stainless". Then I found a photo of a William Henry Wragg, dated 1976, making knives, which I think would be a lot more likely to have been making a Stainless steel bladed knife. The knife is about 4 1/2 inches closed, blade about 3 5/8 inches long, non-locking, good walk and talk, stag slabs with a "Shield" on the left side.My question is do you know when William Henry Wragg stopped making knives in Sheffield? Thanks in advance. John

 

[SteveC]

How about a picture of your knife.

 

[waynorth]

My question is do you know when William Henry Wragg stopped making knives in Sheffield? Thanks in advance. John

Levine says 1871 to 1955!! Must be at least 2 generations of W.H.Wragg!!
Pictures please!!!

 

[John A. Larsen]

waynorth, As I said there is a photo dated 1976 of William Henry Wragg making knives, se even further than 1955. Long line of knife makers in that family. John

 

[afishhunter]

The man in the video, with some comments, thinks the knife might be 100 years old, I do not, not marked "Stainless".

Stainless hit/smacked the cutlery industry in c.1916, so over 100 years old is possible.

I have this Challenge Cutlery jack with stainless blades which dates from 1916 (when Challenge started using stainless steel) to 1928 (death of company owner & demise of company.)
View attachment 2497292

Challenge was one of the first in the USA to use stainless. I believe the Brits and other European makers started using it around the same time.

 

[John A. Larsen]

waynorth. Hold the press, you are correct. I looked further and found William Henry Wragg's son's information and they listed the Father as born in 1883-1956. His son, Eric Marshall Wragg (1920-1994) was also a cutler. So looks like if this was the last knife William Henry Wragg made it would have been in 1955. John
PS I emailed you some photos.

 

[Jack Black]

Is that all good?

 

[waynorth]

Jack, I have a single bladed knife marked "W.H. Wragg, Sheffield, England". On the other side it says "Stainless".

I looked further and found William Henry Wragg's son's information and they listed the Father as born in 1883-1956. His son, Eric Marshall Wragg (1920-1994) was also a cutler. So looks like if this was the last knife William Henry Wragg made it would have been in 1955. John
PS I emailed you some photos.

Here are John's photos, which he sent to me!!
Perhaps the son used Dad's stamps or parts???

More questions to be solved!!!

 

[Jack Black]

Here are John's photos, which he sent to me!!View attachment 2497736View attachment 2497737
Perhaps the son used Dad's stamps or parts???

More questions to be solved!!!

If his son took over, he would almost certainly have used the same stamps Charlie

 

[waynorth]

If his son took over, he would almost certainly have used the same stamps Charlie

I agree!!

 

[John A. Larsen]

Thanks for all the answers, and to Waynorth for posting my photos. Unfortunately, the brief article on son, Eric Wragg, 1920-1994 did not specify if he made knives using the Wragg name, or worked for another cutely company. So I guess my knife could have been made as late as in the 90's. It did relate how the son mentioned that neither his Grand Father or Father made much money as cutlers, which I think might have been the case with a lot of smaller makers. His Father played a piano at night at a pub to earn a little extra money. John

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for all the answers, and to Waynorth for posting my photos. Unfortunately, the brief article on son, Eric Wragg, 1920-1994 did not specify if he made knives using the Wragg name, or worked for another cutely company. So I guess my knife could have been made as late as in the 90's. It did relate how the son mentioned that neither his Grand Father or Father made much money as cutlers, which I think might have been the case with a lot of smaller makers. His Father played a piano at night at a pub to earn a little extra money. John

I haven't looked at my Tweedale yet John, but the name Eric Wragg is familiar. No working cutler ever made any money!





Now that I think of it, I have some stuff on Eric Wragg, pictured above in 1975. On Stan Shaw's bench in Sheffield Kelham Island Museum, there's a Pruner blade, which was made by Eric Wragg, and which Stan was going to make up into a knife for me, which I had intended for Duncan Campbellclanman , sadly never made J John A. Larsen , please understand that a relatively simple question might take me half a day, or longer, to research, and if I am asleep at the time you post a thread I might miss it altogether

 

[Jack Black]

By coincidence, there was a thread the other day, where I was trying to explain the geography about a small area in Sheffield between West Street and Trippet Lane, which I'm sure can be found. I mentioned that a cutler's named Mortons had workshops above it, and apparently Eric Wragg worked there in the 70's and 80's, and possibly at another place I mentioned further down West Street.

Here's another photo of Eric, probably from around this time...

From what I'm seeing, there's other information to be found without much effort