"Made in Sheffield" 1830-1930, A golden age ?

Mike Robuck said:
Here’s an old warhorse and it’s my first Sheffield knife.

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Previous owner's pics before today's lemon oil bath:

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Marvelous knife:thumbup: I want this pattern for this year's Forum Knife:D

Thanks to zerogee for re-posting that link of knives recovered from the steamboat, been looking for that for weeks.It really gives you a lot to think about in connexion with patterns and quality. How the hell did they survive down there???
 
willgoy said:
Thanks to zerogee for re-posting that link of knives recovered from the steamboat, been looking for that for weeks.It really gives you a lot to think about in connexion with patterns and quality. How the hell did they survive down there???
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They were sealed in barrels -- the wreck sank in minutes and was quickly and thoroughly silted in, sealing out most oxygen. The wreck was actually recovered by an extensive dig (still in process I understand) in a field, since the river had long since moved its twists and turns elsewhere. The knives seen there are just a small representative fraction of what they've recovered -- there are a lot more.
 
A wonderful Wostenholm jack knife Mike :thumbup:, very attractive, great maker, size and condition. I also like that "Virginian Knife" stamping on the pocket blade, new to me. Thanks for showing.

Zerogee, your picture of some of the knives recovered from the steamboat is quite astonishing, a snapshot in time, showing the sort of workaday knives being traded in 1856, amazed !.

Mick
 
Mike Robuck said:
Here’s an old warhorse and it’s my first Sheffield knife. This Virginian jack knife is 4 3/4s closed with the IXL “Celebrated” stamp that Levine’s guide says is circa 1860s-1890s.
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Mike,
What a great find for your first Sheffield knife. Wonderful set of stag handles and a rare stamping. Thanks.


Joe
 
Here's a folding Bowie knife, marked ARMY & NAVY, CSL C1890 ?, almost certainly made in Sheffield for the famous London store. The 10" blade locks open and closed.

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Mick
 
Most unusual knife Mick! Never seen anything like it, more like some kind of bayonet...What material is the handle?
 
willgoy said:
Most unusual knife Mick! Never seen anything like it, more like some kind of bayonet...What material is the handle?
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Hi willgoy,

The A & N is quite a large folding Bowie, most seem to have blades 8-9 inches long, many were made with folding crossguards, these knives were made with the hunter/explorer/Army officer in mind.

The A & N has chequered ebony scales over milled brass liners.

Mick
 
Thank you Mick.
Actually, it looks like some of that ingenious equipment that was dreamed up by dept.stores for men in the trenches in the Great War.
 
Excellent Mick,all of 'em & Thank You,a marvelous thread :thumbup:
-Vince
 
Nice one Mick. I had a German folding bowie that was similar but with a different locking mechanism.
 
So I realize office knives are kind of low on collectors’ totem pole, but here’s one that is a little over 3 3/4s closed. The ivory is in pretty good shape and the joints are completely sunk. The text and scrollwork appear to be etched in the front handle.

Not my knife, but the guy who sent it to me said post 1891 but probably pre-WWI.

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I am away from my collection for awhile, but i have an IXL Office Knife similar to the one above. i'll have to check and see if it's ivory too.
roland
 
Mick, Wonderful A&N folding bowie. Sheffield quality for sure, and for a knife that has probably seen a lot of travel in great condition.
Mike, I'm always amazed at the quality that the Sheffield companies put into even the simplest office knife. Great example.

Here is a Champagne pattern with master spear stamped "Hadfield Sheffield" and etched on the blade "Hadfield's Patent steel" Milled brass liners. circa 1880-1910.

Joe

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Interesting link Mike, Thanks for sharing that with us. 3 hours per knife!:eek: Takes me that long to think about what I am going to make next.:D

Ken
 
Been quiet around here for a few days, so I'd like to show this Joseph Rodgers slimline lockback. 4 1/2" blade, stag handles,threaded NS bolsters and brass liners. Circa 1900.

Joe

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4ever3 said:
FWIW Mike, that knife is in the 1885 catalogue. Nice knife, but what isn't in this thread :thumbup:
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The England mark puts this one post-1890. I've got several of these Geo Wostenholm office knives, though only a couple of my french ivory handled ones are in this good a shape -- very nice knives to carry, feel great in the pocket - a great, totally underrated pattern. My ivory handled ones are rather more worn. The Geo Wostenholm version of the office knife was IMO the finest version of this pattern produced (as far as I know, Joseph Rodgers never made this pattern - at least I've never seen any - not even one with "plain" scales).
 
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