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

Campbellclanman said:
Hi there, well all I can say is wow!!..everyone who has posted heir stunning knives in this thread...there are those of you who are VERY lucky owners...stunning knives.
I think that it may be a general consensus that the good ol' Stag just cannot be beaten..sorry if these are not original words to this thread-but so true...here is my G.Woodhead Bowie...

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Mick..you have some stunning knives-as do all the participating forum members who have joined in...I hope mine holds enough interest to join these beautifull knives...please, lets keep those photos of your knives rolling in...dont be pigs, and let us all enjoy just a little of 'em :D
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Thanks for the kind words...agree some stunning knives on display ...a special thanks to all who have posted photos and comments so far..

A lovely old Bowie there Duncan, looks in fabulous condition !, great clip point blade with a long false edge, I really like the American eagle E. Pluribus Unum etch, the thin oval cross guard and embossed ferrule and pommel, really nice sheath too, very classy !. Thanks for showing :thumbup:

Mick.
 
Mick, thanks for showing us your beautiful collection. It's like stepping into a time machine. It is rare to see that fine work today.
 
waynorth said:
Mick, thanks for showing us your beautiful collection. It's like stepping into a time machine. It is rare to see that fine work today.
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Delighted you've enjoyed seeing many of the items posted Charlie, cheers.

Here are a few pictures of a rare fixed blade knife marked star & cross (logo) JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS complete with it's Regency style pressed card scabbard. Not entirely sure of it's age ? late 18th- early 19 C ?, measures 10". The knife handle is hilted in ebony, the blade is very unusual, complex and beautifully ground, the wavy part of the blade is razor sharp (amazing workmanship). I've been told it's a "carrot knife" (for slicing carrots), but I'm doubtful, wondered if it was some sort of surgical knife ?.

Has anyone seen anything similar ?.

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Thanks for looking ..Mick
 
Hi Mick,

That is truly WILD!!! I have no idea if "carrot knife" is correct or not, but I'm quite certain that this post will start some wild and wooly guesses.

Jim Taylor.
 
I've just gone back through this thread from the start. Great knives !!

Mick, you have an outstanding collection!!
 
Wow, you don't visit this site for a few weeks ( moved from Ct to Fl ) and look what you miss. Thanks gents for posting some great knives.
Mick, a very early,truly one of a kind Rodger's. Looks to be the work of a true craftsman. Perhaps commissioned by someone who was crazy for sliced carrots or chips;)

Joe
 
With apologies to Sheffield, here's a German version of that food prep knife. It makes nice "crinkle cut" carrot slices, and in my opinion is indeed a carrot or vegetable knife!:D
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I'm truly amazed to see your Henckels food prep/carrot knife Charlie, almost identical to the JR, solves the mystery, a carrot chopper it is :D

Many thanks...Mick
 
Thanks for the earlier comments Jim, Jeremy and Joe.

Hi Jim, I too was expecting some weird and woolly guesses as to the true intended use of the Rodgers..such an damn odd looking thing.

Jeremy, just had a look back through the thread myself, agree great items on display. Thanks again to all who have posted pics and comments :thumbup:.

Joe, hope your moving down to Florida has gone well. I also think the Rodgers early, perhaps the first EVER bespoke carrot knife, from which all others are copied ?? :D.



Here's a picture showing a recent find, another "Nautilus" (others are shown on posts 115 & 118 on pg 6), love this little fan shaped penknife, marked J.H.ANDREW & CO, LTD, SHEFFIELD (scimitar logo), 2 3/4", C1880s, wonderful mop carved scales, gilded filworked back spring.

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Joseph Westby, top.
Brookes & Crookes, middle.
J H Andrew & Co, bottom.
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Thanks for looking...Mick
 
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In old cooking books I've come across the term 'office knife' for preparing vegetables, scraping then slicing so it could be one of these.
 
willgoy said:
In old cooking books I've come across the term 'office knife' for preparing vegetables, scraping then slicing so it could be one of these.
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Hi willgoy, not sure, but I think an "office knife" is a chefs handy small sharp knife, unlike the Henckels or JR.

lambertiana said:
Mick - That Andrew pen is stunning! It would go very nicely in my suit pocket.
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Delighted you like the little Andrew, lambertiana :thumbup:

Here's a picture that show the three "Nautilus" together, these knives are so alike, surely produced in the same workshop by the same little mester for the different firms ?. Alongside the three carved penknives lies a gold, pearl and tortoise shell LEVICK two bladed pen/quill knife C 1790s-1800 ?.
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Thanks for looking....Mick
 
wellington said:
Joe, hope your moving down to Florida has gone well.

Here's a picture showing a recent find, another "Nautilus" (others are shown on posts 115 & 118 on pg 6), love this little fan shaped penknife, marked J.H.ANDREW & CO, LTD, SHEFFIELD (scimitar logo), 2 3/4", C1880s, wonderful mop carved scales, gilded filworked back spring.

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Joseph Westby, top.
Brookes & Crookes, middle.
J H Andrew & Co, bottom.
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Thanks for looking...Mick
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Thanks Mick, things are going smoothly so far and as an added bonus, will spend some quality knife time with Jim and Cindy.

Thanks for showing those wonderful Nautilus knives, you are building quite a collection.
The Levick knife is a stunning example of very early Sheffield work. I believe it could be even earlier than your assessment, IMO 1750-1770.

Again, thanks for sharing these treasures with forum members.

Joe
 
Mick, you're likely right about the 'office knife'

On seeing that eighteenth century part tortoise knife I'm now convinced your private collection is unrivaled. Like having the entire British Museum at home!
 
Delighted things have gone well Joe, and you're getting settled in. Florida sounds a wonderful place.

I too like these small fine penknives, lovely workmanship on those Nautilus, thanks for your assessment on the Levick, perhaps it's a little older than I though ?.

Here's a picture that shows the "LEVICK" tang mark. Another feature that's worth looking at are the fine gold pin covers, wonder how they were applied, perhaps in a similar way to the birds-eye rivets on the Stears whittler ?.

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Mick
 
Hi Mick,

That Levick is quite the pocket treasure!!

You could be onto something there! The supposition that the gold pin covers on the Levick, being fixed to the knife in the same way as the birds-eye pins on the Stears? BOTH of those special "additions" to pocket cutlery have virtually disappeared since about 1870, or so.

Did those "secrets" die with the cutlers than discovered them?? I sure wish that I knew.

Jim Taylor.
 
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Hi Jim,

Thanks for the responce, really pleased you like the old Levick. I too would just love to know how those old craftsmen managed to fit rivets, either the with ornate covers or the birds-eye finish ??, really has me baffled.

...Mick
 
wellington said:
Delighted things have gone well Joe, and you're getting settled in. Florida sounds a wonderful place.

I too like these small fine penknives, lovely workmanship on those Nautilus, thanks for your assessment on the Levick, perhaps it's a little older than I though ?.

Here's a picture that shows the "LEVICK" tang mark. Another feature that's worth looking at are the fine gold pin covers, wonder how they were applied, perhaps in a similar way to the birds-eye rivets on the Stears whittler ?.

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Mick
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Mick, that is stunning! Thanks for posting, it's a real treat to see such craftsmanship!
 
Hello Mick
That quill knife is unbelievably beautiful, a true masterpiece.

Best regards

Robin
 
Thanks very much Mick for sharing your fantastic collection with us.

The carrot knife is shown in a little book 'Knifemaking in Sheffield & the Hawley Collection'
 
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