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

Hi Duncan, thanks for posting the pics and details of your Kelley sportsman's, can't really add much to what's already been said, it looks excellent, like it very much, obvious mid Victorian quality. I always think rare, interesting, early, unusual knives etc knives worth picking up regardless of condition.

Here are pics of a recent buy, not too fancy, the blades have been re-pinned at some time, as they often are on knives of this age, the cross guard bolster has a piece missing, but I thought it worthy and worth buying.

The two bladed dirk measures 5 1/2" closed, marked J WINTER, 24 FURNESS HILL, SHEFFIELD, made 1850 (ish) ?, the maker is mentioned at the Furness Hill address in Whites 1852 Directory. The bolsters are pressed nickel silver, either lead or spelter filled, these drop pressed fittings would have been bought by the maker from a specialist supplier, I've seen those exact bolsters on dirks made by several makers. The dirk blade locks open, the pen blade has a square ended tang, opens half open and full.

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Thanks for looking...

Mick
 
Another highly unusual and worthy knife there, thank you Mick.

Old too, so my vivid imagination starts to click into action. A dirk like this might have adorned the belt of John Brown, if so, Queen Victoria might have seen and admired it:D
 
Mick...do you happen to collect testicles?..as I would like to offer you my left one in trade for that Dirk!!!
Good lord man..where do you find such fantastic knives!!! :eek: :eek:

Thank you for your "look over"..and thank you once again for the other guys chipping in with their most helpfull advice on this old knife-I think its an old beaut!
 
Thanks for the responces willgoy and Duncan ..:D

Here's another of my relics..this knife has unfortunately been cleaned to death, the masterblade pin has been replaced at some time also, the plus points are the earlyish date, the maker James Machin, the size and pattern, all in all it's OK.

Marked V (crown) R, JAMES MACHIN, SHEFFIELD C1840 ish ?, measures 5" closed, a "true split spring lockback whittler", ornate brass liners, 100% perfect thin carved ivory scales. All three blades walk and talk as they should.

Not sure how the backspring was formed ?, made in two parts welded together the split part left with no flux ?, a mystery to me. On the spring underside the split runs into a 3/4" long squared thicker part, at the very front of which (masterblade end) the balance rivet goes through.

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Thanks for looking..Mick
 
Hi Mick,

I had no option but to give that Machin several coats of "looking at" this morning. Just a stunning example of what the Sheffielder's were doing over 150 years ago!

I know that Tony Bose, a man that I admire greatly, gets to see this forum on occasions, and I would encourage Tony to comment on this knife. How would he approach the making of a similar knife, even allowing for modern machinery and technology?

Just the "split-spring" alone, is a work of art and the carved ivory handles virtually defy description.

How grateful we all are, that a dedicated few, such as you, "rescue" these examples, made by what was undoubdtedly the world's leading cutlers.

Jim Taylor.
 
Delighted you like the old Machin "whittler" Jim, I also think it a fine example of just what the highly skilled Sheffielders could produce. Just quite how the backspring was made does baffle me a little. Quite how those thin carved ivory handle coverings remain perfect with no cracks is a wonder also.

Mick
 
Considering the knife has seen a fair bit of use, it is in an amazing state of preservation! The fact that it is so exquisite makes its preservation particularly sweet! What a treasure, Mick!!

I suspect the spring had to be made in the shape of a "Y" to file smooth the inner surfaces, then carefully forged "shut", heat treated, and finally shaped. How else can you get that tight a cut/split? A true split spring whittler, from what I can see!
 
Hi Charlie, glad you like the Machin, I don't think it's seen that much use, perhaps the blades became a little rusty and someone decided to clean the thing on a wragg dolly, such a shame. I wondered if the spring had been made from two strips of spring steel, forged welded at one end ?.

Here are three more pics, one shows the knife closed, the other two show both sides of the backspring.

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The split runs to the mid point on thick part of the spring.
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Mick
 
Fantastic knife..with the obvious fantastic workmanship to go with it...thank you for sharing these great knives!!

jim taylors comment.....

"I had no option but to give that Machin several coats of "looking at" this morning. Just a stunning example of what the Sheffielder's were doing over 150 years ago!"

absolutely spot on!!
 
Here's something slightly different, one of my all time favourite items :D, a fine rare scissor dagger marked THORNHILL, it's pat/registration stamp dates the knife to the 19th Oct 1873, measuring 7 1/4" exc sheath, both parts of the sprung diamond section blade are marked THE BIRCHAM DAGGER SCISSORS, separate cross guards with ball finials, split ball pommel, grips are of chequered ebony. The original wood and leather sheath has London hall marked silver fittings. The absence of the word "London" on the knife indicates the knife was made elsewhere, most likely in Sheffield.


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An unrelated letter head from the well known London firm. W Thornhill made/retailed some exceptionally fine items.
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Thanks for looking..

Mick
 
Amazing.
This entire thread as well. So far beyond imagination, it has to be real.
roland
 
Thanks for the comments Mike and Roland :thumbup:.

The "Bircham" dagger scissors were made by/for Thornhill under patent, they're pretty rare, a ladies knife, guessing they were held under a garter or suspended from whatever, used for cutting string ribbons etc ?, they came in various sizes ranging from 6" to over 12". :eek:

Mick
 
Thanks for posting that receipt Mick, it's amazing that something like that was kept for so long.
 
Once again Mick...that one is a beaut!!
I have only seen (pictures) of another dagger/cissor combination before( I thnk it may have been Bernards forum some time ago?....

Ahh yep..here it is...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=592649&highlight=scissors+dagger

My lady and I shared a joke ( I think she was joking :eek: ) that I was lucky she didnt have them in the house at times

And as we can see the pair/dagger ( would you call that knife a pair?...like scissors ) is of fantastic quality...
Again Mick-thank you..i can defintitely see why the dagger/scissor combination would be one of your special items :thumbup:
 
wellington said:
Hi Charlie, glad you like the Machin, I don't think it's seen that much use, perhaps the blades became a little rusty and someone decided to clean the thing on a wragg dolly, such a shame. I wondered if the spring had been made from two strips of spring steel, forged welded at one end ?.

Here are three more pics, one shows the knife closed, the other two show both sides of the backspring.

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The split runs to the mid point on thick part of the spring.
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Mick
Click to expand...

Hi Mick, and other forum members-hope all is well ..I got this pocket knife just the other day...now please forgive me ok..as this is NOTHING like Stan Shaws knives etc..but check this out....Speaking of tapered & split springs ( as quoted above )...I have this knife to show you guys...

Now most unfortunately..the 3rd blade has been broken :grumpy: ..now this is such a shame..as this knife has quality construction all over it
.
I'm not talking condition, main blade has tip damage, 3rd blade broke etc..BUT ..this is Ivory, the main blade is hell-of-a-thick & heavy for such a small knife ( note where the nail nick is on the main blade), and the snap is absolutely powerfull!
Nickel Silver Bolsters & Shield ( pinned )
The swedges are real nice on the blades, no please note the tapered springs...this isnt a optical illusion..the springs are actaully tapered in thickness -as well as having the tapered Brass divider!!..to me this is quite different...is it to you?..or do I need to get out more often? :)
Do you know of the maker?..and any idea on year of manufacure..obviously before 1890's...as there is no England..

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Dunckie, you're a bit out of focus so it's difficult to say for sure, but are you certain that is not ivory celluloid ? I have seen worn ivory cell. look like that with the parallel grain being indistinct.
Lockwood Bros., Sheffield, 1798-c.1933
Sounds like you NEED a copy of "LG4".
your Canadian bud, rolando
 
Boy, when they "split" a backspring, they don't mess around! That is the thickest wedge I've ever seen on a slippie.
 
Duncan,

Sorry to "rain on your parade" but that knife looks like a VERY ordinary sleeveboard whittler to me. Nothing to get all excited about I'm afraid.

Furthermore, the fact that the tang stamps do not include the word "ENGLAND," does NOT mean pre 1891. This was only a requirement if the knife was exported! Knives are still being produced in Sheffield today without the England stamping. Anyone could have bought the knife in the UK and carried it to your country?

The question that Roland asks is also very valid.

Jim Taylor.
 
Duncan whatever your knife is or isn't, is not what is important.
What is important is that you get excited by a knife, and it just keeps happening.
That's the passion each of us so enjoys.
We can't all be "Wellingtons". in fact i'd say there are only a few collections anywhere to rival Mick's. But it doesn't matter, because it's the passion that unites us.
It's Sunday. I shoulda bin a Preacher, eh !
roland
 
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