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

1fartsmella said:
Mick, Thank you for the wealth of knowledge you share with all of us. I'm wondering what the vintage of this knife is? It's stamped WILLIAM ROGERS SHEFFIELD on the master blade and I CUT MY WAY on the pen blade. It's 3 3/4" closed with horn handles. I'm thinking because it's not marked England, that either it was made before 1892 or it was not intended for import into the US. Thanks, Barry
WM%20ROGERS%20FT.jpg
Click to expand...

Firstly thanks for all the kind words about this thread, I've very much enjoyed seeing all the knives posted and comments. I'm certainly no 'expert' or authority on Sheffield knives, only an enthusiast.

Hi Barry, as you well know it's very difficult to date most knives with any degree of accuracy, the lack of the word 'England' does not necessarily indicate the knife was made before the early 1890s, the knife could have been intended for the home market or export to the Commonwealth, made using residual old stock etc, difficult to be sure.

Mick
 
Last edited:
I've been rereading this thread for maybe the 10th time. I love the pictures and the information shared by all the contributors. The knives are beautiful! I have a small collection of some Sheffield pearl knives and the information contained in these posts is tremendously helpful in filling out my understanding of these wonderful items. Thank you all.

Charles
 
Roland :eek: oh Lordy!....that is a stunning knife my friend...beautiful ! That does look to be Ivory in photo's...is that right?
 
Need to sub to this thread, I dont have many sheffield made knives but the ones I do are some of the best knives I've owned...the old bone on some seem so translucent, the only maker I've seen to come close to original late 19th to early 20th century sheffield bone is GEC.
 
Yes, i believe this knife to be in "Factory Fresh" condition. The ivory scales are fairly thick but perfectly radiused to the liners giving the most perfect in-hand feel. The walk and talk of all blades is silky smooth and all have precise strong 'lock-up' and no free play whatsoever can be elicited.
It's a great EDC.
roland
 
Thank you s-k.
Bernard Levine has suggested that Jos. Rodgers did not use the Royal Proclamation after 1936, and if so this knife is from 1901-36. Is it possible to narrow down the age of this knife within this time span ?
When did JR cease making 'world class' folders ? i.e. when did the "Golden Age" come to it's end as this knife could be no later than that.
roland
 
Love that Jos Rodgers knife Roland. I'd like to hear someone describe what kind of drilling that drill was designed for during the era the knife was made. Maybe drilling holes in wood I suppose, but a fairly unique apparatus on a sportsman's knife.
 
What a stunning knife Roland.
 
You've come a long way, buddy! :thumbup:
I remember when you were collecting worn out Imperials!!:D
Really a nice one, Roland.
 
Little wonder why Britain was such a cutlery powerhouse back in those days. These old knives are probably the classiest and most elegant folders I've ever seen. Even the ones which were used and abused hard, still have a certain degree of respectable grace to them. Good stuff.
 
More than remarkable Sportsman, very beautiful indeed.

Quite a short compact knife and three-thick, so it was a top of the range piece for the pocket of a wealthy gent. By the look of the outstanding finish I would regard this to be pre First World War (Edward VII or George V). The war wiped out or maimed many skilled workers or their apprentices, thus severing a continuation of skills. This and the financial cost of the war caused, I would argue, an irreplaceable loss on the Sheffield cutlers and their quality was never as good between the two world wars as before the first.
 
Willgoy, thank you. That's a help in my understanding of this knife and other vintage Sheffield folders.
My pictures are not perfectly focused, so as is often said: the knife is more striking when viewed in person. But it is the in-hand feel that is most remarkable and i don't think this experience can be transmitted by words or pictures.
I wonder if i am just very lucky here or if all "top of the range" folders attained such pleasing perfection ?
roland
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top