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

Agree with your sentiments Charles, I too would choose a 'quality' Vic penknife over anything Sheffield made post WW1.

I've found a few bits and pieces related to the Crossland..I'll post them later..

Mick
 
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Charles, as promised here are three scans taken from an enormous John Watts cost book (Cost book no 1). John Watts sourced many of his best finished pearl knives from John Crossland, these knives would usually carry the Watts marks.

This first scan is dated July 1893, all three knives are made by J Crossland, the knife at the bottom looks very like the one posted..

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This second scan (1901) shows a 3 1/2" 5 bl..

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This scan (1903) shows a 3 bl Crossland with file work very similar to that seen on Charles example..

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Mick
 
Mick you have some outstanding historical material! Thanks for sharing. I agree with you about the bottom drawing of the 3 being a close version (only obvious difference being the file). Some of the others show the edge treatment on the pearl scales. Interestingly the first drawing shows a shield that looks similar to the one on the William Rodgers that Ken was curious about. Really great historical stuff, thanks. Charles
 
I posted this one in the lobster thread but this one needs to be in this thread as well. It is my special 3 1/4" lobster pattern quill knife by Parkin & Marshall, Sheffield (this one is shown on page 242 of the SHEFFIELD EXHIBITION KNIVES book). Has 8 blades with 4 on each side. All are pen blades except one ink eraser blade & one manicure blade. Scalloped pearl handles with scalloped liners; the pearl is pique on each side with clamshell-type bolsters and a oval nickel silver shield. There is one broken blade. Charles

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I offer my sincere thanks to Mick, Charles, Waynorth, Bruce Bump, Jake, Roland and all of the great posters who generously share their wonders in this thread, Old Knives, Lobsters, Orange Blossom Lobsters and the other threads devoted to great cutlery of the past.

I may never handle these wonders, but it is my joy to know that they exist.

Mike H.
 
Looking back in this thread at some of the postings and historical information sent me to look through my collection and I found a few more knives that might merit inclusion. The first of these is another Crossland Bros Sheffield...(1868-1924) Knife is 3 1/8” closed, unusual serpentine, 3 blades, filework. Ken Erickson, please note this one appears to have the same shield as the William Rodgers, I had not noticed the shield before your question.

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Thanks for adding yet another wonderful knife to the thread Charles. I have the makers notes for most Crossland knives, I think this latest one is pattern no 520, they cost 15 shillings (75p) per doz back in 1893.. good old days eh.

Mick
 
Mick, I really appreciate this additional information and hard to find details on knives in my collection. After getting the information on my first Crossland posting I went back and reviewed my collection and was really pleased to see the additional knife. Information like you are providing is hard to come by on this side of the water, so thanks very much. This helps to enjoy my collection even more.

Here is one more I dug up, a W. Mills & Son, (1921-1947) mint, a 3 1/8" long closed pearl two blade coffin style pen knife. Fantastic pearl scales with beveled edges. Milled liners and fileworked backspring with gold wash. Charles


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^^ That's a sweet little Mills coffin penknife Charles, I've one example almost identicle..great quality. Ernest Mills made some of the best pre & post WW2 Sheffield pen and pocket knives, I rate his stuff very highly. Knives bearing the W Mills & Son mark, made by Willis or Ernest, can date from anywhere between 1921 through to the mid 1980s.

I believe a guy at Gillott & Son the pearl supplier chamfered the pearl scales for Ernest..

Thanks for showing.. Mick
 
wellington said:
Thanks for adding yet another wonderful knife to the thread Charles. I have the makers notes for most Crossland knives, I think this latest one is pattern no 520, they cost 15 shillings (75p) per doz back in 1893.. good old days eh.

Mick
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Mick, This seems a sensational bargain at 15s the dozen! My inflation calculator reckons that 15s in 1893 would be worth 72 quid in 2010 money.

Regards, Will
 
Here's a portion of the entry for Petty from Geoffrey Tweedale's indispensable Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2010.
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