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

The letters in the stamp do look irregular, and probably individually struck.

Note the full tang is forged to a taper as well.

Goins' Encyclopedia says the company existed ca. 1847-1863 at 81 Charles St, Sheffield.
 
You picked a good one Mick,congratulations,and like Will I often wonder how they survived.

I guess you evolve as you continue to collect,I seem to be stuck on 2 bladers.

I don't know what Charlie has turned into!!:). Great thing ole buddy,must have belonged to affluence to be a tool with such great handles.
 
I've a few old edge tool books I can check tomorrow, something might tell us what that unusual knife is. Failing that I can always ask Ken Hawley (Hawley Collection, Sheffield). I think Thos Ibbotson & Co was established in 1814..then went on to make edge tools C1850s ( I can't check at the moment, sorry)

Mick
 
I would appreciate it, Mick - thanks!!
It is nice to know the sources to turn to for information!
 
wellington said:
Just like to show this very fine horseman's knife, the only thing I bought last year :(

The knife measures 5" , marked HARRISON BROS & HOWSON (rev SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND), CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY, and ALPHA. Unused and untouched, all original with nice glazed blades with patina, strong snap, perfect stag. Pretty pleased with this one, certainly one of my favourite larger knives..



Mick
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Mick I would say you had a very good year!

waynorth said:
The letters in the stamp do look irregular, and probably individually struck.

Note the full tang is forged to a taper as well.

Goins' Encyclopedia says the company existed ca. 1847-1863 at 81 Charles St, Sheffield.
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Charlie that thing looks like some sort of medieval torture tool. Very cool though!

Campbellclanman said:
As Charles has said Mick - good to "see" you my friend, I guess you are out there in those paddocks going hard?
Those Saynor's are always a great, I am going to have a dig round, as I am sure I have a few great old Pruners, here is an older photo..
I just found this photo, not a pruner, but a good ol' English knife, its a shame that the kick is not doing it'd job as the knife has no snap what -so-ever, but still usable as a knife because the blade doesn't just flop - it stays put..


Speaking of massive, ( forgive me as I have posted this knife quite some time ago on this thread ).... the spring on this lovely old Sheffield is huge, the Stag like Micks Saynor is just superb - it just gets better with age doesn't it...


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Never get tired of seeing Frankenknife!
 
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I'm so glad this thread is active again. Great knives you guys are posting and the discussion and history is priceless. Thanks.
 
Charlie, that is an unusual looking tool. With a long handle and hooked blade, my hypothesis is that it may be for harvesting cabbage or lettuce. I have no evidence to support this at the moment though.

What a fantastic Horeseman's knife Mick. Thanks for showing it.

I posted these sometime ago, but here are a few more Alpha knives if you don't mind the repetition. The second pruner has a hand forged spring which I think dates it to 1880s or earlier. The Jack knife has similar blade stamp which may help to date it about the same time. The stag pruner is later, perhaps from first few decades of the 1900s.

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Fleam024.jpg
 
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Always a pleasure to see your great knives Steve.I'll say it again,I like the curves.
 
Great to see the stunning new additions to this thread :)
 
wellington said:
That's a very nice pruner Nathan, a good first Sheffield blade. It's almost impossible to date any knife with certainty, examples with jigged bone scales were more common from the mid 1930s onwards. I've a nice Saynor somewhere I'll try and dig it out and post a pic for comparison.

Mick
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Thank you for the info Mick and the other pics. They are very nice. Take care.
Nathan
 
waynorth said:
This thread is a place of wonder and amazement!
Astounding additions lately! Thanks Mick, Charles, Duncan, Nathan, Lyle et. alia for your great presentations.
This strange Beasty seems to belong in this thread, by virtue of its origins, if not its class!:)
Hook1_zps36cc03d1.jpg


Also posted in BRL's thread, because of its stamp spelling, among other questions!
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So it turns out that the luscious Gooseberry grows on trees that sport aggressive, stiff thorns to protect itself, so what better to reach in and cut off some fruit, than a long harvesting hook, with a sharpened inside curve?
And that is what we've got here: an 11 1/2" Gooseberry knife!!
 
waynorth said:
Actually, BRL's forum provided the answer, via a generous contributor!
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Well that's the mystery solved, many thanks Charlie and the guys over on Mr Levine's forum :thumbup: . I think it a great knife.

Many years ago..we had a garden full of blackberry, raspberry and gooseberry bushes, all gone now and replaced with grass, bit of a shame as we used to enjoy picking fruit. Never used anything quite like the Ibbotson..

Mick
 
Very interesting Charlie. I still have a patch of blackberries at the bottom of my garden Mick, but I have had to fight tooth and nail to prevent the council gardeners and the gardening firms employed to maintain various neighbouring properties, none of whom have any business touching them, destroying my brambles.
 
Keep up the good fight, Jack! There's nothing like a harvest of berries to keep life sweet!!;)

I can walk to some pretty good blackberry patches on public land.
 
Thanks Charlie , and not one 2 ended jack pruner in those old tools, as I collect.:)

Gooseberries look like minature watermelons.They make fabulous pies.

Here's an old warrior I'm proud to own,gifted by a great friend , Charlie.He knows I like the curves.

The only capped pruner I own. A Brookes and Crookes ,that's worn,but as I told Charlie,so am I.Condition is not relevant when love is involved.:) Notice the remains of the scratting technique on the handles ,and the "Oil the Joints". I didn't know that phrase was so venerable.

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BrookesandCrookesfromCharlie429.jpg


BrookesandCrookesfromCharlie433.jpg


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