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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
"Made in Sheffield" 1830-1930, A golden age ?
- Thread starter wellington
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Exactly what Charles said. Thanks Mick, S-K and the rest of you for sharing with us!
Campbellclanman
Platinum Member
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Here is something that I think is really cool, now please bear with me my friends, as this is no beauty Queen here, but in saying that I think this knife is an absolute Gob=smacker! 
If this knife was in good condition - it would be a great find! - I sorta think it still is anyway...
I hope its ok to tell the story that goes with this knife Mick?.....
Now and then there is a darned good discussion about the thickness of Stag, and the general comment that comes back is that a good piece of Stag is a piece that is thin and even etc...I agree, when I saw this knife in a auction, I knew I had to have it-if only to handle and learn from it, but from what I could see, the scales were absolutely beautiful, and again - from what I could see - this knife was - in its time a absolutely gorgeous knife.
Anyway, in the local auction I bid over a Gentleman who I did have a discussion with quite some time ago, I have to be honest -with what has happened in the past year - I do have difficulty remembering such things like the odd conversation here and there-...any way I bid over this Gent and won the knife, it didn't go for much at all....
This was followed by a message if I could ring him - which I did - hes a nice guy.
It turns out that this person is an extremely talented individual-in many many areas, knife making - you will see his work as I will post this up in a thread a wee bit later, hes also a Sculpture ( I hope this is the proper pronunciation ) and many more talents as a Carver of Bone and other Media..
Also he has a lot to do with Bronzing, Blacksmithing...everything I want to be actually..
He asked me my intentions of the knife ( the knife as you will see has one broken blade ) as he really wanted to have this knife - I told him-hey..if he wanted it that badly-I would send it to him.....
Well I got the knife , and it was everything I thought it was - hey sure the blades had use-not too bad, as the knife is a Whittler, and is most probably a good 130 years old, a beautiful little wedge sprung Whittler - the first thing I did was put it into a bath of Mineral Oil to soak for a few days.
I was very busy, and to be honest - I wanted to keep the knife - quite badly - after a few days he rang me and we had a good old talk and of course I tried to tell him how much I liked the knife - he didn't push, but I think I nailed my own coffin lid shut when I asked if he really wanted the knife-he was honest and said yes-so I said - hey...no problems, I will send it to you - I do have plenty of knives...but not many that has in my opinion immensely beautiful scales from days long long gone by, built by a Cutler whom would be like Stan Shaw is to us today - an absolute Legend...
Perhaps I am seeing too much in this knife, its not pristine - that is not what I am talking about with this knife, but here it is, I apologise about the VERY poor quality photos as they do the knife NO justice, it was appalling weather when I took these photos .....
Ooops sorry pressed the wrong button...EDIT ( continued )..
If this knife was in good condition - it would be a great find! - I sorta think it still is anyway...I hope its ok to tell the story that goes with this knife Mick?.....
Now and then there is a darned good discussion about the thickness of Stag, and the general comment that comes back is that a good piece of Stag is a piece that is thin and even etc...I agree, when I saw this knife in a auction, I knew I had to have it-if only to handle and learn from it, but from what I could see, the scales were absolutely beautiful, and again - from what I could see - this knife was - in its time a absolutely gorgeous knife.
Anyway, in the local auction I bid over a Gentleman who I did have a discussion with quite some time ago, I have to be honest -with what has happened in the past year - I do have difficulty remembering such things like the odd conversation here and there-...any way I bid over this Gent and won the knife, it didn't go for much at all....
This was followed by a message if I could ring him - which I did - hes a nice guy.
It turns out that this person is an extremely talented individual-in many many areas, knife making - you will see his work as I will post this up in a thread a wee bit later, hes also a Sculpture ( I hope this is the proper pronunciation ) and many more talents as a Carver of Bone and other Media..
Also he has a lot to do with Bronzing, Blacksmithing...everything I want to be actually..
He asked me my intentions of the knife ( the knife as you will see has one broken blade ) as he really wanted to have this knife - I told him-hey..if he wanted it that badly-I would send it to him.....
Well I got the knife , and it was everything I thought it was - hey sure the blades had use-not too bad, as the knife is a Whittler, and is most probably a good 130 years old, a beautiful little wedge sprung Whittler - the first thing I did was put it into a bath of Mineral Oil to soak for a few days.
I was very busy, and to be honest - I wanted to keep the knife - quite badly - after a few days he rang me and we had a good old talk and of course I tried to tell him how much I liked the knife - he didn't push, but I think I nailed my own coffin lid shut when I asked if he really wanted the knife-he was honest and said yes-so I said - hey...no problems, I will send it to you - I do have plenty of knives...but not many that has in my opinion immensely beautiful scales from days long long gone by, built by a Cutler whom would be like Stan Shaw is to us today - an absolute Legend...
Perhaps I am seeing too much in this knife, its not pristine - that is not what I am talking about with this knife, but here it is, I apologise about the VERY poor quality photos as they do the knife NO justice, it was appalling weather when I took these photos .....
Ooops sorry pressed the wrong button...EDIT ( continued )..
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Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,363
Lot of character in that knife Duncan, the little bloke looks like a lump of coal! Very nice pattern and a real individual in my view. Very much like yourself actually!
Thanks, Will
Thanks, Will
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2013
- Messages
- 3,544
Here is something that I think is really cool, now please bear with me my friends, as this is no beauty Queen here, but in saying that I think this knife is an absolute Gob=smacker!
I hope its ok to tell the story that goes with this knife Mick?.....
Now and then there is a darned good discussion about the thickness of Stag, and the general comment that comes back is that a good piece of Stag is a piece that is thin and even etc...I agree, when I saw this knife in a auction, I knew I had to have it-if only to handle and learn from it, but from what I could see, the scales were absolutely beautiful, and again - from what I could see - this knife was - in its time a absolutely gorgeous knife.
Anyway, in the local auction I bid over a Gentleman who I did have a discussion with quite some time ago, I have to be honest -with what has happened in the past year - I do have difficulty remembering such things like the odd conversation here and there-...any way I bid over this Gent and won the knife, it didn't go for much at all....
This was followed by a message if I could ring him - which I did - hes a nice guy.
It turns out that this person is an extremely talented individual-in many many areas, knife making - you will see his work as I will post this up in a thread a wee bit later, hes also a Sculpture ( I hope this is the proper pronunciation ) and many more talents as a Carver of Bone and other Media..
Also he has a lot to do with Bronzing, Blacksmithing...everything I want to be actually..
He asked me my intentions of the knife ( the knife as you will see has one broken blade ) as he really wanted to have this knife - I told him-hey..if he wanted it that badly-I would send it to him.....
Well I got the knife , and it was everything I thought it was - hey sure the blades had use-not too bad, as the knife is a Whittler, and is most probably a good 130 years old, a beautiful little wedge sprung Whittler - the first thing I did was put it into a bath of Mineral Oil to soak for a few days.
I was very busy, and to be honest - I wanted to keep the knife - quite badly - after a few days he rang me and we had a good old talk and of course I tried to tell him how much I liked the knife - he didn't push, but I think I nailed my own coffin lid shut when I asked if he really wanted the knife-he was honest and said yes-so I said - hey...no problems, I will send it to you - I do have plenty of knives...but not many that has in my opinion immensely beautiful scales from days long long gone by, built by a Cutler whom would be like Stan Shaw is to us today - an absolute Legend...
Perhaps I am seeing too much in this knife, its not pristine - that is not what I am talking about with this knife, but here it is, I apologise about the VERY poor quality photos as they do the knife NO justice, it was appalling weather when I took these photos .....
Ooops sorry pressed the wrong button...EDIT ( continued )..
You know, that sad neglected knife needs to be entered in the Patina contest thread for next Sunday's annointments.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
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- 69,789
Very nice Duncan, great to read the story too, you're a gent my Friend 
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2011
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- 15,193
Ohhhhh....Ahhhhh!!!!! That is one fine knife, Duncan. Your such a fine gentleman to give up such a lovely!! Thanks for sharing it with us, my friend.
Got to go back for another once over....ohhhh....ahhhhhh
Got to go back for another once over....ohhhh....ahhhhhh
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2007
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- 3,372
Duncan, this knife has it all, honestly. This is the real attraction of traditional slip joints for me, the character and the history. But most of all it has your generosity that is so amazing. Good on you.
Mike
Mike
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- Dec 7, 2007
- Messages
- 350
That little whittler certainly has some character Duncan very decent of you to let that other fellow have it..I've one or two Barber catalogues somewhere, just can't find them at the moment. Sure I've seen that pattern featured. Stan Shaw still makes a whittler that looks virtually identical I had one in pearl and dropped it on a quarry tile floor !..not a good day
Mick
Mick
Campbellclanman
Platinum Member
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- Mar 10, 2007
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- 15,632
Thank you for the fantastic comments guys- but what attractedme was the thin Stag work.
On the edges there is only a slither of Stag - really great work- like I say the photos are extremely poor
Duncan.
On the edges there is only a slither of Stag - really great work- like I say the photos are extremely poor
Duncan.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 2,828
Here is an unusual whittler BENETFINK /CHEAPSIDE. (1850-1875) listed in the London knife Book, but shows Made in Sheffield on the reverse side. I could not find a listing in my Sheffield references, anybody have any information? I bought it for the stag with that golden color.
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2007
- Messages
- 350
Charles,
I've a selection of Victorian London directories on CDs, soon as I get chance I'll have a look through a few and see if I can dig out some information on your Benefink knife.
Your Slater Bros Senator looks typical late 19th C, a quality piece.
Years ago, 1992, Jim Taylor interviewed one of the last factory owners Herbert Slater (H M Slater, Venture Works). The following year Jim had an article published in March 1993 'Blades' (I think ?) entitled "Slaters Of Sheffield" in which he wrote about the history of the Slater family and their endeavours, a truly wonderful read..well worth rooting out.
Mick
I've a selection of Victorian London directories on CDs, soon as I get chance I'll have a look through a few and see if I can dig out some information on your Benefink knife.
Your Slater Bros Senator looks typical late 19th C, a quality piece.
Years ago, 1992, Jim Taylor interviewed one of the last factory owners Herbert Slater (H M Slater, Venture Works). The following year Jim had an article published in March 1993 'Blades' (I think ?) entitled "Slaters Of Sheffield" in which he wrote about the history of the Slater family and their endeavours, a truly wonderful read..well worth rooting out.
Mick
Campbellclanman
Platinum Member
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- Mar 10, 2007
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Gentleman, the knives you are showing are right up there my friends - absolutely stunning!! thank you for sharing your treasures!!!
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Very nice Brad
- Joined
- May 26, 2010
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Very nice Brad
Thank you Jack. Sheffield holds a special place for me. Here is a recent acquisition:
William Rodgers 3" Pen
No England stamp on this one but does have the Cut My Way stamp.
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