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

That's a dandy little knife Brad..the marks 'W Singleton & Co, 10 Bakers Hill' date the knife pre 1890, shortly after this date Singleton went into a partnership to form Singleton & Priestman..I think ? I will check later..

I posted some pictures of a pearl sportsman's earlier in this thread that carries the same marks..the firm used 'Razor Steel' and 'two broad arrows (logo)' as trade marks.

I think the two pronged thing could be a cigar fork ? Could the needles be used for pricking cigars:confused: Agree the little corkscrew looks like it was made to tackle perfume bottle stoppers.

Mick
 
Lots of beautiful knives. I agree the corkscrew on the little knives was for opening perfume or medicine bottles.

This knife has a master blade marked W. Singleton, the tin opener John Watts and the fork Picnic Companion. Based on the tin opener, I think it dates to very late 1800s or first part of the 1900s. Any further information would be greatly appreciated.

P1060001_zpsf99b15e7.jpg
 
I was ask to post this knife for the owner Rick Menefee an IXL Bowie with stag handles.

IXLStagBowie1.jpg
 
wellington said:
That's a dandy little knife Brad..the marks 'W Singleton & Co, 10 Bakers Hill' date the knife pre 1890, shortly after this date Singleton went into a partnership to form Singleton & Priestman..I think ? I will check later..

I posted some pictures of a pearl sportsman's earlier in this thread that carries the same marks..the firm used 'Razor Steel' and 'two broad arrows (logo)' as trade marks.

I think the two pronged thing could be a cigar fork ? Could the needles be used for pricking cigars:confused: Agree the little corkscrew looks like it was made to tackle perfume bottle stoppers.

Mick
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Thank you Mick. Good info! I think the pull out too small for a cigar fork and the prongs to blunt. The needles seem definitely of the sewing variety but again, not sure as to their originality.


smiling-knife said:
Lots of beautiful knives. I agree the corkscrew on the little knives was for opening perfume or medicine bottles.

This knife has a master blade marked W. Singleton, the tin opener John Watts and the fork Picnic Companion. Based on the tin opener, I think it dates to very late 1800s or first part of the 1900s. Any further information would be greatly appreciated.

P1060001_zpsf99b15e7.jpg
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Very cool knife there S-K. Are the handles aluminum? Still a very premium material at that date. Did the markings for Singleton change after Priestman became involved?
 
William Rodgers 3 1/4" Sleeveboard

I do think this knife has been repaired with an inappropriate blade replacement. But the scales pass the sniff test. Real tortoise I believe. What say you guys about the knife itself and the scales? Would William Rodgers have use tortoise? No England on either blade, pen is marked 'I Cut My Way'.

EDIT: Upon further inspection and input from some more knowledgable people than myself I have concluded this knife is not quite right and have removed it. Thank you.
 
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Hard to say for sure. The pinning looks a little sloppy especially in the top photo. There seems to be quite a lot of shrinkage in the scales which leads me to think some sort of celluloid-type material. Just my 2p worth.
 
smiling-knife said:
Hard to say for sure. The pinning looks a little sloppy especially in the top photo. There seems to be quite a lot of shrinkage in the scales which leads me to think some sort of celluloid-type material. Just my 2p worth.
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And your 2p is worth much S-K. Thanks!
 
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This knife was listed on an internet auction site by a seller that habitually utilizes a red background for his auction pics.

Yes, that seller.

However, the knife looked good to me and I copied the photos from the auction.

I've given the new owner some time to post his new acquisition to BF and it has not appeared.

I cannot tell you anything about the tang stamp. It's not listed in Goins.

Hopefully, some of our friends across the pond will know more.















 
In Tweedale's 2nd Directory of Sheffield makers on page 504 is a reference to Thomas Renshaw & Son (STAND). Looks like it was gone prior to 1900. The E looks like a C in the stamp.

Charles
 
From Geoffrey Tweedale's indispensable Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2010:
Thomas Renshaw & Son. The founder, Thomas Renshaw, was born in Derbyshire about 1815. His company was apparently founded in about 1840 and can be identified in directories from the 1850s, when Thomas Renshaw & Son was at Milton Works in Suffolk Street. Renshaw manufactured pen, pocket, sportsman's and rule knives, besides pencil and pen-machine knives. In 1862 the address was Excelsior Works, Suffolk Street. By the 1870s, it occupied Stand Works in Corporation Street, where about a hundred hands were said to be employed…..t was a typical Sheffield cutlery business: a four-storied building around a courtyard with showrooms, offices and warehouse…….The trade mark was the word 'STAND'…Table and pocket cutlery (in pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory and horn) were the main lines…Renshaw's was no longer listed in local directories after 1900.
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Here is a Renshaw "ladies' knife" in ivory. Enjoy it it before it becomes contraband.:grumpy:

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That explains why I couldn't find the mark. Both the seller and myself read it as "TRENSHAW". I completely missed that period after the "T".

Nice old knife, pity it has that crack across the shield placement. (the seller missed that, too)

I love the way the edges of the pearl were done.

I think the knife definitely belongs here.

Thanks to all that knew more than I.
 
Interesting pen knife with unusual shape kind of a swell center on top only. Marked Goodbebere /Cain & Co or Gain & Co. Only reference I have found is in my "London Knife Book" Ron Flook is for a George Thomas Goodbebere (1836) Maybe Mick can offer some more information. Knife is in great condition.

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Charles
 
Charles - What is the closed length of that Goodbebere/Cain?

The more I look at my old catalogs the more I am amazed at the incredible variety of patterns that were once sold.
 
Thanks for the comments. John has the knife at the moment (hence the great pictures), but I think it is around 3". It is a petite size knife in a pattern I have not seen.

Charles
 
chuko said:
Interesting pen knife with unusual shape kind of a swell center on top only. Marked Goodbebere /Cain & Co or Gain & Co. Only reference I have found is in my "London Knife Book" Ron Flook is for a George Thomas Goodbebere (1836) Maybe Mick can offer some more information. Knife is in great condition.

goodbehere1.jpg


goodbehere2.jpg


goodbehere3.jpg


Charles
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This is a gorgeous knife, considering the cutlery revolution began on the other side of the pond you guys have been at it a lot longer than the US. I can't even imagine the variety of patterns that were available throughout Europe and the middle east.

Unfortunately because of the stricter laws on the other side of the pond, seems that the availability of the older patterns is becoming more and more a rarity especially if the knives don't fit the legal criteria.

Then you have a certain group of you fine folks over there, (I won't mention any names, JB,C,A) you folks have hoarded all the current illegal length knives. ;)
 
chuko said:
Interesting pen knife with unusual shape kind of a swell center on top only. Marked Goodbebere /Cain & Co or Gain & Co. Only reference I have found is in my "London Knife Book" Ron Flook is for a George Thomas Goodbebere (1836) Maybe Mick can offer some more information. Knife is in great condition.

goodbehere1.jpg


Charles
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What an awesome piece Charles. It is so different and pristine I am in awe my friend. I have said it before, you have great stuff and taste. I wish I could go shopping with you!
 
Thanks for the comments Brad. You have a few of my old pieces in your collection now. Shopping together sounds fun, I know I could learn something.

Charles
 
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