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

Exceptional oldie, Barry! The detail work is splendid and took a real artisan to craft such a knife so small.
 
Barry: that is a real treasure from the golden days of Sheffield. I'm a fan of petite knives & wharncliffes, that one has it all. Thank you for sharing.
Charles
 
This is a small Swell Center Congress Pen knife, 2 5/8". The handles are tortoise shell but a piece is missing at one end on both sides. Blades appear unused and are marked: A.J.Jordan/Sheffield/England. The milled liners are nickel-silver i think, and the backsprings are engraved with a pattern.
What i find so compelling about the small vintage Sheffield folders is how thinly they were able to grind the blades and then how they nest together so closely, but with no blade rub. Truly amazing workmanship. The walk & talk is perfect for all 4 blades.

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Levine lists A.J.Jordan as both a Wholesaler and a manufacturer associated with England & Germany.
Is A.J.Jordan the manufacturer of this knife ?
thanks, kj
 
KJ, that is a beautiful A.J.Jordan Natualius. Looks unused and except for the end pieces of the tortoise near mint. I have a shadow in tortoise that the ends all popped off at the pins, kind of a heartbreaker.

Here is a tiny wharncliffe whittler marked with VcrownR /SILVER / STEEL (1837-1901). All blades marked good snap milled brass liners, domed pins. Shadow pearl covers , 2 3/16” closed. Oval shield with AR. I cannot indentify the maker so far. Silver Steel is a product still made, so a google search is frustrating. Any ideas or references on maker would be appreciated. One center pin crack on pile side.
Charles

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Charles, That is one of the smallest whittlers I've seen at 2 3/16". Very cool pattern almost like a gun stock wharncliffe. That reminded me of an old one in my collection. This one is stamped LUKE FIRTH'S CELEBRATED CUTLERY on all 3 blades. It's a little worse for wear as far as condition. Levine dates this maker 1849 to 1870. It's a unique gunstock pattern 2 5/8" closed, and stamped WHARNCLIFFE KNIFE on the master. Another odd pattern, I have never seen another like it. Your SILVER STEEL comes close in shape. This is not marked Sheffield, but I'm thinking it must be a Britt.
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The Jordan and the Firth are exceptional rarities, bizarre even.:D

Wasn't 'Nautilus' Capt Nemo's submarine from Jules Verne's 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea? An excellence containing excellence. Nautilus is also some kind of marine mollusc and the knife looks that way too.

fart's Wharncliffe is a really exciting oddity, superb shape, whoever made that wasn't constrained by conventions, truly interesting:thumbup:

Thanks, Will
 
Seems I read back a ways,probably Mick or someone said about a similar knife,that this was a term for the frame and handle pattern.Looks similar to a shell or scallop.

More beauties Charles and Barry.
 
Barry, that is amazing, as is yours, Charles.
A nautilus, and an arched nautilus!
 
Barry That is a cool old knife and I agree they are close in appearance. The Silver Steel has the nail relief which gives it a look close the the reverse gunstock. Thanks for pulling it out and showing. Thanks everyone for the comments.
Charles
 
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..

Click to expand...
Hi
I'm new here so hi everyone.
I have the same knife!
Campbellclanman, do you have any information on it, date, market value? Mine is very rusty (I found it in a pile of coal in my cellar) but it definitely has those markings. I'm going to attempt to bring it back to its former glory.
Due to me finding it whilst digging out a ton (and I do mean 1000 kg's) of coal I intend to keep it but just want to know its worth before I take any abrasive tools to it (ie a dremel clone). Please note this is not for sale (have just read the rules above)!
Thanks
Steve
 
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Good to see this thread appear again, and that is a beautiful Blackwell Charles, in fantastic condition :thumbup: I only have one Blackwell, and it's in (ahem) slightly poorer condition! :eek: Still a knife I treasure though :)



 
scuba_steve said:
Hi
I'm new here so hi everyone.
I have the same knife!
Campbellclanman, do you have any information on it, date, market value? Mine is very rusty (I found it in a pile of coal in my cellar) but it definitely has those markings. I'm going to attempt to bring it back to its former glory.
Due to me finding it whilst digging out a ton (and I do mean 1000 kg's) of coal I intend to keep it but just want to know its worth before I take any abrasive tools to it (ie a dremel clone). Please note this is not for sale (have just read the rules above)!
Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...

Steve
The knife is around the very early 1900's, in its state it has no real value, and you can most certainly guarantee that once you take any abrasives to your knife - ESPECIALLY a Dremel you can count on it become worthless immediately ( if it did have any value to begin with).
 
here is one i have on the way....the traders camera wasn't the best,but soon as i get it
i will post better pictures......it's a thomas turner if not mistaken.....
anyone tell me anything about it,quality,desireability,etc?...I love it myself,but never owned
anything so old.
jd

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This 3 1/4" 4 blade Senator is marked: "Rodgers/Cutlers/To Her/Majesty" on 2 blades and: "No 6/Norfolk/Street/Sheffield" on the other 2 blades. All 4 have the star & cross logo on the backside tang. The back of the master blade has some old numbers inked on.














Do the Sheffield 'experts' see this as 'all in order' ?
Is this most likely pre 1891 ?
This comes from an ebay 7 day listing and was won for the price of 4 Rough Riders and a hamburger. This lack of bidding does make one wonder if others are seeing something i missed.
But, it is a beautiful knife with vintage J.R. fit, finish walk & talk, so i think it is 'real'.
kj
 
Great knife, Joe!
I wish I could spend more time watching for great deals like that!
 
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