Nickel scales and an unusual G. Ibberson

[benlangworthy]

I just came into possession of what I believe to be an old Ibberson folder based on the makes stamp violin and the 'G I & Co' stamp on the scale.

Something I find somewhat odd about it is that there is no divider / liner between the main blade and the tin opener. In my admittedly limited experience I haven't come across a dual spring knife where they weren't separated from one another.

At 4" long It seems to me quite large for a knife of this style, I have a rather lovely (although sadly damaged) Holtzapffel of a similar pattern which is half an inch smaller.

I'd love to know more about the knife if anyone can shed any light on it?

 

[benlangworthy]

OOPS! sorry about the lack of images! im not very tech savy!

Here we go:

 

[waynorth]

Hallmarked handles - might be sterling!!

 

[benlangworthy]

Quite possibly! There's no Lions head though so possibly silver plate? I've also read that occasionally some makers stamped nickel silver in order to make it seem more special!

I've also just realised (sorry for being slow on the uptake) that the knife is marked A & N C.S.L meaning it must have originally been sold and possibly commissioned by the Army and Nave co-operative society stores Ltd.

 

[danno50]

Interesting knife, on which I have no information. The hallmarks do not look like any of the standard sterling hallmarks. For made in Sheffield, there should be a crown in there somewhere.

 

[benlangworthy]

i was reading about Sheffield plate here: http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilverIT.html
There are some similar stamps here which made me think that perhaps it was either nickel silver of plated?

I was also thinking that the pattern of the knife reminded me of so called 'gift knives' from WW1 with the addition of a corkscrew.?

(I say so called as i know there's some contention about whether this is what they actually were or not).

 

[danno50]

i was reading about Sheffield plate here: http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilverIT.html
There are some similar stamps here which made me think that perhaps it was either nickel silver of plated?

I was also thinking that the pattern of the knife reminded me of so called 'gift knives' from WW1 with the addition of a corkscrew.?

(I say so called as i know there's some contention about whether this is what they actually were or not).

Thanks for that link, I had not seen that site before. It certainly explains a lot of the marks on your knife.
I know nothing about the "gift knives".

 

[Will Power]

It's not unusual for two spring knives to have no divider, many Stockman sport this.

It is quite large yes but these tool based practical knives need to be, try using a corkscrew with a midget handle

If you think about it, a Sportsman type knife like this is not likely going to have silver handles, just too soft for the job. So it will be EPNS Electro Plated Nickel Silver which is often brass or copper plated with silver etc. Many manufactures made their symbols to look like Hallmarks to the untrained eye but English/Scottish/Irish Hallmarks are not difficult to read just go online for a tables list of assay offices.

Sterling Silver must be 92.5% silver and will always carry a purity/standard mark - Lion passant left facing. Britannia silver is higher % 95.5% and has a Britannia mark but is rare. Then a guild or assay mark of the town it was assayed in (not necessarily made in though) Common ones are London-Leopard's face, Birmingham - Anchor, Sheffield- Crown, then year letter A-Z in various types and shield and maker's initials. Silver assayed between c 1820-1890 also had a monarch's head on it.

A nice item this knife

I think 'gift knives' were a commercial thing, many Dept. stores in Britain in the early years of WW I promoted the idea of giving soldiers allegedly 'useful' gifts- you can see this in old adverts, trench cutlery, watches, torches, compasses, map cases etc.

Thanks, Will

 

[benlangworthy]

It's not unusual for two spring knives to have no divider, many Stockman sport this.

It is quite large yes but these tool based practical knives need to be, try using a corkscrew with a midget handle

If you think about it, a Sportsman type knife like this is not likely going to have silver handles, just too soft for the job. So it will be EPNS Electro Plated Nickel Silver which is often brass or copper plated with silver etc. Many manufactures made their symbols to look like Hallmarks to the untrained eye but English/Scottish/Irish Hallmarks are not difficult to read just go online for a tables list of assay offices.

Sterling Silver must be 92.5% silver and will always carry a purity/standard mark - Lion passant left facing. Britannia silver is higher % 95.5% and has a Britannia mark but is rare. Then a guild or assay mark of the town it was assayed in (not necessarily made in though) Common ones are London-Leopard's face, Birmingham - Anchor, Sheffield- Crown, then year letter A-Z in various types and shield and maker's initials. Silver assayed between c 1820-1890 also had a monarch's head on it.

A nice item this knife

I think 'gift knives' were a commercial thing, many Dept. stores in Britain in the early years of WW I promoted the idea of giving soldiers allegedly 'useful' gifts- you can see this in old adverts, trench cutlery, watches, torches, compasses, map cases etc.

Thanks, Will

Thanks for the info Will,

When I bought the knife I was told it was officers private purchase from WW1.
The A & N C.S.L engraving on the tang of the main blade meaning seems to bare this out.

It also explains why the Ibberson violin is present but not their name, having done a bit more research (mainly on this forum) it seems that the Army and Nave co-operative society stores Ltd, would often remove the makers name and replace it with their own mark.

From what I've read it seems that only officers, their families and invited members could purchase items from the A & N C.S.L so it seems likely it was either bought by an officer or sent to them as a gift knife by a family member.

 

[benlangworthy]

It reminds me a lot of this Holtzapffel.
The Holtzapffel is about half an inch smaller but it feels very solid, really beautifully engineered.
one of the blades is marked as 'Hand Forged' which is a nice little detail.
it also has a secondary pen blade a can opener and a corkscrew.
It also has the stub of a snapped crown cork style opener.

 

[benlangworthy]

I really like nickel scaled knives, there's something engineered about them.
My first proper Sheffield folder (and my most treasured possession) was a W. Morton and sons nickel scaled sportsman's knife which came down through the family. It was given to me by my dad when I was doing daily rope making demonstrations at a local museum.

It's marked L.M. Sadler who I believe was a distant family member I've also got her purse and an old name tag of hers marked L. Mary Sadler.

Apologies for the quality of the last image, it makes the knife look much dirtier than it actually is! It's a regularly used but well cared for old friend.