"Old Knives"

[smiling-knife]

My William Rodgers, Sheffield c1850s.
Charles

That's a stunning knife. Can you tell us what is stamped under the William Rodgers name please?

 

[Jack Black]

Jack the scales are an issue from their appearance as far as being 1890 or older. Stainless was not yet around and aluminum was still almost a precious metal and not widely available. Could it be silver? Unlikely, but from the pictures it is hard to tell other than oxidation does not seem to have been an issue except for what appears to be a bit of electrolysis around the pins. Nickel silver maybe?

Great old knife Jack. Is the spatula buffalo horn?

I'd say nickel silver for the scales too Brad. The appear very similar to many other advertising knives from the late 1800s-early 1900s

Thanks guys. Yes, I believe that the spatula is buffalo horn S-K. I think S-K is also right about the scales, I thought stainless when I first looked at the knife, then nickel silver or 'spanish silver'. That's a nice knife BTW S-K. Thanks for your help gents :thumbup:

 

[Campbellclanman]

S-K, I was wondering about the stamping as well, Charles - does this William Rodgers ( which is absolutely remarkable!!!!) have "I CUT MY WAY " on the reverse of the blades at all?
Beautiful Knife, the intricacy with the file work is amazing when you look closely - just look at the Spine of that Main!!!theres a LOT of Highly Skilled craftsmanship gone into that knife! Beautiful photography John!

 

[screened porch]

Thanks guys. Yes, I believe that the spatula is buffalo horn S-K. I think S-K is also right about the scales, I thought stainless when I first looked at the knife, then nickel silver or 'spanish silver'. That's a nice knife BTW S-K. Thanks for your help gents :thumbup:

Or nickel-plated steel? That artsy-craftsy Japonaiserie font makes me think 1910-1920.

 

[pmew]

Sandy Macdonald is an Edinburgh (leith) blend that they stopped producing in the late sixties. If memory serves me the cask malt came from the Glenlivit distillery. A bottle of spring cap sandy macdonald from back then will set you back about £250. From the fifties could be upwards of £500-£600 a bottle. Find an earlier one and you might want to call Sotheby's.

Never tasted it myself, a bit out of my drinking price range.

Nice knife too by the way.

Paul

 

[chuko]

Charles - does this William Rodgers ( which is absolutely remarkable!!!!) have "I CUT MY WAY " on the reverse of the blades at all?
Beautiful Knife, the intricacy with the file work is amazing when you look closely - just look at the Spine of that Main!!!theres a LOT of Highly Skilled craftsmanship gone into that knife! Beautiful photography John!

Duncan: The "I Cut My Way" symbol is just below the RODGERS on the mark side.
Charles

 

[Jack Black]

Beautiful Knife, the intricacy with the file work is amazing when you look closely - just look at the Spine of that Main!!!theres a LOT of Highly Skilled craftsmanship gone into that knife! Beautiful photography John!

:thumbup:

Or nickel-plated steel?

Yes :thumbup:

 

[smiling-knife]

Hi Charles. Just wondering about the age and maker of your wonderful mop knife. The history of the name and trademarks is a little unclear. This is my understanding, albeit far from complete. There was cutler William Rodgers back in the mid 1800s. The mincer tool mark and I Cut My Way were registered to Thomas Hobson in the latter half of the 1800s. Tweedale suggests that Hobson may have used the Rodgers' name occasionally as they were associates. Both the William Rodgers name and the Hobson trademarks were acquired by John Clarke and Son in the Early 1900s. I'd very much appreciate any further information you have on the history of your knife. Thanks.

 

[smiling-knife]

These William Rodgers sleeveboard penknives were made by John Clarke and Son circa 1930s I think.

 

[chuko]

S-K here is what I have on the William Rodgers. My notes in my log when I purchased the knife and some additional information collected from Mick.

William Rodgers/ Sheffield (1830-1855) serpentine 3 spring/ 5 blade shadow pearl knife.* 3 1/4” closed, worked backsprings, milled liners, long pulls (through the tang) filed blades, gold washed interior.* Marked with ‘I Cut My Way’*mincing knife symbol below the Rodgers, Near mint condition. (cleaned)*

Some BF conversation with Mick after I first posted it on the Sheffield thread.

"Thanks for posting pictures of your fine five bladed Wm Rodgers Charles.

Not easy to judge its condition from pics, certain looks a quality item for sure. The thing has a mid to later Victorian look about it, perhaps it was made as a presentation knife ?.

True 'Exhibition knives' very rarely appear for sale, they were mainly kept by their makers for display. Oversize centre pieces..down to the smaller stuff.. extra special peerless quality was the norm."

Mick

Mick, thanks for the insight. Condition of this William Rodgers is near mint (my pictures aren't top notch) the finishes (gold wash) and special treatments are way above the norm, probably a presentation knife like you described. I have another 3 spring I will post later. Charles

“Your knife certainly exudes quality Charles, lovely fileworked backsprings and blade spines, I notice the springs have fine lines and dots at the ends and centres..I've seen that same (or very similar) design on another knife, posted in this thread ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...27#post8483727 ) the knife once belonged to a stage actor called Edmonstone Shirra who was active from the late 1860s-.”

Mick


S-K I Hope this helps respond to your question.
Charles

 

[Campbellclanman]

I haven't seen a William Rodgers quite that fancy after the 1930's era - now please this is from my own observation, and most certainly NOT trying to come across as "I know a lot about it"....I have owned possibly 40 to 50 Fixed blades from W/Rodgers, and slightly less than that of pocket knives (I have now only one left - a beautiful 13 inch William Rodgers Bowie/Hunting knife ) none have been anywhere near the quality or showing the era of Charles's beautiful example/s, does this suggest that once Clarke came into the scene in the 30's that this type of craftsmanship was dropped and a different market was targeted? a lot of hunting knives that competed with Marbles shapes etc came from this era, but to be honest I never knew William Rodgers made such beautiful knives like that until Charles-you were kind enough to share with yours.

 

[chuko]

I am certainly no expert on William Rodgers as a maker or the trademark and it's use. I can attest to the special quality of this 3 spring, 5 blade knife being exceptional quality. I recently sold a small William Rodger pen knife with SS-77 on the inside liner (made by Stan Shaw). Although of good quality it was no match for the 3 spring. Here is my listing I sold it from:

Nice petite shadow pen knife marked WILLIAM / RODGERS /SHEFFIELD, secondary marked CUT (knife) MY WAY. Inside liner is SS-77 mark indicating Stan Shaw built this one. Blades are file worked, shiny and show no sharpening, snap both ways no wobble, there is some spotting. Nickel silver bar shield, file worked back spring and milled brass liners. Pearl covers have no cracks or chips.


Charles

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[smiling-knife]

Thanks Charles for the further information and for sharing your wonderful collection. I like the mop pen knife.

 

[link2derek]

 

[singin50]

WOW, that's a big gun right there! Very cool.:thumbup:

 

[MerryMadMonk]

That's a keeper. And to think it left the factory about 70 years ago!

 

[MerryMadMonk]

I found this one not long ago and could not find any info. I'd search the forums, use my google-fu, see something close, but no joy. Set it aside, get distracted and weeks later decide to look some more.

Then this past weekend.....

Sometimes the answer is right under your nose... or staring at you from your bookshelf.

 

[gunstockjack]

That's a beauty Al!

 

[CJZ]

Top to bottom:

Shapleigh
Case
Waterville
Russell
Ulster

 

[MerryMadMonk]

That's a beauty Al!

Thanks Barry