I have not seen many Burkinshaw knives posted on this thread after a search and wanted to share this "old knife" for multiple reasons. Many of you are familiar with Aaron Burkinshaw and his knife “legacy” including that collection of Burkinshaw knives that last sold at auction for approximately $91K (approx. 63 knives or so in a display case)…
In brief for those interested or not familiar – Aaron Burkinshaw (1814-1881) apprenticed in Sheffield and emigrated to the US in 1848… Interestingly Tweedale noted Aaron Burkinshaw as one of the makers in his Sheffield book as he apprenticed and made knives in Sheffield before emigrating to the America. According to Tweedale Burkinshaw’s first few years in America he worked for Waterville Mfg Co Waterbury and later started a shop in Buryville CT in 1853. In 1856 he left Buryville CT and moved to Pepperell MA where he formed another shop. He remained there until his death in 1881 but his sons who were involved in the business continued the cutlery until approximately 1920 (Stamp – A Burkinshaw Sons following 1881). The Burkinshaw Cutlery was not anywhere near the size of the major cutlery firms of the time (egs, Miller Bros, Empire etc) but he was known for quality cutlery and to my eye produced many knives classic of the Sheffield style. According to their old published ads Horticultural knives were no doubt one of the Burkinshaw specialties.
This ebony handled Burkinshaw Hawkbill was capped with a closed length of 4 & ¾”. It sported a rat-tailed bolster and all carbon steel/iron construction... The blade has no doubt seen use as noted on the cutting edge (not unusual given hawkbill Pruners were hardworking knives) but it is a solid knife still today – snaps like a bear trap and as tight as the day it left the shop. Though abit stained and worn the blade has the etch “A Burkinshaw” with the same mark side tang stamp but indicated no location – thus the shop location could have been either CT or MA as discussed above. Personally I have not seen many Burkinshaw knives with a blade etch.
Now the interesting part involves a pile side tang stamp which had two symbols - a Crescent Moon and a Star with both having a smaller symbol or perhaps a letter inside – see the last photo. I understand from a few well known collectors that the pile side mark was the sign of a very early Burkinshaw made knife. Information I received from a collector who I truly respect in terms of his knowledge relayed to me that it was a well known fact though it is not included in any written resources that Aaron Burkinshaw (and his sons as well) were members of the “Odd Fellows” or IOOF. He believes these symbols were part of the secret language they used to communicate – and indeed while he has asked a few Odd Fellow members they would not disclose anything regarding that symbolic language. Nonetheless quite a unique and old Burkinshaw Hawkbill Pruner and knife from his early days of knife making.
Thanks for looking!!
Cheers!
In brief for those interested or not familiar – Aaron Burkinshaw (1814-1881) apprenticed in Sheffield and emigrated to the US in 1848… Interestingly Tweedale noted Aaron Burkinshaw as one of the makers in his Sheffield book as he apprenticed and made knives in Sheffield before emigrating to the America. According to Tweedale Burkinshaw’s first few years in America he worked for Waterville Mfg Co Waterbury and later started a shop in Buryville CT in 1853. In 1856 he left Buryville CT and moved to Pepperell MA where he formed another shop. He remained there until his death in 1881 but his sons who were involved in the business continued the cutlery until approximately 1920 (Stamp – A Burkinshaw Sons following 1881). The Burkinshaw Cutlery was not anywhere near the size of the major cutlery firms of the time (egs, Miller Bros, Empire etc) but he was known for quality cutlery and to my eye produced many knives classic of the Sheffield style. According to their old published ads Horticultural knives were no doubt one of the Burkinshaw specialties.
This ebony handled Burkinshaw Hawkbill was capped with a closed length of 4 & ¾”. It sported a rat-tailed bolster and all carbon steel/iron construction... The blade has no doubt seen use as noted on the cutting edge (not unusual given hawkbill Pruners were hardworking knives) but it is a solid knife still today – snaps like a bear trap and as tight as the day it left the shop. Though abit stained and worn the blade has the etch “A Burkinshaw” with the same mark side tang stamp but indicated no location – thus the shop location could have been either CT or MA as discussed above. Personally I have not seen many Burkinshaw knives with a blade etch.
Now the interesting part involves a pile side tang stamp which had two symbols - a Crescent Moon and a Star with both having a smaller symbol or perhaps a letter inside – see the last photo. I understand from a few well known collectors that the pile side mark was the sign of a very early Burkinshaw made knife. Information I received from a collector who I truly respect in terms of his knowledge relayed to me that it was a well known fact though it is not included in any written resources that Aaron Burkinshaw (and his sons as well) were members of the “Odd Fellows” or IOOF. He believes these symbols were part of the secret language they used to communicate – and indeed while he has asked a few Odd Fellow members they would not disclose anything regarding that symbolic language. Nonetheless quite a unique and old Burkinshaw Hawkbill Pruner and knife from his early days of knife making.
Thanks for looking!!
Cheers!
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- Indeed Tweedale has some amazing historical info and a great reference for Sheffield - actually I was surprised to find Burkinshaw in his book as he didn't have a Sheffield cutlery shop at that point in time - Phil P's book on New England Cutleries also has a fair amount of info on Burkinshaw's history.. ashame many of the old records have been lost even here as well but for different reasons...
.... Notably as you know that was very much a pre-1860 Sheffield attribute on many knives... not so common here in early American cutleries though I do have a very early Waterville Mfg Co Waterbury which also has integral liners and bolsters - interestingly at that point in time (later 1840s) Waterville had essentially all Sheffield cutlers in the shop as well... nonetheless pretty interesting aspect of the knife !!
