S&J kitchin machete

Wild Willie

Wild Willie

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So I found this at the scrapyard a few years ago getting parts for my truck. The handle scales were ruined so I had a friend put some on made from sugar maple. I can't find much info on the net about it so I thought I'd punt it to the forum. Can anyone tell me about this thing? I use it around the house all the time it's a real workhorse. Any information on it would be greatly appreciated. I like to know the history of the cutlery I have lying around.
 
W
Wild Willie said:
View attachment 1252734 View attachment 1252735
So I found this at the scrapyard a few years ago getting parts for my truck. The handle scales were ruined so I had a friend put some on made from sugar maple. I can't find much info on the net about it so I thought I'd punt it to the forum. Can anyone tell me about this thing? I use it around the house all the time it's a real workhorse. Any information on it would be greatly appreciated. I like to know the history of the cutlery I have lying around.
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Well consarn it, that second picture was supposed to be the tang stamp. It reads: S&J Kitchin. Ltd, Sheffield. With a symbol of two opposing triangles, a date of 1952 and a serial number of 2640
 
S & J Kitchin operated in Sheffield from the mid 19th century. The 'S' is Samuel (1821-1866), and the 'J' is John (1839-1894), they were the sons of John and Hannah Kitchin. After moving to Sheffield from Derbyshire, Samuel worked as a hardware merchant, clerk, grocer, and razor manufacturer, and later Bowie Knife maker and table knife manufacturer, operating from Argyle Works. He was only 45 when he died, leaving a modest sum of under £3,000 for a manufacturer who had employed over 70 workers a couple of years before. Samuel's brother, John, had become a partner in the firm, and it was renamed S & J Kitchin, with John going on to assume control.

The firm relocated to Soho Cutlery Works, manufacturing table and butcher knives, machetes, daggers, shoe knives, pocket knives, and razors. Their trade marks included 'XCD', 'FAME', 'DURATION', and 'SUPERLATIVE'. The workforce grew to over 200 by 1881.

John Kitchin died, aged 61, in 1894, and Samuel's son William Henry Kitchin (1851-1900) took over, but he only lived to 48. His brother Thomas Edward Kitchin next ran the firm, alongside Harry Kitchin, who was descended from John. They were also joined by other family members.

According to Geoffrey Tweedale, the source of this information, in the 1950's, the company continued to produce a wide range of trade knives, and a large business supplying machetes to African tribesmen. In 1957 though, the company's knife business was acquired by Ralph Martindale & Co Ltd, the famous Birmingham machete makers, but Kitchin continued to manufacture agricultural machine parts until 1987.

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That's way better than I've been able to find, thanks so much! I know it's a homely thing but I've grown quite fond of it. Sitting here getting occasional use is a far better fate than being crushed in a car, I was stoked when I found it.
 
Wild Willie said:
That's way better than I've been able to find, thanks so much! I know it's a homely thing but I've grown quite fond of it. Sitting here getting occasional use is a far better fate than being crushed in a car, I was stoked when I found it.
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It looks good :thumbsup:
 
Henry Beige said:
That is a nice find.
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Thanks, the owner let me take it for nothing, he said "Get it out of here before my kid finds it and does something stupid." It's always a good idea to keep a good rapport with the local purveyor of junk parts in the area!
 
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