Wostenholm IXL Sheffield knife

[Rookie82]

My grandfather came across a knife at an antique store and brought it to show me today. I thought I would show some photos of it here and get some opinions from the experts. It's a great little knife, measures 3 1/16 inches closed. You can tell it's old just by the feel of it. Obviously it's been heavily used and sharpened. But the bone handles still have a lot of character, and the blades have strong snap open and closed. It's funny that the smaller blade has a 1/2 stop, but the larger one does not. I really like the double nail knick access grooves cut into the handles/liners. The old cutlers really did a tremendous job.

1 question, in doing my research I think this knife would date to "prior to 1890" but I'd like some confirmation. Perhaps Jack Black can assist, or someone else with knowledge of Sheffield knives. In a reference book it says that if IXL does not have a star (such as I*XL), it is prior to 1890. I know that after a certain date knives made overseas had to have the country origin stamped, and this one does say England.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Here are lots of photos.

(images removed due to BF Attachment limits)

 

[Jack Black]

Nice knife, thank you for posting the pics It's a simple Penknife pattern, which Wostenholm did for a very long time, with various cover options. There is an example, for instance, in their 1885 catalogue, but they did the same pattern into the mid 20th century, and possibly as late as the 1970's.

"I know that after a certain date knives made overseas had to have the country origin stamped, and this one does say England."

Unfortunately, many knife collectors are misled with regard to the US Tariff Act of 1890, or fail to understand its implications. While it required goods, imported into the USA, to be marked with the country of origin, that did not mean that all knives, all over the world, were then marked in compliance with a US law. Many Sheffield cutlers did not routinely export knives to the USA, so there was no need to change their tang stamp, indeed, some NEVER added 'England' after Sheffield. However, for George Wostenholm & Son, the US was an important export market, and so it was worth them having new stamps made.

On the tang stamps of Wostenholm knives, the mark between the 'I' and the 'X' is usually a 'dot', separated by a space, rather than a 'star', and it can be feint. It looks to me like your knife may have a 'dot', it certainly has the letter spacing to include one.

I don't own a copy of Goins, but there have been numerous instances here, over the years, where posters have referenced it in relation to Sheffield cutlery manufacturers, and the 'information' listed in Goins is completely wrong. In this case, it looks like the notes refer to a single example, and there may be any number of reasons why this 'pre-1890' knife did not have a 'star' between the 'I' and the 'X', or was recorded thus. However, above this, Goins lists a knife dated (intriguingly) '1837-1848' as being marked 'I*XL'. I don't think Goins is saying that, prior to 1890, Wostenholm knives were not marked 'I*XL', they certainly were.

You have a very nice George Wosteholm Penknife, but I don't believe it was produced prior to 1890. I hope that's helpful

 

[Rookie82]

Unfortunately, many knife collectors are misled with regard to the US Tariff Act of 1890, or fail to understand its implications. While it required goods, imported into the USA, to be marked with the country of origin, that did not mean that all knives, all over the world, were then marked in compliance with a US law. Many Sheffield cutlers did not routinely export knives to the USA, so there was no need to change their tang stamp, indeed, some NEVER added 'England' after Sheffield. However, for George Wostenholm & Son, the US was an important export market, and so it was worth them having new stamps made.

This is interesting. I'm always learning, and I try to not pass on incorrect information to others, so this is good information to have.

You have a very nice George Wosteholm Penknife, but I don't believe it was produced prior to 1890. I hope that's helpful

Very helpful indeed Jack. Thank you very much. I'll be going to visit my grandfather after work today and will share the information with him as well.

 

[Jack Black]

This is interesting. I'm always learning, and I try to not pass on incorrect information to others, so this is good information to have.

Very helpful indeed Jack. Thank you very much. I'll be going to visit my grandfather after work today and will share the information with him as well.

A pleasure my friend, I hope your grandfather finds it interesting too