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British Knives and Bowies

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Victorian Joseph Rodgers & Sons 6 Norfolk Street, Sheffield ‘Hunting Knife’ Folding Bowie with Polished Horn Scales, German Silver Fittings & Later Quality Bespoke Made Scabbard. Sn 21297 - 21297
Joseph Rodgers & Sons were first established as cutlers at ‘Holy Croft’ Sheffield C1724. By 1780 the firm was firmly established and well known for making quality knives. Having outgrown their Holy Croft premises moved to what was to become their worldwide famous address 6 Norfolk Street Sheffield. Originally making small, edged weapons the Company moved into manufacture of large Bowies when American & British Empire markets expanded in the Victorian era (see pages 522-530 of Tweedale’s Directory Of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers Expanded 2nd Edition). This is an excellent Victorian era Bowie made at Rodgers & Sons 6 Norfolk Street premises. The 7” long, steel blade with medial ridge has polished horn scales secured by steel pins. It has German silver bolsters at the pommel and at the cross guard. The lower bolsters are ribbed and engraved ‘No6’ (Norfolk Street). It has a swivelling brass finger guard consisting of 2 plates secured to the blade shank by a single brass pin allowing movement of the cross guard as normally found on folding Bowies. The blade, on one side is marked crisply at the ricasso, 'No 6 Sheffield, Steel' and near to the spine ‘HUNTING KNIFE’. The reverse is stamped with Rodgers Maltese type cross trademarks. The blade has just light age-related staining. The blade is released for closing by depression of a bar on the spine of the hilt. Open the knife is 12 ½” overall length, closed 8 ½”. Its later quality made brown leather scabbard has a full flap cover with eyelet that fastens to a brass lug on the front of the scabbard. To the rear it has a single riveted belt loop. All leather & stitching of the scabbard are clean & intact. The price for this Victorian folding Bowie by one of the famous Sheffield cutlers includes UK delivery. Sn 21297 (drawers Office)
£545.00

**RARE**WW2 British Ralph Martindale Chindit Paratroopers / RAF Pilots Short Machete Fighting Knife & Original WD 1943 Dated Leather Scabbard By ‘BHG’ With Correct Strap Assembly For Leg Carry. Sn 21079 - 21079
A rare to find original WW2 Chindit Paratroopers/ Pilots short machete fighting knife by Ralph Martindale who made these machetes for the British War Department. These weapons were originally made for British Paratroopers operating in the Far East during WW2, however they were also adopted by Pilots in the RAF, see pages 109 and 110 of 'British and Commonwealth Military Knives' book by Flook and plate 251 page 110 where a period image of an RAF pilot boarding the cockpit of his aircraft with one of these machetes in its scabbard strapped to his leg is illustrated (reproduced in image 1). The machete has a heavy double edged blade which is 9 ¾” long and 2 ¼” wide at its widest point. The grips are a chequered composite material and are secured by three copper rivets to prevent rusting. The handle is holed for wrist cord. The blade has partially visible etched Martindale maker’s name on one side. There are no other visible blade markings. The blade has staining consistent with age and service use. The machete measures 14 ¾” overall length. These weapons are not usually found with their scabbards. This example is complete with its original leather scabbard which has a single retaining strap with press stud fastener, riveted to the body and leather strap assembly with buckles for belt or leg carry. The rear of the scabbard towards the lower edge is impressed with WD arrow and by the manufacturer ‘BHG’. It is also stamped with 1943 date and the reverse has letters and numbers which looks like ‘A423’. All leather stitching and rivets are intact. The price for this rare piece includes UK delivery. Sn 21079 (FS box)
£795.00

**MASSIVE**BLACKSMITH MADE**CUTLER’S SHOP WINDOW ADVERTISING PIECE**Early 20th Century Bowie Knife. Sn 22514 - 22514
This is a massive, heavy Bowie in English form most likely Blacksmith made in the early 20th century. This size of Bowie were displayed by Cutler’s in their shop windows to draw attention to & advertise their wares. The 19 ¾” long, Bowie has undamaged, thick wood scales secured to the full tang by 5 brass rivets. It has a heavy cast brass finger guard. The knife’s impressive 12 ½” long blade is 6mm thick and 3” broad at its widest. The steel blade has areas of staining consistent with age and storage. There is no damage or nicks to the cutting edge. There are no visible maker marks on this Bowie. The Bowie weighs a hefty 1.5 Kg. Although useable as a knife this Bowie was never made to be carried and is correctly without scabbard. The price for this massive Bowie, a great conversation / display piece includes UK delivery. Sn 22514
£395.00

**RARE** ONE OF 7,000**1960’s British Military Wilkinson Sword RJH Jungle Fighting Knife With Correct British 1908 Pattern Cavalry Sword Handle & Scabbard. ED 2540 - ED 2540
This is a scarce survival / fighting knife produced by Wilkinson Sword Co in the 1960's. Intended for the M.O.D approximately 7,000 knives were made. The M.O.D. didn't adopt the knife and they were eventually sent to the Far East and sold to the military as private purchase weapons (see page 123 of Flook's book ‘British & Commonwealth Military Knives). Our example has a clean polished 8” fullered Bowie blade and correct composite 1908 pattern Cavalry sword hilt which features chequered panels & thumb recess for grip. The blade is etched ' WILKINSON SWORD LONDON ENGLAND' on one side & ' RJH JUNGLE KNIFE' on the reverse. The hilt has the correct short brass finger guard and large brass pommel nut. The knife comes with its original brown leather scabbard which has an integral belt loop and retaining strap. The scabbard has the correct ‘lift the dot’ stamped press stud fastener. The price includes UK delivery. ED 2540 (Fighting Hunting Box)
£495.00

SOLD SOLD (09/04) English Stacey Henry & Horton Sheffield Bowie Belt Knife With Polished Horn Tortoise Shell Effect Grip Scales German Silver Fittings & Leather Scabbard With Ornate Tooled Decoration & German Silver Fittings With Belt Bar. Sn 22474:9 - 22474:9
The English, Sheffield Cutlers began as Stacey & Henry, which was listed in 1852 as a plater on steel and German silver, in South Street. The partners were Edward Henry Stacey, the son of a pen knife grinder, and James Townsend Henry, the son of a packer. Frederick Horton joined them and in 1856 the new partnership (Stacey, Henry & Horton) registered a silver mark at the Assay Office from Norfolk Street. In 1856, they described themselves as electro-platers – one of the first Sheffield firms to become involved with electro-plate products. However, the firm failed and was dissolved in 1859. James T. Henry launched his own business in Arundel Street. Edward Stacey started his own enterprise in Tudor Street and by 1876 was located in Norfolk Street. However, he died in Broomhall Street on 20 December 1876, aged 43. Frederick Horton moved to London and worked as an iron agent. He died at Isledon Road, London, on 4 May 1887, aged 57 (See page 581 of Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2013 2nd Edition by Geoffrey Tweedale). This is an attractive Victorian belt Bowie by Stacey Henry & Horton made at their Norfolk Street Sheffield premises. It has a 6 ½” long Bowie blade which is 4mm thick and just over 1 ¼” broad at its widest. The blade has just light staining consistent with age and there is a small nibble to the cutting edge near to the hilt. The knife is 11” overall length. The blade is signed by the makers ‘Stacey Henry & Horton Norfolk Street Sheffield’. The Bowie has a German silver cross guard and its horn scales have been polished until translucent to give an appealing Tortoise shell appearance. The scales are secured by brass pins. The Bowie has its original leather open top scabbard which has a German Silver throat mount with belt bar and German silver chape. The leather has ornate hand tooled foliate decoration to the front & rear aspects. The tooling has original coloured highlights. All leather & stitching are clean and intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 22474:9 (All Bowie Knives Box)
£0.00

**RARE** ONE OF 7,000, 1960’s British Military Wilkinson Sword RJH Jungle Fighting Knife with Correct British 1908 Pattern Cavalry Sabre Handle & Scabbard. Sn 18667 - 18667
This is a scarce survival / fighting knife produced by Wilkinson Sword Co in the 1960's. Intended for the M.O.D approximately 7,000 knives were made. The M.O.D. didn't adopt the knife and they were eventually sent to the Far East and sold to the military as private purchase weapons (see page 123 of Flook's book ‘British & Commonwealth Military Knives). Our example has a clean polished 8” fullered Bowie blade and correct composite 1908 pattern Cavalry sword hilt which features chequered panels & thumb recess for grip. The blade is etched ' WILKINSON SWORD LONDON ENGLAND' on one side & ' RJH JUNGLE KNIFE' on the reverse. The hilt has the correct short brass finger guard and large brass pommel nut. The knife comes with its original brown leather scabbard which has an integral belt loop and retaining strap with press stud fastener. The scabbard has the correct ‘lift the dot’ stamped press stud fastener. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 18667
£495.00

C1960’s Siebe Gorman Type Diver's Knife as Used by British Royal Navy Divers With Brass Scabbard Slotted For Belt Loop. ED 2532. - ED 2532
This is an excellent, original, Siebe Gorman type Diver's Knife and Scabbard as used by British Royal Navy divers. The knife has a clean 194mm long double-edged spear point blade with medial ridge (334 mm overall). The blade has no visible manufacturer marks. The blade is magnetic. The knife has a brass cross guard, ferrule & tang nut and has a ribbed & contoured grooved ebonite handle. The knife is complete with solid brass scabbard with belt slot. The knife fits correctly in its scabbard. The price includes UK delivery. ED 2532
£545.00

**RESERVED**RESERVED** *English 'Fred James' ‘James & Lowe’ Sheffield Made Hunter’s Companion 'Land of The Free Home Of The Brave ' Bowie Knife With Etched Blade, Stag Antler hilt With Brass Horse Head Pommel & Brass mounted Leather Scabbard. Sn 21334 - 21334
Before his death in 1986 Fred James was Sheffield's best known Bowie Knife maker. Fred James worked for George Wostenholm the famous Sheffield England knife maker who made many of the original Bowie Knives that were exported to the United States during the mid-19th century. When Wostenholm closed its doors, Fred apparently helped himself to many of the 19th century patterns, dies and stamps of his previous employer, and went into the business in the early 1970’s of making Bowie Knives himself. The examples of his work that were unmarked found their way into the “antique” arms dealers in the U.K., especially London. Many U.S. knife collectors were also fooled early on thinking that they were buying authentic 1850’s era Bowie Knives. Fred made/assembled knives with his wife Ivy, and for a while also had a Sandy Lowe who worked along with him. Some of his knives were also marked correctly Fred James, or James & Lowe. Today those Bowies stamped with either of these marks are very collectible in their own right and have a ready market among knife collectors (see pages 214-215 of The Sheffield Knife Book by Tweedale). This James & Lowe Sheffield made Bowie Knife & scabbard are in near mint condition. The knife Stag Antler hilt With Brass Horse Head Pommel. It has an ornate brass finger guard and the 9 ¾” Bowie blade is polished steel with scalloped decoration on the back edge (16 ¼” overall). The blade is 2” at its widest and is 6mm thick. One side of the blade is etched with elaborate scroll work and wording "America Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave" and Americans Ask For Nothing But What Is Right And Submit To Nothing That’s Wrong’ wither crossed banners of America & Great Britain. The blade also has the American Eagle and ‘Hunter’s Companion’. The ricasso is stamped "James & Lowe Sheffield". The scabbard is brown leather with gold foliate decoration and brass throat mount and chape. The throat mount has a frog locket. The price for this desirable Bowie includes UK delivery. Sn 21334
£0.00

Victorian Era SM Hill Sheffield Patent Spear Point Bowie Knife With Polished Horn Hilt, Brass Fittings & Open Top Scabbard. ED 2113 - ED 2113
This attractive Victorian Bowie is 11 ½” overall length. The knife's 7” spear point blade is undamaged and has just light staining consistent with age. The blade shank is marked on one side with the manufacturer or retailer name ’SM HILL SHEFFIELD’. The reverse has the word ‘PATENT’ (we cannot find a knife maker or retailer using the name SM Hill in our books). It has a solid turned polished Horn hilt and stepped brass pommel cap. It has a brass ferrule and brass cross guard with ball finials. The has its associated open top leather scabbard which has stitched belt loop to the rear. All leather & stitching is clean & intact. The price includes UK Delivery. ED 2113
£275.00

**VERY RARE**WW1 British Robbins Of Dudley Alloy Hilt, Steel Knuckle Bow Trench Fighting Knife With Scabbard & New Illustrated Hard Back Book ‘The History & Knives Of Robbins & Company By Flook & Pidgeon’. Sn 22430 - 22430
Robbins of Dudley were a metal working Company in Dudley Worcester England who at the outbreak of WW1 began making Trench Fighting weapons. This is an original very rare WW1 Robbins of Dudley fighting knife excellent condition. This variant has the correct an alloy handle which has contoured finger recesses, steel knuckle bow and steel blade with blood grooves (see pages 52 and 53 of The History & Knives Of Robbins & Company By Flook & Pidgeon where variants the same as ours are illustrated, A brand new copy of the book accompanies the knife). The knife has a total length of 240mm and the double edged blade with blood grooves is 147mm length. The maker's name is on top of the alloy hilt 'Robbins Dudley'. It is complete with its original correct brown leather scabbard with retaining strap & single brass stud. The scabbard has an integral belt loop. The Brand New Hardback Book ‘The History and Knives of Robbins & Company’ is expanded research which uncovered much more than just a family history story when the authors discovered new details of Robbins knives during WWI. The book updates the story of Robbins and the knives they produced to a much greater degree than previously known. The hardback book has 104 colour and black & white illustrated pages. with history and descriptions of Robbins knives. The price for this very rare knife includes the book and UK delivery.**The price for the knife without the book including UK delivery is £1800** Sn 22430 (FS Box)
£1,895.00
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