Broom Head

[NWMP]

Can you fellas give me some info on a Broom Head knife stamping please. Hopefuly the start/end date of the cutlers production. It may be Adam Broomhead from my short search to date.

[Lucas]

Adam Broomhead, cutler, Sheffield England, registered mark on Feb. 24, 1759. Mark "BROOM" over "HEAD"

Appears in 1774, 1781 directories. 1787 mark shown as "BROOMHEAD." Both of these marks show up in fur trade. Later styles have later marks.

The classic early Broomhead is long and sharply tapered, with a bent down half tang, marked BROOM over HEAD. 1780's types have the standard 'S' curve shape and have the BROOMHEAD mark.

A few French style folding knives have the Broomhead mark as well, proving this is not an exclusively French pattern. French style folders also show up on short lived fur post sites that date around 1800... way too late for French made knives. Other Brit marks are also known on these, but number-wise, they are few compared to the huge numbers of French made knives that are recovered.

Images: early BROOM over HEAD blade, Later BROOMHEAD pair, BROOM over HEAD French style clasp knife (ebay).