Knife: use and date?

[Smoogle]

found this in the river, what would it have been used for - my wife says a simple butter knife - but I don't know because it is so thin and flexy - quite sharp still - I thought it may have been a roundnose razor? Blade is about 3 3/4 inches long. Anyway I know it is probably common trash to most but I'm curious. Stamped mark reads "Improved Nickel Sheffield".

[mrs.oroblanco]

Picture please

Beth

[doublet2a]

I'm thinking your wife may be right

Tim

[mrs.oroblanco]

It LOOKS like it might be a broken hoof paring knife. Does it seem to be broken at the end? Do both sides seem to be equally sharp, or dull?

Beth

[foundinrolls]

I agree with it being a form of tool used on a horse's hoof, perhaps to clean out the horses shoes. It looks like a farrier's knife...

[Goodyguy]

What you have is:
A vintage Sheffield butter knife missing the handle. Circa late 1800's

[mrs.oroblanco]

Sorry, I'm not seeing that butter knife as a green check.

The point where the handle attaches to the other part doesn't match very well.

Beth

This one is in rough shape:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Farriers-Kni...item35b6b6c546

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Beth ~

I just came on board here and was confused at first. But I realize now the part of the knife found/shown is the "blade" itself and not the handle. If someone wants an exact match, I'd focus on what I call the "pinch" where the blade goes into the (missing) handle, (That GoodyGuy indicated). Plus, an exact match would also say "Improved Nickel."

SBB

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Here's an example of a Sheffield Knife and Fork from the Civil War era. Notice the similar "pinch." However, this particular knife has the mount stem off-center, so it is not an exact match. I show it primarily to indicate the one in question "may" be Civil War era, or earlier.

SBB

[Goodyguy]

I was aware that the pinch was different on the example I posted.

The example I posted (not a Sheffield) was only to show that it is in fact a butter knife not an exact match.
I stand by my identification.

Sheffield did not advertize "Improved Nickel" until 1895! The war had been over for 30 years!

GG~

[Goodyguy]

Here's an example of a Sheffield Knife and Fork from the Civil War era. Notice the similar "pinch." However, this particular knife has the mount stem off-center, so it is not an exact match. I show it primarily to indicate the one in question "may" be Civil War era, or earlier.

SBB

The off center and longer blade is indicative of a dinner knife. A butter knife's blade is centered as well as being shorter.

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

GG ~

Thanks for the clarification. Especially the 1895 aspect about the introduction of nickel. That in itself changes everything!

It's hard to find a Sheffield knife of any type that isn't silver. That is until I started taking a closer look at things and discovered a lot of them are actually silver "handled." Meaning the blades on some of the so called silver ones are nickel ~ stainless, etc; and not silver. Take for example the knives pictured below ... Silver handles ~ Non silver blades. (Notice the different colors). This particular set was described as being made in 1917. But how they knew the exact date, it didn't say. I assume it has something to do with the pattern.

GG ~

Is there something specific about the knife in question that makes it "late 1800s?" I don't doubt you, it's just that the 1917 set below looks "pretty close" too.

Lastly ... check out this e-bay link showing a 1909 set of Sheffield butter knives. Talk about details! The seller did one of the best jobs of posting details I have ever seen.

E-bay Link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRISON-FIS...item564712db0c



[ 1917 butter knife set with silver handles + butter knife in question ]

{ Is it possible that our mystery knife once had a silver handle? }

[Smoogle]

Thank-you for the interest, I would appreciate any further details The town / river of find in question was settled in approx 1870's, and blade was found at about 6 inches in low tide wet sand on the riverbank. I also found a ring in the same river nearby and feel it may be old too - I'll post it here now - it may be completely unrelated.... anyway stoked about the obvious age of the knife -
all the best to all.

[foundinrolls]

Sheffield marks the blade, not the handle. Since the handle is marked, it isn't a butter knife.

[Smoogle]

hello, this is not a handle - it is the blade only - I'm really hoping goodyguy is onto it, thanks mate. I'm curbing thoughts towards relics being just as fun as a gold ring on the beach.
goodyguy... it has not shown much detriment for being submersed in salt for what I assume is a long time - what is the alloy ratio - i.e what is it made of?

[mrs.oroblanco]

I have to agree - Sheffield does not mark the handle.

However - in that same vein, I've gone through my entire pattern book, and I cannot find a darned thing with that particular thumb guard area, within any timeframe, so, I'm officially stumped on year, though it does have to be post 1895.

Problem there is, Sheffield went almost straight from silver to stainless, with a different logo - so, like I said, I'm officially stumped.

Beth

[Dano Sverige]

There were a LOT of cutlery factories in Sheffield, and most marked their wares "Sheffield". It's a common or garden butter knife. Due to it's thinness, it may be a fish knife.

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Here's a snippet from the New York Times dated January 31, 1915. It suggest that Sheffield introduced stainless steel to their line sometime that year. This might have been when they discontinued their "Improved Nickel" products. If so, then this would narrow down the date for the butter knife in question between 1895 and 1915. (Circa 20 year time frame). (Maybe) ?

SBB

[cheese]

You guys are mistaking the blade for the handle. There is no handle. Only a tang which was inserted into the handle, which has long since deteriorated away. The wide part is the blade. Late 1800s butter knife.