G butler & co

[lewisjohn1890]

Can anyone help me date this knife? It has a key on the stamp and then says g butler & co, and made in England on the other side, I got it as a gift from a friend, I just would love to know a little more about it

[Waukonda]

Can anyone help me date this knife? It has a key on the stamp and then says g butler & co, and made in England on the other side, I got it as a gift from a friend, I just would love to know a little more about it

You are very fortunate to receive such a great gift, that is a classy looking old knife. I checked Tweedales Directory of Sheffield Cutlery and there is a lengthy entry for G Butler. I am posting a couple of pictures from the book which I hope will give you answers to your questions if you are able to enlarge and read. Basically, the firm started in the late 1700's, and they began using the Key mark in 1882. By the 1930's the firm was primarily manufacturing tableware, it was liquidated in 1952. If the knife is stamped "Made in England" it would have been made after the 1890 tariff act which required country of origin labels. I would guess your knife to be very early 1900's. Does this info seem to match up with your knife, is the Key on your knife similar to the one pictured?

[ea42]

Can you show a close up photo of the blade with the tang stamps included?

[lewisjohn1890]

Can anyone help me date this knife? It has a key on the stamp and then says g butler & co, and made in England on the other side, I got it as a gift from a friend, I just would love to know a little more about it

You are very fortunate to receive such a great gift, that is a classy looking old knife. I checked Tweedales Directory of Sheffield Cutlery and there is a lengthy entry for G Butler. I am posting a couple of pictures from the book which I hope will give you answers to your questions if you are able to enlarge and read. Basically, the firm started in the late 1700's, and they began using the Key mark in 1882. By the 1930's the firm was primarily manufacturing tableware, it was liquidated in 1952. If the knife is stamped "Made in England" it would have been made after the 1890 tariff act which required country of origin labels. I would guess your knife to be very early 1900's. Does this info seem to match up with your knife, is the Key on your knife similar to the one pictured?

Yes the key is very similar to the one pictured but it very worn now, thank you for the information mate

[lewisjohn1890]

That's the markings