Rare Find??

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:28 pm

Hi I recently bought a lot of 5 pen knives, mostly junk, but one may be a rare find. This old 4-blade pen knife is marked (stamped) on the master blade "Silver Steel" According to a thread on Mr Levine's forum, English knives marked with silver steel date mid 1800s or earlier. There is no maker's mark but the tangs are marked "warranted quality". The tortoise shell handle and springs are still in good shape. All the blades have snap and 1/2 stops. There is some pitting on one blade and quite alot of tarnish but no real active rust. What do you think? could it be more than 150 years old?

s-k

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:31 pm

very nice find s-k. real tortoise is harder to find. looks to be in excellent shape for a knife that old.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:57 pm

Thomas Turner & Co. of Sheffield had a brand "Warranted Really Good" (circa 1810-50s).....perhaps a contemporary?

Have you tried posting your picture in either of Bernard's forums? If not, I'd sure try, as this looks like a dilly to my eyes, no matter the age.

JMO, as always.

Bill

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:02 pm

Thanks El Lobo. I'm just on my way out for few hours. I will try to post it there tonight or first thing tomorrow.

s-k

Done... will let you know what develops.

WcrownR · Post by **WcrownR** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:52 pm

No, sorry, not that old, s-k. The typeface is too new.
In this case, "Silver Steel" is just a nifty sounding catch phrase designed to "catch" the easily impressed.

I'd guess German, late 19th century, at earliest.

Joe

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:12 pm

Thanks for the information Joe.

s-k

Kiferbros · Post by **Kiferbros** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:17 am

I think eairly part of the century probably the 1920 to 1930 era

nice little folder great carry size

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:20 am

I am no expert on European knives by any stretch of the imagination, but if it is real tortoise I would think it is quite a find, no matter it's age. Late 19th century makes it at least 100 years old.

Good looking knife S-K.

I would be tickled to have it in my collection. It looks a bit like a Wilbert I got a while back, but mine only has 2 blades. I think yours is the first four bladed pen knife I have seen.

Nice find,
Dale

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:50 am

Good morning everyone. Mr. Levine has confirmed Joe's identification of this a knife as late 19th century German in origin. Not quite what I was hoping for but still a pleasant surprise. Thanks for your interest.

s-k