English Shell Handle

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:24 pm

Yesterday I stopped at an antique mall where one of the members of the local knife club has some knives for sale. I found a shell handle camper made by Richards of Sheffield. I had never seen a shell handle made in England before.

A quick check in Goins' shows that Imperial bought them in 1977 and that the company specialized in shell knives. Goins' wasn't too clear, but I am assuming that the shell handles was their speciality after Imperial purchased them.

Can anyone tell me a bit more about this company?

Does anyone have any of their pre-1977 knives?

Thanks,
Dale

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:22 pm

Hi Dale. Although not 100% sure of this, I believe that your's is a pre 1977 Richards. I think when Imperial owned Richards 1977-1983 they made knives with Imperial Crown England Stamps. When Imperial bought the company it was a conclomerate of Wostenholm, Rodgers and Richards. Hence Schrade-Wostenholm knives from this period. This was the end of the end for the major Sheffield knife companies. Richards made shell handles before they were bought by Imperial and were reknowned (infamous) for souvenir grade knives e.g the coronation of Elizabeth and the RCMP knives, both folding and fixed blade from the 1950s to name just a few. I have one Richards but coincidentally it accompanies yours nicely.

s-k

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:08 pm

Great looking knives gents..As SK said they are most definately related to each other..

Sunburst

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:24 pm

Thanks S-K for the info.

I didn't know that any of the Sheffield companies made shell handles. I wonder who made them first, the Brits or us Yanks?

Your knife is a definite relative of mine. The same color of celluloid! I guess I did alright for $2.50

Thanks again for the information. It is nice to have someone here at AAPK who knows the English knives. I appreciate your many contributions.

Dale

jfarmer · Post by **jfarmer** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:13 pm

I have had several Richards knives over the years but I only have one now. I don't have any pics of it right now though.

James

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:08 am

Looks to me like orvet's and smiling-knife's family-tree does not fork.

The same color of celluloid yes very unique.

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:35 am

Now don't beat me up over the photos of these. One set is Richards and the other is No. 30 Sheffeilds. I hope I don't offend anyone with this post. I plan on listing these for sale as two groups. All are in very good condition. The bartender is much older Richards. No lamp post. Hope you like them

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:36 am

Here are the Richards, the upper right is a Corination as SK was speaking of.

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:48 am

PA when you drink to much of that GREEN BEER remember to keep your hands off the camera.

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:01 am

YOU GOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:41 am

Nice knives PA

Dale

nmikash · Post by **nmikash** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:48 am

Nice looking shell handles guys. I might have to search out a few shells from across the pond for my own collection.

Nick

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:18 am

S-K or anyone, here is a Richards knife, marked "Sheffield England" on front master tang. The back has the stamp you see pictured below. This knife has handle pins. When looking through the translucent areas of the handles with a loupe I can see gold leaf behind the handles. The handles have a texture on them like real totoise. Any info appreciated.
B-R
BTW, nice knives guys

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:57 am

Is anyone there???
B-R

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:25 am

We are here...............I am just beyond my knowledge on these knives.
BTW, that one of yours is nice looking. Do you think it is real Tortoise?
I am told it has a unique feel in the hand, "sort of warm" is how one fellow described it.

Dale

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:43 am

Yes Dale it has gold leaf behind the scales, and has the unique texture of Tortoise. It's not the "slick as glass" appearance found on imitation tortoise.
Gary

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:43 am

That is great Gary.

It isn't often that a guy finds one that has real tortoise & is in good condition.
Nice knife! Do you ever EDC that one?

Dale

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:48 am

gary, i have seen real tort. on other objects but never on a knife in person. that is cool. is the gold leaf there to enhance the shell?

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:46 am

Yes Dale I do EDC this knife along with a few others. Johnnie, the gold leaf is often used behind genuine tortoise to enhance the color. I recently saw an old Henkels with tortoise handles partially consumed by bug bites, the gold leaf was clearly visable on that knife. Most the knives I've seen with real tortoise were either German or English. Tortoise seems to be real rare on American made knives, especially after 1900.
Take Care
Gary

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:37 pm

Apparently Richards is an anglicization of Richartz, who also made this knife. If anyone knows more I'd appreciate hearing about it.

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:34 pm

Hi upnorth. Is your knife marked Sheffield? I can make out the Richartz Bros & Sons

s-k

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:50 am

Here is a little Blurb that Goin's has on Richards.
It appears that you were right about the name Charlie.

This is all I have on Richards. Maybe someone else has more.

Dale

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:09 am

One of my sources suggests that the company was started in 1932 by Stephan Richartz who came from a cutlery family in Solingen. His brother Paul joined him in 1937. They became naturalised before the War and likely changed the name around that time to Richards. That would suggest that Charlie's knife was made 1932-1938. In the 1950s and 60s Richards became one of the largest cutlery companies in Sheffield mass producing inexpensive pocket knives...mostly of the souvenir and shell type. In 1975, Richards bought the Rodgers-Wostenholm group and then the whole lot was bought by Imperial in 1977. That only lasted until 1982

s-k

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:05 am

Here is a Richards fish knife that came in the mail today from WB (Mossdancer).
WB observed that it seems to be built on a trapper frame rather than the Toothpick type traditional fish knife.
I agree, closed it feels like a trapper.

I like it!

Dale

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:56 pm

Now one more to add to my WANT LIST.

The traper fell on that sure impresses me.
Do they have any in YELLOW???