Edwards Sons & Co ? Pearl handled knife

[rexstubbins]

Anyone have info on this one? The stamp appears to say "Edwards Sons & Co" although the stamp is larger than the tang. It measures 2-3/8" long and both blades have half stops. Judging from the pins I suspect Sheffield manufacture prior to 1890 as I believe this is when other countries were required to stamp the Country of origin for export to the U.S. This does not have a Country of manufacture.

Looking in Price & Zalesky guide I find:

Edward Barnes & Sons Sheffield 1853 to 1865
Edward Parker & Sons - Germania Cutlery Works - New York - 1900
Edward Weck & Sons - New York - 1893 to 1943

Based on this I would venture to guess that it is Edward Barnes and Sons however since the stamp says "Edwards Sons & Co" I am not 100% sure. Anyone have other thoughts?

[Gunsil]

Generally speaking, the majority of folding knives with steel pins in nickel bolsters as your knife has were made in Germany. Sheffield makers usually used nickel pins in nickel bolsters as did American companies. Austrian knives will also sometimes have the steel pins but it is more of a German trait. I also think that Edwards here is a surname, not a first name and I'd bet it was not made by Edward Barnes. Goins' lists an Edwards Sons&Co USA but that isn't your mark either and I am pretty sure not related. He lists that mark as 1920-1940 and the lack of a USA or Germany on yours doen't match. The Germans made many knives with many different markings, some often trying to look like English names for marketing purposes.

[rexstubbins]

Thank you Gunsil for the info - I seem to remember something about steel pins in nickel silver bolsters being usually German made knives but forgot.

[kootenay joe]

There was a time period (early 1900's i think) when certain Sheffield manufacturers contracted out to German manufacturers for some of their less expensive knives. Hence there are some German made knives sold by Sheffield manufacturers and marked with the Sheffield company's name. I don't know if they are also marked "England", but they are not marked "Germany".
I am not suggesting OP knife is one of these, just mentioning it as it might help explain some other knife you will be looking at.
kj

[ea42]

Doug, Levine's lists Edwards and Sons as a retail firm based in London in the 1870's. They weren't a manufacturer so likely contracted out to a number of makers like many of the hardware firms did in this country. I'm thinking German manufacture as well.

Eric