All About Pocket Knives

Found this nice little pruning knife at a recent Antiques Fair. I'm pretty certain that S. Britt is the proprietor, not the manufacturer. Maidstone is in the County of Kent, here in the UK. What is the Barrel motif on the ricasso? Scales are horn.

The barrel logo is usually associated with Daniel Peres, a Solingen knife manufacturer.
kj

Well, I've been doing a little research of my own and have come up with some info;
S (Stephen) Britt, 1827-1916, was an Alderman and one time Mayor of Maidstone. He was also listed as a 'Cutler'. I believe that the barrel motif is more likely John Petty and Sons of Sheffield, than Daniel Perez,(thanks kootenay joe) looking closely at the design of the barrel. The Trade Mark was changed in c1888 to a slightly different design, so it looks like this pruner is pre 1888!

Nice knife. I agree... The trade mark looks like John Petty and Sons late 1800s.

Steve!!! So good to see your post. I was beginning to think you had abandoned us forever. I hope everything is well with you and yours.

Thanks for this info unclebob & as s-k agrees, you can be sure it is right.
Are the liners & bolsters steel ? and integral ? (both made as one piece)
Integral forged steel liner/bolster is an old way, 1800's, but i don't know when they began being made as separate pieces. Maybe someone here knows & will post ?
kj

Very nice knife.
What is the closed length?

kootenay joe wrote:Thanks for this info unclebob & as s-k agrees, you can be sure it is right.
Are the liners & bolsters steel ? and integral ? (both made as one piece)
Integral forged steel liner/bolster is an old way, 1800's, but i don't know when they began being made as separate pieces. Maybe someone here knows & will post ?
kj

Liners and bolsters are steel and are separate items.

FRJ wrote:Very nice knife.
What is the closed length?

Closed length is 4".

Thank you.

I might be a little off on the dates but John Petty bought the Barrel brand in 1868 which was originally granted as a trademark in 1791. The original mark of "Granted in 1791" (below a line under the barrel) was removed by J Petty, and the Barrel with a line were used by him as John Petty, and Sons up until 1888 when his eldest son gained control of the company, and removed the line.
From 1888 thru the 1920's I believe. The sons later used other marks up thru 1949.

This is from memory but I believe I found much of this on the straight razor forums, and verified it thru other historical sources.
So with the line your knife is most likely J.Petty, and sons circa 1868-1888.

The information is pretty easy to find, It took me a couple of days looking to verify it.