All About Pocket Knives

deo-pa wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:19 pm I have a modest collection of silver fruit knives so I couldn't resist when this two-tine silver fruit fork came along. It is 3" long closed and the handles are MOP with nice iridescence. The back spring and bolsters are engraved with a fluted design, a style that is called "gadrooning." The entire perimeter of the "blade" on both sides is engraved with tiny zigzags, a process called "wrigglework."

The fork has two hallmarks, a George III head (which is a duty mark) and the lion passant, which means it is sterling silver. There is no date hallmark but I'm told the type of gadrooning and wigglework peg it to about 1790. It has an inlaid silver shield with micro-engraving. The fork is in essentially mint condition and the "blade" has a half-stop and great snap. It even has a kidskin purse that may be original but I can't be sure.

It's an uncommon find that dates to the founding of our country (George III was the monarch who lost the American colonies). Fruit knives and forks were often sold in pairs. It's a ridiculous long shot, but I'll keep looking for the matching knife!

Dennis

deo-pa wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 11:12 am Thank you gentlemen for your complimentary remarks. Most of us are reluctant to state what we paid for a knife (unless we got a great bargain) because we don’t like the idea of being thought a fool for overpaying. So many times I’ve seen amazing knives here on AAPK and wondered if I could have bought that. I believe in being candid because knowing the price of something is a useful data point for our knife education. I paid $120 for this fork, including shipping. No need to comment on my wisdom or stupidity, but at least it gives you one datapoint on what one guy thought the fork’s value was so you can make your own value judgments.

Dennis

deo-pa wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:19 pm I have a modest collection of silver fruit knives so I couldn't resist when this two-tine silver fruit fork came along. It is 3" long closed and the handles are MOP with nice iridescence. The back spring and bolsters are engraved with a fluted design, a style that is called "gadrooning." The entire perimeter of the "blade" on both sides is engraved with tiny zigzags, a process called "wrigglework."

The fork has two hallmarks, a George III head (which is a duty mark) and the lion passant, which means it is sterling silver. There is no date hallmark but I'm told the type of gadrooning and wigglework peg it to about 1790. It has an inlaid silver shield with micro-engraving. The fork is in essentially mint condition and the "blade" has a half-stop and great snap. It even has a kidskin purse that may be original but I can't be sure.

It's an uncommon find that dates to the founding of our country (George III was the monarch who lost the American colonies). Fruit knives and forks were often sold in pairs. It's a ridiculous long shot, but I'll keep looking for the matching knife!

Dennis