All About Pocket Knives

Scored these the other day. They came from a family owned General store in Alabama that opened in the 1850's! They were gifted to me by the widow of the man who's great great grandfather started the general store. All three were pretty rough, but some basic rust removal and oiling made them spring back to life.

Large stag single blade is a "Hunter" Sheffield tang stamp. Still has walk and talk, and good lock-up. Missing the bail.

Medium Congress is a Joseph Rodger's and Sons #6 Norfolk Street, Sheffield. Cutler's to His Majesty. All blades still walk and talk, and lock-up well.

Smaller Congress is a George Wostenholm I*XL All blades have great walk and talk and lock-up.

All the knives sharpened up beautifully, and over 100 years later, still do what a knife is supposed to do. It never ceases to amaze me how well these old knives were made! Thought y'all might like to see them..

All three together..

You are fortunate to get them.

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm Scored these the other day.

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:13 pm You are fortunate to get them.

I'll say! Wow, those are very cool Major score . Congratulations on some super fine acquisitions

WOW is right! Three very old, very nice knives! Great catch!

Beautiful old knives.
That Rodgers congress in a dandy.

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:13 pm You are fortunate to get them.

I fully agree, DLegg!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:20 pm

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm Scored these the other day.

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:13 pm You are fortunate to get them.

I'll say! Wow, those are very cool Major score . Congratulations on some super fine acquisitions

Thanks so much, Q! I was thrilled.I love 50 year old knives, I get really excited when they're over 100 years old!

herbva wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:32 pm WOW is right! Three very old, very nice knives! Great catch!

Thanks Herb! The older the better if you ask me! I'm starting to fit that bill, but they are in better shape than I am!

FRJ wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 11:15 pm Beautiful old knives.
That Rodgers congress in a dandy.

Thanks Joe! You're right, that Rodgers is a fantastic old knife!

Awesome score!!!

good to be liked - good for you!

I agree with everyone WOW good for you

woodwalker wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:50 am Awesome score!!!

Thanks WW! A score it was!

enuf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:57 am good to be liked - good for you!

True, enuf! I have been helping her the widow to identify and price many of the knives her husband had accumulated over the years.

gordonjohn wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 3:09 am I agree with everyone WOW good for you

Thanks Gordon!

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm Scored these the other day.

Congratulations on being on the receiving end of such a generous gift, they are all special, as well as historical pieces of cutlery. Thanks for sharing

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm
Large stag single blade is a "Hunter" Sheffield

3rd picture down....can you decipher that stamp? I was looking through my Tweedale's at the 3 or 4 "Hunter" cutlers that are listed, and thought that stamp may help ID.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:30 pm

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm
Large stag single blade is a "Hunter" Sheffield

3rd picture down....can you decipher that stamp? I was looking through my Tweedale's at the 3 or 4 "Hunter" cutlers that are listed, and thought that stamp may help ID.

Thanks so much Ike. They are indeed a wonderful gift. And I do love the history associated with them.
Here is what I have come up with on my tang stamp decipher.. I have found that there is very little info
on the "Hunter" Sheffield brand from my research. I'm hoping it's much older than I think!Thanks for the help, IKE!

Wow!!!!! that's one fine gift, and somemore fine hoks. What times they have been through and the things they have cut. Congrats x .

Those are truly wonderful acquisitions TMK. Congtatulations!

bighomer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:38 pm Wow!!!!! that's one fine gift, and somemore fine hoks. What times they have been through and the things they have cut. Congrats x .

Thanks so much Homer! You can add me to the list of things they've cut! That I*XL got me while sharpening it! Yes it was a fine gift for sure..

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:42 pm Those are truly wonderful acquisitions TMK. Congtatulations!

Thanks very much QS! Knife people are the best!

Wow, those are lovely! That stag is superb!

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 3:49 pm

Waukonda wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:30 pm

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:40 pm
Large stag single blade is a "Hunter" Sheffield

3rd picture down....can you decipher that stamp? I was looking through my Tweedale's at the 3 or 4 "Hunter" cutlers that are listed, and thought that stamp may help ID.

Thanks so much Ike. They are indeed a wonderful gift. And I do love the history associated with them.
Here is what I have come up with on my tang stamp decipher.. I have found that there is very little info
on the "Hunter" Sheffield brand from my research. I'm hoping it's much older than I think!Thanks for the help, IKE!IMG_2904.JPG

Knives marked thusly are British military issue knives. The W D stands for war department and the pheon (broad arrow) mark is the British military acceptance mark. I don't know what the 2 represents.