MINTY UNSHARPENED UNCARRIED FILEWORKED GUNSTOCK PEARL POCKETKNIFE+BOX 1876-1880s

MINTY UNSHARPENED UNCARRIED FILEWORKED GUNSTOCK PEARL POCKETKNIFE+BOX 1876-1880s a,a:hover,a:active,a:visited MINTY UNSHARPENED UNCARRIED FILEWORKED GUNSTOCK PEARL POCKETKNIFE+BOX 1876-1880s MINTY SHEFFIELD UNSHARPENED / UNCARRIED / FILEWORKED GUNSTOCK PATTERN / BOLSTERLESS MOTHER OF PEARL POCKET KNIFE ORIGINAL BOX BY SLATER BROTHERS / SHEFFIELD CIRCA 1876 – 1880’s This is a Sheffield Mother of Pearl scarce gunstock pattern pocketknife by the well-known high quality Sheffield Maker Slater Brothers that was created by Master Cutlers, circa 1876 ~ 1890. This pocketknife was made in Sheffield, the knife capitol of the world at the time, and for hundreds of years prior; and is associated with excellence, with the highest artisanship and most perfect workmanship from the 18th through the 19th centuries. Sheffield cutlers unquestionably made the best handmade cutlery ever produced on this planet. Not much is known about John Marriott Slater who was a spring knife cutler who founded the Slater cutlery firm at Garden street, and then Pea Croft. The firm was first listed as W & W Slater. It appears John Marriott Slater continued making and marking cutlery under his own name as John Slater & Co at the W & W Firms location. As is typical in Cutlery families, John worked alongside his two cutlery sons, Warrington Slater (b.1838 - d.1907) and his brother Walter Slater (b.1840 - d.1917 when in 1858 the firm became Slater Bros. The firm moved to Eyre Street in 1864 to the factory of George Butler & Co.; an address that was previously the location of Corsan, Denton and Burdekin factory named Trinity Works. John Marriott Slater John (Founder) l died in 1871, and the firm later moved to No. 94 Scotland St. in 1876 the firm acquired the Beehive mark from John Hincliffe and the factory became known as Beehive Works. A full-page advertisement in the Sheffield directory of 1884 announced, “Every knife made by good workmen…..the Very Best (handmade) Cast Steel (Exclusively Used”. In 1885, the firm moved to Fitzwilliam street. Fancy pocketknives were a fashionable accessory and necessary accouterment for any Gentleman of Means. Only Sheffield Master Cutlers, who typically worked for the same firm for many decades, could produce the variety, superior materials and superb craftsmanship of handmade knives to service growing American demand. By 1860, Sheffield knives had a monopoly on the American cutlery trade, with about 90% of the market share. This Gentleman's pocketknife could be carried in their pocket or used as a desk accessory. This 1 bladed rare gunstock pattern Mother of Pearl pocketknife is handmade by Master Sheffield Cutlers; hand forged, ground & polished blades, hand tempered springs, hand filed, hand fitted, et al. This pocketknife is about 5" open, tip to tip, 3 1/4" long closed x 1/2" wide x only 1/4" thick and weighs ounces or 26 grams. The fine select Mother of Pearl scales were chosen for their quality and pattern, with naturally occurring occlusions that reflect iridescent colors as found on pearl formed before the oceans became polluted. The Exhibition quality mother of pearl scales are pristine with no cracks or chips. Note that this piece is bolsterless; a extra feature and challenge to the cutler fitter. The knife is hand file worked on the back of the blade and backspring, held together with 3 Silver pins, milled brass liners and select mother of pearl scales with an extra feature of a parser inlaid silver escutcheon that is uninscribed; all features found on Exhibition / Presentation knives. The blade is maker marked hot stamped on the ricasso with the mark, "SLATER BROTHERS SHEFFIELD (no England mark) and their trademark Beehive logo. The blade snaps open and closed with a strong spring snap. The blade is unsharpened, with one tiny, minuscule rough tip edge on one side that is not visible, but can be seen with a 10x loupe from hard snapping the blade (no need to every hard snap a blade on an antique minty knife. The blade has all of the signature Sheffield crocus of Iron mirror finish. Note that almost all 135–150-year-old knives have tiny specs of naturally occurring aging spots or spidering that demonstrate genuine age that takes a century to form on a knife that looks like it was made yesterday. I found one tiny speck on one side of the pen blade that has been wiped clean of the black

color of naturally occurring aging spidering, and one small speck on the ricasso back side. The original burgundy knife box adds value and also demonstrates this piece was not carried, put up, and kept as a treasured gift; a Victorian gesture between Gentlemen, Family and Business associates. Note there is minor restoration to one edge of the non display bottom edge of sliding top of the box, and does not show when displayed. Overall, this handsome, eye appealing, rare gunstock pattern pocketknife is in near mint condition. Unsharpened, uncarried, Exhibition / Presentation custom made to order, high quality, silver mounted, pre-1890 pocket knives are nearly impossible to find; especially with the original box. This would be perfect for any1800s knife, Sheffield, Gunstock pattern, pocketknife collection, smalls collection, desk accessory or conversation piece for an advanced collector. 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