RARE Nautical Antique Ca. 1825 Sheffield Cod " Slitting " Knife J. Rogers And Sons
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:53685 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom |
Hello, This offer is for a rare, early 19th cent. NEWFOUNDLAND (right handed) codfish "slitting" knife, made in Sheffield England, by Joseph Rogers and Sons Co., perhaps the most famous and prolific of all Sheffield cutlers. (This was recently picked in Newfoundland!).Most old Cod Slitting knives date from ca. 1890 -1920's, or so, ...but any from the early 19th cent? Try and find a documented example, and one will soon know how rare this one actuall...y is. I should actually probably keep it for my collection......or offer it directly to Parks Canada!Some similar knives MAY (or may not) be that old...but this one ISEarly cod fishing knives are extremely rare because of the attrition rate due to rugged, constant use in extreme conditions. This alone makes this unusual and desirable. Further, it is unusual for this to have a professional Sheffield maker's mark on such a mundane, ordinary article. a "G. R" (George Rex ie. King George) and "Crown" over "Joseph Rogers and Sons" of Sheffield, who were given "Royal Privelege" in 1822 by King George IV (hence "Cutlers to HIS Majesty") who reigned until his death in 1830. This knife mark predates Queen Victoria therefore. Think about the almost ironic contradiction of something like a "cod slitting knife" proudly proclaiming ROYAL PRIVELEGE to the King of England???? Although this irony is slightly humerous, it was really just a high quality item purchase at the time, but not a mystery why a Sheffield product ended up in English Newfoundland. It was certainly the "best" of cod slitting knife blades at the time.Otherwise it has a number of other EARLY features as well. One is the "through tang" of the 5" beech handle. Tangs of this type rapidly disappear over the course of the 19th cent. and go to either a half tang (called a "knock on" tang in England)....or even tangs with a rivet or two. Later ones even have iron or brass ferrules. The "hour-glass" shape of the handle is an "early" shape and unlike others that I have seen and own which just tend to have a large, beefy straight sided, round handle for sure grip. Some are even painted! The 4 -3/4" blade is also slightly different from the later ones being slightly narrower and more...shall we say, elegant? Although it has a single bevel (like a chisel) it is nevertheless slightly up-curved, and even has a deliberate secondary up-wards "flick" at the tip. The later ones I mentioned are often much wider. Some are even "home made" (by a blacksmith in Newfoundland no doubt?).Anyway, this is quite an important piece and a great example of Newfoundland cod fishing history.Condition is used but quite good, ......clean, sturdy and complete. Could still be used right now.Thank you
