iKnife Collector
Sheffield Cutlery hosted by Smiling - Knife
Anyone with an interest in Sheffield-made cutlery is welcome to join this group. Feel free to share your photos, ask questions and provide information related to the knives and cutlers of Sheffield.
19TH CENTURY BIG STAG CATTLE/SPORTSMAN KNIFE BY SHEFFIELD CUTLERY-FOUR ACRE
This is a big stag four blade cattle type pattern in a sportsman configuraton. It has a long pull master clip marked SHEFFIELD CUTLERY , while the smaller blades are marked FOUR ACRE. The bar shield is marked GEO. A. TOWNSEND. I purchased this with a lot of 150 other knives about a decade ago, being the high bidder in a New York state estate auction. I have recently given this to my daughter , it is in excellent condition. She requested I dig up a little history on this knife. Levine gives a listing for Sheffield Cutlery Co-operative Society Limited begining in 1893. However since the knife does not have ENGLAND as country of origin, I believe this is a earlier company or the same unorganized. A search has turned up a four acre nook area near Sheffield, with several bladesmith and filesmiths listed living in the area in the 1840-1860 era. I believe the owner, Townsend purchased the knife during the Civil War years , returning late in the war. I believe the forum members may have a little infomation to add,concerning the FOUR ACRE stamping as this is very unusual and your thoughts are appreciated. Thank You, Rick
Jan Carter
Rick, that is a great question. I wonder if they did?
Apr 23, 2013
Smiling-Knife
You're welcome. My hypothesis is that the knife was made in Sheffield for Fouracres, a retailer based in Exeter. Only Sheffield and, to a much lesser extent, London had any real cutlery industry around that time.
Apr 23, 2013
Rick Hooper
Fouracres the retailer, and not the Four Acre Nook area of Sheffield. Only someone knowledgeable of the area and past businesses would know the difference. That explains it for me, Jan, and thank you Smiling Knife!
Apr 25, 2013