PRISTINE MINT 1890s PUBLISHED EXHIBITION IXL RARE COKE BOTTLE JACK KNIFE+HISTORY

Description

PRISTINE MINT 1890s PUBLISHED EXHIBITION IXL RARE COKE BOTTLE JACK KNIFE+HISTORY
PRISTINE MINT 1890s PUBLISHED EXHIBITION IXL
RARE COKE BOTTLE JACK KNIFE+HISTORY
PUBLISHED ANTIQUE PRISTINE MINT UNSHARPENED UNCARRIED IXL LARGE
GEORGE WOSTENHOLM
~
SHEFFIELD EXHIBITION / FACTORY SHOWROOM
2 BLADED COKE BOTTLE PATTERN POCKET JACK KNIFE
ILLUSTRATED IN THE SHEFFIELD EXHIBITION KNIFE BOOK PAGE 113
WITH PROVENANCE ~ CIRCA 1890s
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ASK A MODERN CUTLER IF HE COULD HAND FORGE, HAND GRIND, HAND TEMPER, HAND POLISH AND HAND FIT AN EXHIBITION QUALITY 2 BLADED KNIFE LIKE THIS
USING
ONLY SIMPLE HAND TOOLS
;
AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST?
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The Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book displays the finest Exhibition Sheffield Knives seen since the 19th Century Expositions. The quality of these magnificent examples made with antiquated hand tools will never be equaled. These knives were created by the Master Cutlers of the firm to be exhibited at International Knife Exhibitions, and some were created for the factory showroom display. They were created for their beauty, quality, culture, and posterity only; and never intended to be sold. Some of the knives in the Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book were displayed during a Sheffield Exposition Knife Seminar in conjunction with the Atlanta Blade Show in June 1998; and others were offered for sale before the Sheffield Exhibition Knives Book was published a year later. One chapter of the Sheffield Exhibition knife book covers The History of I*XL, with Exhibition and factory showroom examples on pages 105 - 169.
Please refer to the articles by the late, great friends by Jim Taylor describing the history of Sheffield cutlery in the Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book on page 187, and the excellent article
by the late, great Bill Williamson; "I*XL Means - I Excel". This knife is the exact piece shown as one of a pair of Matching Exhibition Jack Knives featured at the
top
of page 113 of the 1999 Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book, in this first and only 1999 edition of 1,000 printed. The knives are described as, “Undoubtedly, one of the World’s most beautiful Jack Knives”. Note the size in the book is exactly the size of the actual knife.
This is a superb,
extremely high-quality, Pristine
Mint, unsharpened, uncarried Antique Gentleman's Sheffield made I*XL 2 bladed coke bottle pattern (named due to its similar shape to the coke bottle) Exhibition Pocket jack Knife by the renowned Sheffield Maker George Wostenholm, circa 1890's.
This is a pocketknife made by the Master Cutlers of the IXL firm in Sheffield, the knife capitol of the world at the time and for hundreds of years prior. Wostenholm, along with Joseph Rodgers, were the two Premier Sheffield cutlers from the 18th through the 19th centuries; but Wostenholm knives are considered much rarer than the more prolific maker Joseph Rodgers.
George Wolstenholme’s I*XL trademark was one of the premier Sheffield cutlers from the 18th through the 19th centuries; and unquestionably made some of the best cutlery ever produced on this planet. In the mid-1700’s, there was a cutler by the name of George Wolstenholme (b.1717) working in the village of Stanington, near Sheffield. The I*XL trademark had originally been registered in 1787 to a W. A. Smith. The mark books of The Company of Cutlers show I*XL being registered to Wolstenholme in 1831. As early as the 1830's, the I*XL trademark was associated with excellence, with the highest artisanship and most perfect workmanship. The firm won Gold Medals & acclaim at numerous International Exhibitions. Wostenholm was selling knives to America as early as 1830 through a partnership with 1820's Master Cutler William Stenton, father of Master Cutler R.S. Stenton. Wolstenholme’s sales trips to America began soon after, and subsequently he established offices from New York to San Francisco through which he could service growing demand for his Craftsman’s handmade I*XL knives. Wolstenholm personally made dozens of visits to America starting in the 1830's, at a time when trans-Atlantic passage would have been arduous, to say the least. By 1860, Sheffield knives had a monopoly on the American cutlery trade with about 90% of the market share. By 1862, I*XL was almost exclusively exporting to the American market.
IXL hired only the best Craftsmen and Artisans, i.e., the best forgers, grinders, spring temperers, polishers and fitters; all using only simple hand tools. This piece was created by the firm's most accomplished Old Master Cutlers to create the Best of the Best for their Exhibitions and Factory Showroom display knives, and they used only the finest steel and materials.
Many high-quality Sheffield knives were produced after the series of American tariffs that began in 1891 that were designed to help establish America’s growing cutlery firms. During this "Golden Age" of Sheffield Cutlery, firms such as IXL used their Craftsmanship to create superior quality knives for the American and International markets to keep the firms in business and continue to employ their Master cutlers; most of whom worked for the same firm for many decades. The Golden Age ended when WW I called away many of Britain's young men. Many did not return, and the aging Master Cutlers of the firm died or retired. All of IXL's knives from this Golden Age demonstrate this quality of Artisan ship and Craftsmanship of the best Master Cutlers that existed. This knife dates to the short "Golden Age" of Sheffield knives period (1890's - 1915) when many of the Old timers were near the end of their 50–65-year knife making careers.
Both
Antique George Wostenholm IXL 2 bladed Coke bottle pattern Factory Showroom Display pocketknives published on page 113 of the
Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book
are in Mint, unsharpened, uncarried condition are made by Master Cutlers and display extra attention to details.
Note that both of these IXL Coke bottle pattern jack knives that are illustrated on page 113 of the Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book
have German silver bolsters and
appear to be identical. However, this pair was purposely hand Crafted by Master Cutlers who made both pieces to seem to be identical but have very small differences in their dimensions; yet are perfectly proportioned to create the illusion of being identical to showcase their Artisanship and Craftsmanship that is even hard to discern when both knives were displayed side by side. The pattern, shape, materials, craftsmanship and hot stampings are identical in both Jack Knives. The only difference are the following very slight differences in both knives to illustrate this illusion, i.e., the dimensions of this LARGER knife are shown in blue ink with,
the dimension of the
smaller
Jack knife is shown in
parentheses
(X”)
following the dimension of the larger Jack knife to
differentiate
these very slight varying dimensions that create this Artistic cutlery illusion.
This is the larger, TOP LARGER knife on page 113. This Jack knife is 4 1/8”
(4”)
long closed x 5/8” (
5/8”)
thick. Weight is 3.7
(3.2)
ounces or 105
(93)
grams. The knife is hot stamped on the spear point Master blade flat with "IXL” and on the ricasso, “GEORGE", "WOSTENHOLM", "SHEFFIELD", & "ENGLAND" in 4
(4)
lines. (ENGLAND was used after 1891). And “IXL”, “GEORGE", "WOSTENHOLM", "SHEFFIELD", & "ENGLAND" in 5
(5)
lines on the pen blade ricasso. This larger 2-bladed coke bottle pattern jack knife has a flat ground Master blade that is 3 5/32”
(3”)
long x 1/8”
(1/8“)
thick with the early style long pull groove and a swedge grind 1 7/16”
(1 3/8”)
on both sides back from the tip. The 2 5/16”
(2 1/8”)
pen blade has slight hollow grind with a 1 11/16” swedge grind on the back side only. Both blades have the exquisite signature 19th c. Sheffield Cutlery final polish; a, extremely high-quality finish painstakingly applied by long, slow polishing on a wooden wheel with a leather outside band with wax
penetrated
with Crocus of Iron powder. However, this piece has the very unusual and rare feature of having an original crocus of Iron polish underneath, but with an
original
very fine unique satin final finish to the surface; purposefully done for contrast. This finish creates another illusion to the blade polish, i.e., in the light it appears as a Signature Sheffield bright crocus of iron polish. However, when the blades are angled in another light, the very light satin vertical line of the final finish can be seen. I have seen less than a handful of original satin type finish on mint Antique Sheffield knife blades. All varied slightly, all were custom made to order, and this Exhibition final satin finish is very subtle with the finest light satin finish I have ever seen. Both the blades are Mint, unsharpened with no rub marks from the German liners. Both blades have an extraordinarily strong snap, as new, and both blades have a half stop; a feature found on quality knives.
Specs of naturally occurring spidering are perfectly normal on any Antique knife. The blades are in Mint condition; and naturally occurring age marks such as minuscule spidering are accepted and have to be taken into consideration in any Antique knife. There is one minuscule spot of naturally occurring spidering on the Master blade front and two very minuscule pin prick specks that are invisible to the naked eye but can be seen with a jeweler’s loupe: one near the top edge of the front swedge and one near the pen blade nail nick. Note that the images are many times the actual size. These minuscule specs are expected on any Antique knife and are very desirous, as it takes a century or more to create spidering that authenticates the genuine age; otherwise, some would think the knife was made yesterday. There are no other spidering specs, damage or rub marks inside or outside of this mint condition IXL Exhibition / Factory Showroom knife. This knife looks brand new, like the day it was made, never carried, sharpened, used; and is in near perfect, as new, Pristine Mint condition overall. The 1/8” thick Exhibition Quality scales are slightly domed with rounded edges and are mint, with a very light cream color, with no discoloration from oils in the hand over time, chips, pin cracks or damage with a beautiful high polish luster; and the scales appear perfect. The thick top rounded German silver bolsters are highly polished as are the back springs; with the Master spring at the pommel continuing 7/8” after curving around and forming the pommel. There are 3 large German silver pins that hold this knife together; 1 large master pin through the German silver bolsters, 1 large back springs & liners pin, and 1 large pin at the pommel spring end. There are 4 additional smaller pins securing the scales; 2 on the front side and 2 on backside. There are 3 matching German silver liners, ensuite with the bolsters and pins; and a mark of a quality construction, with the center liner having milled edges. The front side has an uninscribed Shield pattern German silver escutcheon (name) plate that was hand inlaid with a parser (bow fiddle) instrument and secured with a large German silver pin. Note: it is extremely difficult to photograph any shiny object in different lighting; and I took dozens of images to try to capture the correct color, features, and details. Note that images are
many times
the actual size and exaggerate the details.
Overall, this superb quality, rare Antique IXL Exhibition / Showroom Display 2 bladed coke bottle pattern Gentleman's pocketknife is in Pristine Mint condition; as good as it gets for a 125+ year old knife; a condition that almost always is found only on custom made to order Exhibition / Factory Showroom knives. It is the exceptional, eye appealing, connoisseur Exhibition quality, unique, rare and Pristine Mint condition knives, i.e., the Best of the Best; that always hold their value. Add a Marquis Maker, being Published in the prestigious Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book (the larger,
top
knife on page 113), and Iconic collection provenance, is certain to go up in value; and would be the centerpiece for any pocketknife collection.
Fine, 19th century, Pristine mint, unsharpened, uncarried original Exhibition quality knives are impossible to find; especially a published piece in the Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book from a top-of-the-line pocketknife maker like I*XL Quality knife made by Master Cutlers during the Sheffield Golden Age, with provenance. This
eye appealing example
would be perfect for any 19th C, Antique handmade knife connoisseur, Sheffield, IXL, pocketknife, smalls, or investor collection.
PROVENANCE: Originally from the World renown IXL collection of Harris Florida from Tennessee 1978 – 1996. His IXL collection, combined with the World renown Joseph Rodgers collection of Tom Rodgers formed the majority of knives in the 1999 Sheffield Exhibition Knives book. Then obtained by Old World Trading Co. Then sold to Don Littman 1996 – 2006 and was in his Iconic Don Littman collection inventory and listed in the Greg Martin 2/25/2008 Auction catalog of his unbelievable .5 million dollar collections estate. This knife was published in “The Largest Knife Sale Ever” Greg Martin 2008 auction catalog, page 79, lot 183 with a presale estimate of ,000 to ,000 (,832 - ,360 in 2021 $), listed as a matching pair as shown in the Sheffield Exhibition Knife Book on page 113.
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