Mystery Knife - Joseph Rodgers & Sons.

I picked this up at a local thrift-shop on the way home from town, while sheltering from the rain.

It is steel-bladed, and ivory-handled. And comes with its original sheath.

It is marked on the blade: "JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS".

It is marked on the hilt: "G.R". / "J. RODGERS & SONS" / "6 NORFOLK ST" / SHEFFIELD ENGLAND.

Now, I know that Joseph Rodgers & Sons is one of England's oldest cutlery manufacturers, trading since the early 1700s.

I know that it moved into its Norfolk St. premises in around 1780.

I know that it started providing cutlery to the Royal Family in 1821.

The knife, being marked "G.R." would mean Georgius Regina ("George Reigns"). I take that to be George IV. Which means the knife dates from 1821-1830.

Does anyone recognise WHAT this knife would've been used for? I know that J.R. & Sons made knives for all kinds of applications, but I've never seen one like this before. I thought perhaps it might've been broken, but it doesn't appear to be.

Any help is appreciated!! Are there any antique knife/blade/cutlery aficionados in the house??

Photos are here:

 

It's a scalpel, possibly from a military field surgeon's kit, so probably WW1 period. I'd not altogether rule out an earlier George, medical instruments did not change a lot over the century, but later is far more probable.

That's Georgius Regina. "George Reigns".

George Rex, Regina has a vagina.

 

Oh sorry. I guess my Latin isn't as good as I thought it was! LOL!

But would it be George IV, or George V? I can't imagine a WWI-era medical kit having an ivory handle. Or would it? It sounds like something more old-fashioned.

 

Ivory could be sterilsed with practically anything including a naked flame. The alternatives available in the early 20th C. could not.

 

I searched the mark up online and other sources say 19th century. That being the case, I think it's George IV.

 

Joseph Rodgers & Sons also made sewing needles and I have a little box with their name on it.

I have been trying to find some needle packets made by this manufacturer to put in the box but so far no luck.

 

I can't imagine that needle packets are easily found.

 

There are lots of them here in the UK at antiques fairs and centres but I haven't found any J Rodgers ones yet.

 

Oh I know there are loads of them (I've found dozens of SINGER ones for when I've been restoring sewing machines), but I meant that J Rodgers ones must be HARD to find. I mean the company hasn't been around since...what...the 1980s? And who knows when it last produced sewing needles.

 

I see what you mean, What is really annoying is that I had one and seem to have lost it, I've searched everywhere.

What makes it doubly annoying is that I found the little antique box with his name on it and they would have been perfect together

 

I've done a bit more research and I think the knife is indeed George V. I've read enough evidence from various sources to convince me.

 

It's not an ink-eraser. I've seen LOADS of those. I've been collecting antique writing equipment for 10 years. The blade would be the wrong shape for it.

 

The answer has been found!

It's a gardener's budding knife!