A rare example of a Samuel Kirkby pocket fruit knife with fake hallmarks

Description

According to apprenticeship records of the Cutlers’ Company Samuel Kirkby gained his Freedom in 1783. In 1811 Samuel was listed as a fruit knife maker. A year later he fell from a carriage and died of his injuries. His son, also Samuel, continued as a fruit knife maker from the Pond Lane premises in Sheffield. From 1784 a tax, or duty, was levied on silver items. This was payable by the silversmith at the time of assaying, but some silversmiths found ways of dodging the duty. Samuel Kirkby was known to have stamped fake hallmarks on some of his pocket fruit knives — a high-risk criminal offence. A far as records go he was never caught. This fine example of a Kirkby pocket fruit knife has his fake hallmarks. The knife is 2 3/4 inches closed and is made with brass liners, carved flat mother-of-pearl scales, ribbed bolsters and a silver blade with milled borders on both sides. As well as the registered “SK” maker’s mark there are three fake duty dodging marks. This rare illegally hallmarked pocket fruit knife is in excellent condition.