Enigmatic pocket fruit knife by Atkin, Oxley & Law, 1825

Henry Atkin was the son of George Atkin, an 18th-century Sheffield cutler. Henry joined Joseph Law and John Oxley’s established silversmith business in around 1825. When Joseph Law left the firm in 1829 Henry Atkin and John Oxley formed a partnership specialising in pocket fruit knives. This knife was made in 1825 when all three were involved in the business. This 200-year-old pocket fruit knife is made with brass liners, chamfered iridescent mother-of-pearl scales, an inlaid silver cartouche, plain silver bolsters and a stepped silver back bar sleeve. The solid silver spearpoint blade has five hallmarks stamped at the Sheffield Assay Office and herein lies the enigma. The duty mark used is an incuse stamp of the tri-cuspid George III duty mark. However, by 1825 George IV had been on the throne for five years. The five hallmarks are: the Sheffield crown, George III duty mark, date letter ‘b’ for 1825, lion passant and the maker’s mark ‘LL’.