George III pocket fruit knife probably made in 1798

Description

Precisely dating late-18th century silver pocket fruit knives is far from easy, but there are often clues in the shape of the hallmarks. This splendid knife has a tri-cuspid George III duty mark with a distinctive ‘spike’ on the base which is associated with the year 1798. The knife is 2 7/8 inches in the closed position and is made with brass liners, rounded mother-of-pearl scales, double-patterned bolsters and a gadrooned silver back bar sleeve. The knife is also remarkable in that the blade still has a ‘snap’ to the three blade positions indicating very little use over its 227-year life. This beautiful pocket fruit knife is in near mint condition and is one of the illustrations in the recently published Encyclopedia of English Pocket Fruit Knife Makers 1770-1930.