Substantial pocket fruit knife by Thomas Marples of Sheffield, 1897

Description

Thomas Marples was born in Sheffield in 1832. He operated from 41 Arundel Street and became a specialist pocket fruit knife maker. With a small team he produced fine examples for around fifty years. His knives are keenly collected. This large example is 3 5/8 inches closed and is made with brass liners, rounded iridescent mother-of-pearl scales, an inlaid silver cartouche, engraved silver bolsters and a tooled silver back bar sleeve. The blade has four crisp hallmarks: the Sheffield crown, lion passant, date letter ‘e’ for 1897 and the maker’s mark ‘TM’. The reverse side of the blade is engraved with the original owner’s name:  “B. H. Musgrave”. This substantial knife is in excellent condition.