Superb pocket fruit knife by John Oxley of Sheffield, 1852

Description

John Oxley made folding fruit knives from his workshop on Charles Street, Sheffield from 1841. This example of a John Oxley silver fruit knife is 3 inches closed and has a pistol grip shape. It is made with thin brass liners, finely carved flat mother-of-pearl scales, an engraved inlaid cartouche with the original owner’s initials “WWF”, a finely tooled silver back bar sleeve, silvered bolsters and a solid silver blade. The blade has five hallmarks: Sheffield crown, Victoria head duty mark, lion passant, date letter “I” for 1852 and John Oxley’s maker’s mark “IO”. The knife is in excellent condition.