Fine Quality Antique Double-Bladed Penknife by JAMES CASSON & SONS Sheffield c1880

Here on offer is a top quality antique double-bladed penknife by JAMES CASSON & SONS of Sheffield, circa 1880.

The penknife has two beautiful smooth bone or similar natural material of the period, grip slabs.

One slab has a small blank oval silver plaque inset, which would normally be engraved with the owner’s initials.

Both slabs are held in place against a steel backbone and thin beautifully hand chiselled brass liners, by three silver pins.

Both the brass liners have been worked along the edges to display a “serrated” edge, which was only undertaken on the finest quality knives of that period.

The knife has two carbon steel blades, that open and close perfectly, one at each end.

The longer blade retains a sharp edge and tip and shows some signs of age “greying” to its finish.

It has the maker’s details stamped on the ricasso:

J. CASSON
& SONS
SHEFFIELD

The shorter blade is possibly a quill sharpening knife and also retains a sharp edge and tip, that shows some signs of age “greying” to its finish. It does have a tiny nick to the blades cutting edge towards the tip.

The maker’s details are also stamped on the ricasso:

J. CASSON
& SONS
SHEFFIELD

Some history regarding James Casson & Sons

The Casson family lived in Walkley. James Casson was first listed in 1854 as a cutler and shopkeeper in Owlerton. In 1863 and 1868 James Casson & Sons advertised as a manufacturer of pen, pocket, and sportsman’s knives in Industry Street, Walkley. James’s two sons – William and James – appear to have taken over after their father’s death. He died on 30 October 1870, aged 69. Also associated with the business was Thomas Ibbotson Yates, a spring knife manufacturer and neighbour of the Casson’s in Industry Street. He reported in 1871 that the firm employed 25 men. By 1876, the enterprise had moved to Hollis Croft. William Casson, Industry Street, died on 25 June 1883, aged 50, and was buried in St Philip’s churchyard, Shalesmoor. By then, the business employed forty men, according to Yates’s Census enumeration. The business later operated from Garden Street and Industry Street, with Yates as the senior partner. Yates, who lived at Hazledean, Spring Hill Road, died on 14 June 1909, aged 76. Casson’s was still listed as a pen knife manufacturer in Garden Street after WW1, but by 1925 had started factoring steel in Lambert Street and soon ceased business. Its trade mark was a bull dog.

The longer blade measures 1.75” (4.4cm) and the shorter blade 1.25” (3.2cm). Closed the handle measures 2.75” (7cm).

It weighs 12g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51855