Unusual Fish Shaped Penknife by Southern & Richards of Sheffield c1900

Here on offer is an unusual novelty fish shaped penknife by Southern & Richards of Sheffield, circa 1900.

I actually can’t find another example of this type of penknife. Southern & Richards are known for making a range of cutlery, knives and razors but penknives are actually rare to find.

On this penknife, the grip is made from two plates of smooth bone, that have been cut in the shape of a fish. They now have a beautiful polished finish with just a tiny piece missing to the tip of one of the fins.

The plates are held in place against the brass liners, by three steel pins, that have been smoothly rounded off to be flush with the grip plates.

The 1.75” single edged steel blade has the maker’s details stamped on one side of the ricasso:

SOUTHERN &
RICHARDS
SHEFFIELD

On the other side you can just make out the company logo that is a bird’s nest (with twigs) and three eggs, hence the company had a slogan, ‘NEST CUTLERY’.

Southern & Richardson were a Sheffield, England based cutlery producer, which was established in 1847. In 1851 they moved to the “Weldon Works, Bird’s Nest” and remained there until the 1920’s, when they were absorbed by the firm of Needham, Veall & Tyzack, another Sheffield based cutler who had established the “Eye Witness’ Works in 1875. NV&T continued to produce blades under both the Southern & Richardson brand and their own Eye Witness brand until they went out of business in 1975.

The single edge pointed blade has seen some use and now shows some age staining to the finish and a couple of tiny nicks to the cutting edge, that could be sharpened away. It is still firm to open and close.

It is a scarce penknife to find and will make a wonderful addition to any penknife collection.

The blade measures 1.75” (4.5cm) long with a cutting edge of 1.5” (3.8cm). The whole knife when open measures 4.2” (10.5cm) and it weighs 14g.

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: 52093