Looking for a more precise date of this knife

[Don in SJ]

Went out pingin today in the misty weather to a spot that I have pounded heavily over the years, but for it being wet outside, the lack of brush and sandy soil sure seemed like the place to go in this weather.

Found a beautiful designed but horribly broken Tombac button, a flat no b/m button , a possible suspender clip piece and as I was calling it a day, at the edge of the old grown up field/homestead I got this "butter knife".

The site covers a wide range of history, anywhere from early 1700s to about 1900 for occupation. So hard to date stuff, especially silverware. But since it is a plated silver knife of some sort, I would guess mid 1800s, but looking to see if anybody can come up with a more definitive date.

There are no maker marks whatsoever on the knife shaft/handle.

Don

 

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[johnnyi]

Don, I think you've got it right, second half of the 19th century. Wonder why someone put that twist on it?

 

[Iron Patch]

Don, I think you've got it right, second half of the 19th century. Wonder why someone put that 45% twist on it?

My friend the plough often plays a similar trick on me.

 

[DCMatt]

Don, I think you've got it right, second half of the 19th century. Wonder why someone put that 45% twist on it?

Johnny,

It is made with the twist - twist handle master butter knife.

Don,

Dating silverware is tedious work. But my guess would be closer to 1900.

Ironically, a guy found a very similar patterned spoon on our group hunt in Surry county, VA early this month. Unfortunately, the property has similar dates to yours.

DCMatt

 

[mojjax]

Yes , The twst . This is from a 1880's Catalogue -

 

[Don in SJ]

Thanks Mojax for that photo, my wife insisted it was twisted by accident, I said no, it looks like it was twisted when made, just the bend is from use or being buried. Even though no Indian Heads or other coins were ever found by me in the area over the years, believe two homesteads down on that dirt road I found a 1878 Seated Quarter two years ago, so I think perhaps around 1880 might be good enough. Silverware usually is kept for a long time, which also makes dating harder, but it is only the second complete butter knife I have found, (I think) over the years. The other one is perhaps my longest knife I ever found..

Don

 

[RelicRick]

Hi Don,

Great find! Try http://www.antiquecupboard.com/ to find the pattern and date. The research is a little tedious, but I've had great results with this website...Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rick (Goalrush)

 

[Don in SJ]

Hi Don,

Great find! Try http://www.antiquecupboard.com/ to find the pattern and date. The research is a little tedious, but I've had great results with this website...Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rick (Goalrush)

That is a good website, may have to look up some of my other utensils found over the years, but I did not see any pattern close to this butter knife.....

Don