Fixed Blade Rodgers & Sons 5 7/8" Hunting Stag *Ball Guard*, Circa 1900 DH-2013

$2,195.00

1 in stock

Category:

Description

*** All buyers acknowledge they are compliant with their local laws, including international buyers before purchase ****
 
OAL is 10″ with a 5 7/8″ Blade. Knife weighs 6.6 oz with a sheath that weighs an additional 2.4 oz.
 
This rare ball guard Rodgers & Sons (When it was at 6 Norfolk Street) Hunting knife comes with its original leather sheath. Kinfe has a solid feel with beautiful patina and close to full tip. It appear to be rounded a little bit under inspection, but sharp to the touch of the finger tip. The Star and Maltese emblem is clearly defined after over a century. Knife has been likely many times, but not much steel has been taken off and the line is still straight and clean. This is one of the most cared for used hunting knife in recent memory. The ball guard rarely ever come up for sale.
 
Here is some history about Rodgers and Sons in the Sheffield, where master cutlers:
 
The company was founded in 1724 when John Rodgers first rented the star and Maltese cross mark from the Cutlers’ Company. He was renting a house workshop in Holy (Hawley) Croft, which used to be off Campo Lane. John’s three sons John, Joseph and Maurice joined the family business, which began to expand rapidly. In the 1780s the family moved into a block of workshops which would become their most famous address, No. 6 Norfolk Street. In 1800 Joseph and Maurice formally dissolved their partnership and the firm was renamed Joseph Rodgers & Sons. As well as producing an unrivaled range of pen and pocket knives, the company became famous for their exhibition cutlery, which showed off the skill of the cutlers working for them. These wonders could be seen in the company showrooms on Norfolk Street, which when opened in 1825 caused a sensation. There were very few showrooms within Sheffield, where visitors could come to look at and buy goods in plush surroundings. The first visitors did not even realise that the goods in the cabinets were for sale, the idea was so strange.

Joseph Rodgers had a reputation for producing the best quality items in Sheffield. In the company history Under Five Sovereigns (1911), it was said that in ‘Persia, India and Ceylon, the name…has entered into the language as an adjective expressing superlative quality.’ A café in Bombay [Mumbai] said that their food and drink was ‘all Rojers’ best things.’ Another story was of a British officer travelling in ‘Russian Turkistan’ who lost his Rodgers knife. A village headman commiserated with him because there were no more Rodgers knives made. When the officer objected the headman told him that a British traveller had given him a Rodgers knife and told him they could cut through iron, something a prisoner in chains had done. The King of England was very angry at losing his prisoner and cut off both of Rodgers’ arms at the elbow in punishment, to stop him making such good knives.

While continuing to make high quality products, the late Victorian period onwards were difficult for the company. By 1929 they had sold No. 6 Norfolk Street, and had been recording losses during the Great Depression. From a workforce of 1500 in 1914, the company had reduced to 325 employees in 1961. 

combined shipping.  E-mail me, if you have any outstanding bids or additional purchases you want to combine as shipment goes out daily from Monday-Saturday via mostly USPS. I am flexible with your needs for shipping, which is why there are few rules for you to remember. You buy and I ship at the lowest Ebay shipping cost within 24 hours.

 

UNPAID items over 48 hours are subject to cancellation.
Thank you for looking. 
21BK DH-2013

 

Additional information

Weight 31.04 oz
Dimensions 14 × 12 × 3 in
Tang

Dexterity

Blade Length

Color

Blade Edge

Vintage

Brand

Blade Type

Type

Year

Original/Reproduction

Features

Country/Region of Manufacture

Handle Material

Handmade