An interesting old knife

[AeroncaTAL]

Here's an old knife I picked up awhile back at the Goodwill. The knife is 15 inches overall length, with a 9 1/2 inch blade. I originally was going to use it for a knife project; cut it down, maybe even remove the stag handle and put something else on. Yesterday I finally got around to cleaning it up and found stamped on the side "SHELTON CUTLERY CO., DERBY CONN." I did some research and it appears that Shelton Cutlery was in operation the last quarter of the 19th century through the first quarter of the 20th., going out of business in the great depression. Looks like this knife has some history to it. I don't think I'm going to do anything to this knife and leave it as it is (it is pretty cool). Think I'll make a sheath for it and maybe carry it as a "Rifleman's" knife. If anyone has any information on Shelton Cutlery, let me know. I'd appreciate it...
Scott

 

[pichou]

It's a carving knife. The style goes back aways but the end of the handle would be cut off and have a metal cap on the end of it for 18th/early 19th c.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Yep, it is a carving knife. That's an interesting comment on the handle with the end cap. Don't think I'll do that to this knife though; the handle is just long enough to fit my hand. I could only take off about a half inch of the tip. If the antler handle was thicker an end cap would work.
Scott

 

[omarick1948]

Scott,
I have a carving set that I bought at an estate sale several years ago with a knife very typical of the one you have and a two tined fork with a levered Y to release what your slicing. No markings, but kind of neat! Also, have seen them with a plastic or composite antler handle(s). You have a nice find there!

Rick :wink:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Rick,
I had to take another look at that handle, just to make sure it wasn't plastic. I can't see any casting marks or lines which would indicate it came out of a mold. Tapping it sounds the same as a similar piece of antler. I'm going to continue to assume it is real antler. Do you what time period plastic was used for knife handles? Bear in mind that this knife company probably went out of business sometime around 1930...
Scott

 

[Claude Mathis]

Scott,
I have a carving set that I bought at an estate sale several years ago with a knife very typical of the one you have and a two tined fork with a levered Y to release what your slicing.

I believe the feature mentioned is a hinged "fork rest" which allows you to turn the fork upside down, preventing the tines from touching the table surface.

Today, many meat forks have a rather large "collar" that serves the same purpose.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Yah, I've seen an old fork with that hinge attachment, never really thought about why it was there...
Scott

 

[bucktales]

Scott,
I'll ask around since Shelton and Derby are in my working area.
Not too many old timers left to ask. That area of Ct. was all heavy industry 100 years ago.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Thanks! :thumbsup:
Scott

 

[Okwaho]

I have one of these in my knife bucket with an unmarked 5 1/2"blade and 9 1/2" overall. it's too small for a carving knife and I keep it as a camp knife. I don't think it's very old, maybe early 20th century.
Tom Patton

 

[bucktales]

I asked a couple of guys who would qualify as "living fossils", and they never heard of the place.
I did find an article from the NY Times from Oct 1886 describing a walkout by 100 workers and one worker pouring molten lead down a co-worker's back "causing him great pain". :shocked2:
In 1886 Derby Ct. was called "Birmingham" Ct. So whatever year the city's name changed, it's probably post 1886.

 

[omarick1948]

Claude, So that's what that lever is for! :shocked2: No wonder I couldn't get any sliced turkey off the thing without shaking the devil out of it!... :rotf:

Scott, Your handle sure looks like the real thing!

Rick

 

[40cal]

Good looking knife. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

I saw that same article. Still haven't found anything on Shelton Cutlery. I have picked up a lot of information on Derby, Birmingham and Shelton. There used to be a Derby Silver Company that closed in 1933, maybe Shelton Cutlery was part of them? Anyway, it is an interesting knife...
Scott

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Yah, I'm pretty convinced now that it is the real thing. The more I look at it the more I like it. However, since it's a carving knife instead of a butcher knife, the blade is thin...
Scott