Victorian English Crookes & Clarke Sheffield German Silver Cutlery Hilt Bowie Knife With Etched Blade ‘La Muerte Antes Que La Dishonra’ (Spanish: Death Before Dishonour) Made For The Continental Export Market & Open Top Scabbard. Sn 22963 Knive

Victorian English Crookes & Clarke Sheffield German Silver Cutlery Hilt Bowie Knife With Etched Blade ‘La Muerte Antes Que La Dishonra’ (Spanish: Death Before Dishonour) Made For The Continental Export Market & Open Top Scabbard. Sn 22963 - 22963

Henry Crookes & Company Ltd was established in Sheffield in 1857. It appears to have originated with George Crookes, a table knife and scissors manufacturer in Wellington Street in 1837. In the Census (1841) George Crookes was listed as a table knife manufacturer in Hanover Street (the factory address was Washington Works, Bowden Street). His son, Henry, was also a table knife manufacturer, aged 20; and another son was named George. Later in the 1840s, George Crookes & Co was listed as a merchant and table knife manufacturer at 95 Norfolk Street, with George residing at East View, Parker’s Road. By 1862, this business had become Crookes & Clarke, with Henry Crookes (East View) and Thomas Clarke (Crabtree House, Pitsmoor) as partners. George Crookes (probably Junior) was a ‘merchant’s clerk’ at East View. Crookes & Clarke became Henry Crookes & Co by 1868 with two partners – Henry Crookes of East Bank Cottage and George Crookes of Leavy Greave. By 1876, the firm’s address was in Bramwell Street. The partners were Henry Crookes, ‘foreign merchant’, living at Ingleby Lodge, Williamson Road, Sharrow; and George Crookes (Henry’s son) at the same address. Henry retired in 1880 and moved to Bridlington with his wife, Mary Ann. After 1880, George and Charles Crookes (another son of Henry) were partners. By 1887, Henry Crookes & Co was located at Allen Street, with Herbert Crookes as the only listed partner. Allen Street was the home of Hale Bros and by 1889 it had acquired Crookes and its trade mark, consisting of the word ‘TIP’ and a picture of a top (i.e. tip-top). Henry Crookes died at Bridlington Quay, aged 77, on 9 February 1899. By 1901, Crookes’s address was Moorfields Works, Snow Lane – the same address as Hale Bros. Kutrite later used the Crookes’ name. In the Victorian era many English cutlers made Bowies for the growing European & American markets. This is a Victorian cutlery handled Bowie by ‘Crookes & Clarke’ Made for the Continental Export Market. The knife has a typical Victorian era cast German Silver cutlery form handle. The hilt has an oval German Silver finger guard. The 7 ¾” long, steel single edged Bowie blade has areas of staining consistent with age. One side of the blade is signed by the makers ‘Crookes & Clarke’ and has an etched scroll work panel with banners & wording ‘La Muerte Antes Que La Dishonra’ (Spanish: Death Before Dishonour an inscription sometimes found on Corsican vendetta knives). The knife measures 12 ¼” overall. The blade is just over 1 ¼” broad at its widest & the spine is 4mm thick. The original reddish brown leather scabbard has German Silver throat mount with frog locket and chape which has several dents consistent with age and carry. The leather has age faded gilt line decoration on the edges and the centre of one side has a faded gilt foliate motif. All leather and stitching are intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 22963 (Bowies Box)

£595.00