Axe Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I have a collection of old cutlery that was given to me after my grandfather died a little while back. It's actually what appears to be a very large dinner set but crucially all the knives are made with Ivory handles. Interestingly, they are all wrapped in sets of knives etc., in what appears to be the original tissue paper and have never been used. So i'd like to ask if they might have any value? Now I actually have a couple similar in my kitchen draw that we tend to use for the butter, don't ask why we just do. But I have noticed recently that one of the handles has started cracking and is becoming loose. So i'd also like to ask if there is a way to repair this properly and should I be looking after the Ivory in any specific way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 My family has some also, but I think the handles are bone. Are they definatley ivory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I just assume they are Ivory I am no expert though, how would I tell? Looking through Google I have found similar knives that are listed as Ivory. I have since found out that the collection was part of wedding present so that would date them from the 30's I believe. As for the pair that are cracking, they are slightly different with a more squaure finish to the handle and have a more dirty cream / grey colour as opposed to the unsused set which has a polished hand made finish that is much more yellow cream in colour. I'll try and get some pics togther. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Can quite rem I think Ivory has faint lines running down it. The obvious question, is the metal work silver? Hallmarks? If it is ivory then almost cert to be silver. If there is a mark look for two letters side by side they date it. Also there will be a small motiff a lion is the Birmingham proof house and correlated to the letters. There are other motiffs but I don't know them-not many though. See what you can and google it. Value...not high really. Unless they were mint and over 100 yrs old but must be mint because who wants to eat with something...someone else used. In this day and age the value of the silver would dictate the price. Ivory would be a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Ah-ha, just googled: ivory or bone? All the answers are there. Regards Christy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Aha that's useful, the two that need repair are definitely Ivory. I haven't looked at the collection yet both are on Sheffield Steel not silver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Most auctioneers of any worth will help you with both I.D.ing and finding someone who can repair them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 If you can get some pics up i will show them to my pal who deals in just such items,If you could include how many,condition,close up pics if possible,any box ? markings etc etc.Basically as much info as poss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I repaired a kukari handle a while back, i used epoxy resin [ an industrial sized tub] and some pigment powder that we use for making wood stain. the good thing about the resin is that when it goes off it will take a dull polish so it doesn't stand out too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Most auctioneers of any worth will help you with both I.D.ing and finding someone who can repair them. Sound advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyr8 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 there are firms out there that sell old replacments for these things.you could be lucky and get a couple of exact replacments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 The two that are cracking are not part of a set they were used as regular knives for some time and look very worn out but still or at least were still usable. Its more sentimental value that I hold of them and would like to keep despite their condition. The collection however was part of a large canteen, which apparently was twice the usual size at that time. Half of this canteen was used as regular cutlery and the other half kept unused. I will have a dig through and sort some pics out today hopefully. There is no orignal box and they all lie loose in an old suitcase which is where they have been for the last 40 years or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I managed to dig them out and have a good look. It appears the Collection is a regular Canteen of 12 places I have six unused of all the main items. I have no idea what else might be missing from the canteen that you see on the following pic's but I have numbered the quantities of what exists. The teaspoons are all unused. The knives show Firth Stainless and the maker as D F Blears maybe, but i'm not good with old style writing. The forks and spoons all show Nickel Plate on the underside. I also found a set of 5 matching what I assume to be Silver Plated Fish Knives, forks and spoons. Along with an assortment of random silver, stainless or nickel plated items not shown. I am not expecting any miracle values to appear but thanks for all the help so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Axe IMO highly unlikely to be ivory...only the most expensive sets and I do mean EXPENSIVE used ivory mot are made of bone, usually cattle bone. There is a company or two that still make them using cattle bone. As for value I think that unless you've a full and complete set in fine condition they'll not be worth much. If they're canteen boxed (you know nice quality wooden box baise lined etc then that would help the price. Whatever you do don't try washing them in the dishwasher as the handles are usually stuck in place with animal glue which will (if they haven't already) solidify and become brittle and none stick! I don't think it'd do the bone much good either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night owl Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 sorry for the bad news mate but there made of bone and the metal on one of them is stainless and the other ones are eps the hall marks are just the makers name thats it theres no silver marks there they were made by the atkin brothers <marks ha> marks <ea> is the place they were made these were made in edenbrough epa = electro plated silver the marks for newer plated silver are now eps in a square box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 On the contrary, its not bad news at all. I was aware that the main set was stainless and that the 'odd' set was probably plated. The thing is, it's always best to check and I really didn't have any misconceptions about it becoming a family heirloom. It's value to me however, is priceless in a sentimental way and I doubt, even it was valuable, I would have parted with it. The two knives that need repairing will probably receive the epoxy resin as advised earlier. Thanks to everyone that replied. :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I showed the pics to my mate who deals in this kind of stuff and he said more or less what night owl said.They are only worth what they are worth to you and he wouldnt be interested in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks again for taking the trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 I have got to say, the value of them is esoteric and therefore, priceless. Superb my friend, get them used, regularly ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 9R Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 looking at them took me right back to my childhood, my Grandparents had a set that looked very much like them, they were used every day and we had to use the fish knives if eating fish even if it was fish from the chip shop, they had the right knives so we had to use them LoL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 The stainless knives are actually very sharp for a dinner knife. The blades are very thin but hold an edge very well. the half set that has been used, has stood up to the test of time very well, given that they are in the region of 70-80 years and were used regularly. I intend to put the remaining set to good use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.