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<p>[QUOTE="DragonflyWink, post: 582463, member: 111"]Would suggest that jewelers didn't typically make knives, but unless the blades were made of silver, American silver manufacturers did usually use blades made by other firms, though not always bearing the blade manufacturer's mark. Not that I see any reason German blades wouldn't have been used (aside from certain time periods), but what is your reference for antique Tiffany sterling handles having German steel blades, "as a rule"? My experience with old Tiffany flatware blades, whether plated steel or nickel silver, is that they're usually marked only with the Tiffany name or with an added 'England' or 'Made in England', and most likely ordered from Sheffield manufacturers (but there were certainly U.S. cutlers who could provide blades as well - somewhere in my files is a very old article stating that the imported blades were actually quite a bit less expensive).</p><p><br /></p><p>Tiffany MOP-handled fruit knives with sterling ferrules and plated steel blades marked 'England': <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/19th-c-4pc-TIFFANY-Co-Fruit-Knife-Set-Mother-of-Pearl-Sterling-Handles/323750093610?hash=item4b6102632a:g:ZwoAAOSwu~5bwO-q" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/19th-c-4pc-TIFFANY-Co-Fruit-Knife-Set-Mother-of-Pearl-Sterling-Handles/323750093610?hash=item4b6102632a:g:ZwoAAOSwu~5bwO-q" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.com/itm/19th-c-4pc-TIFFANY-Co-Fruit-Knife-Set-Mother-of-Pearl-Sterling-Handles/323750093610?hash=item4b6102632a:g:ZwoAAOSwu~5bwO-q</a></p><p><br /></p><p>There were most definitely English makers that produced both the sterling, sterling mounted, silverplate handles as well as their plated steel blades, Walker & Hall is the first to come to mind (they also provided blades to other silver manufacturers) - this set, with ivory or faux ivory handles, bears W & H electroplate marks on the blades and their sterling marks on the ferrules: <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Set-of-5-Silver-plated-Fish-Knives-and-Forks-Sterling-Silver-Collars/254199772179?hash=item3b2f7cb413:g:cSoAAOSw5D1cqios" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Set-of-5-Silver-plated-Fish-Knives-and-Forks-Sterling-Silver-Collars/254199772179?hash=item3b2f7cb413:g:cSoAAOSw5D1cqios" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Set-of-5-Silver-plated-Fish-Knives-and-Forks-Sterling-Silver-Collars/254199772179?hash=item3b2f7cb413:g:cSoAAOSw5D1cqios</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Regarding the OP's pieces, feel sure that Bakersgma has properly identified the date letter on the sterling ferrule, the maker appears to be Francis Cholerton <a href="http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Sheffield-F.html#FC" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Sheffield-F.html#FC" rel="nofollow">http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Sheffield-F.html#FC</a> - don't recognize the maker of the blades. Often see slight variances in the shape and/or length of mother of pearl or ivory handles, though it is a bit much on that one fork, still believe it's probably original to the set (which would guess was probably six settings, split by two heirs) - the unusual engraving is a nice feature, making them Judaica and adding to their value...</p><p><br /></p><p>~Cheryl[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="DragonflyWink, post: 582463, member: 111"]Would suggest that jewelers didn't typically make knives, but unless the blades were made of silver, American silver manufacturers did usually use blades made by other firms, though not always bearing the blade manufacturer's mark. Not that I see any reason German blades wouldn't have been used (aside from certain time periods), but what is your reference for antique Tiffany sterling handles having German steel blades, "as a rule"? My experience with old Tiffany flatware blades, whether plated steel or nickel silver, is that they're usually marked only with the Tiffany name or with an added 'England' or 'Made in England', and most likely ordered from Sheffield manufacturers (but there were certainly U.S. cutlers who could provide blades as well - somewhere in my files is a very old article stating that the imported blades were actually quite a bit less expensive). Tiffany MOP-handled fruit knives with sterling ferrules and plated steel blades marked 'England': [URL]https://www.ebay.com/itm/19th-c-4pc-TIFFANY-Co-Fruit-Knife-Set-Mother-of-Pearl-Sterling-Handles/323750093610?hash=item4b6102632a:g:ZwoAAOSwu~5bwO-q[/URL] There were most definitely English makers that produced both the sterling, sterling mounted, silverplate handles as well as their plated steel blades, Walker & Hall is the first to come to mind (they also provided blades to other silver manufacturers) - this set, with ivory or faux ivory handles, bears W & H electroplate marks on the blades and their sterling marks on the ferrules: [URL]https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Set-of-5-Silver-plated-Fish-Knives-and-Forks-Sterling-Silver-Collars/254199772179?hash=item3b2f7cb413:g:cSoAAOSw5D1cqios[/URL] Regarding the OP's pieces, feel sure that Bakersgma has properly identified the date letter on the sterling ferrule, the maker appears to be Francis Cholerton [URL]http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Sheffield-F.html#FC[/URL] - don't recognize the maker of the blades. Often see slight variances in the shape and/or length of mother of pearl or ivory handles, though it is a bit much on that one fork, still believe it's probably original to the set (which would guess was probably six settings, split by two heirs) - the unusual engraving is a nice feature, making them Judaica and adding to their value... ~Cheryl[/QUOTE]
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