Shear Steel.

[MJP]

Picked up this tatty knife yesterday, just because I could see a maker's mark underneath the grime and thought that it might be something interesting.

- turns out that it's Shear Steel, made by Harrison Fisher.

A brief run around Google suggests that anything made of shear steel must be at least 200 years old - has anyone got any ideas if this is so?

The knife certainly looks old, and I could well believe that it's Georgian. and boy, has it got an edge! - even before starting to clean it up and sharpen it, I can slice a sheet of A4.

Martin.

 

[bugbear]

Whilst shear steel was superseded as a "normal" high carbon steel quite early, Shear steel and double shear steel were made in small quantities well into the 1920s for the niche markets of carving knives and butcher's knives. The non-uniformity of shear steel means that when ground on a coarse-ish stone, and steeled, you get a toothy edge which is excellent for cutting meat.

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

This advert is from Liverpool Echo - Monday 22 April 1940;

The knives will have been made a bit earlier, since they're being sold off as Army Surplus.

I suspect (by the styling) your knife is indeed quite old, but you'd need an expert to know details.

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

This advert is even more informative; note that they are still manufacturing these knives in 1930's, but that double shear steel is ONLY used for butchers' knives.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Saturday 01 November 1930

BugBear

 

[MJP]

. The non-uniformity of shear steel means that when ground on a coarse-ish stone, and steeled, you get a toothy edge which is excellent for cutting meat.

BugBear

Thanks Bug.

I've given this a touch with a stone and I got the impression that the the edge felt like a very fine sawknife, so it's interesting to learn that this can be a characteristic of shear steel.

That stag handled Air Ministry surplus carving knife looks pretty close to mine though if they were only offering butchers' knives in the 30s, and mine isn't one of those I think, then I guess it's earlier than that.

No matter, it's nice knife.

I wonder if I'm going to be able to smuggle yet another knife into the kitchen under the steely eyes of SWMBO? I've got a thing about really nasty sharp old kitchen knives and I've got far too many already...

Thanks for your help Bug, it tells me all I need to know.

Martin.

 

[bugbear]

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Harrison,_Fisher_and_Co

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

It appears Harrison Fisher was an individual, b1872. He was a Cutler and Silversmith in 1901, listed as an "employer".

In 1891, aged 20, he was living with his father (William) and is listed as "Cutlery Merchants Clerk".

If we take his cutlery business as starting midway between the two, that gives an earliest date for your knife of 1895.

EDIT: he died young - 1907, poor sod.

BugBear

 

[MJP]

Late Victorian or Edwardian.

Doesn't have the same ring as Georgian...

Still, it's a nice knife and it will clean up well.

And as a bonus I haven't cut myself with it ....yet...

What can I do to enliven the horn handle? I've given it a wash but it's dull ...could I wax it and give it a rub with a shoe brush?

Martin.

 

[Rorschach]

Wax it or polish it with a mop and compound.

 

[nabs]

in case you haven't seen it, there is a short film from 1939 about the steel maker Edgar Allen ltd."
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... play-film=

One part shows the workmen forge a bundle of blister steel bars to create shear steel. As per BugBear the film was made very close to the point where the old processes for making blister, shear and crucible steel were abandoned altogether.

The film is only available from the UK I'm afraid.

 

[MARK.B.]

Very interesting film Nick , The Men earned every penny they made but friggin hell it must have been a dangerous job .

 

[MJP]

The dark satanic mills....

and look how many workers you see - shows how cheap labour was eighty years ago.

All in their white shirts and weskits!

**

Shear steel manufacture looks like the basics of the present day version of Damascus steel, with the forging and doubling. I wonder if the latter ( the modern day version,not the real thing) did in fact evolve from the former?

Martin.

 

[Keith 66]

Interesting, i have a very similar carving knife made by James Deakin of Sheffield, staghorn handle with silver mounts. I got it out a scrap skip a few years back & cleaned it up, It takes a terrific edge.

 

[MJP]

Hi Keith -

A terrific edge is right!

I've given this one a touch with an India Medium and it cuts meat like butter.

It's funny, you can pick up a knife in any old dirt-encrusted condition and tell if it's going to be any good even before you clean it up. There's something about the edge of a knife that it retains through all the neglect and abuse which allows you to just touch it and know that it'll either be a good 'un or a waste of time.

Could be both our knives are from the same source, just marked differently.

Martin.