RARE**Victorian 1869-1874 Joseph Rodgers 6 Norfolk Street Sheffield Made For Manton & Co Calcutta Spear Point Bowie Knife With Chequered Horn Scales, German Silver Cross Guard & Leather Scabbard. Sn 19279 Knives

**RARE**Victorian 1869-1874 Joseph Rodgers 6 Norfolk Street Sheffield Made For Manton & Co Calcutta Spear Point Bowie Knife With Chequered Horn Scales, German Silver Cross Guard & Leather Scabbard. Sn 19279 - 19279

The Manton family were English gunmakers beginning with John in the early 1800's, then his younger brother Joseph who operated circa 1825-35. J. Manton and Son operated circa 1832-1862 and Manton & Co is listed as operating in London and Calcutta circa 1869-74. Manton’s Calcutta operation specialised in supplying quality firearms and blades to British officer’s & Gentlemen in India. Joseph Rodgers had an unsurpassed reputation for knife making in the 19th century. The Star and Maltese cross were granted to Rodgers by the Company in 1764 and both he and later his sons continued to produce quality knives throughout the Victorian era at various premises in Sheffield including the world famous 6 Norfolk Street. Due to the high quality of their work Rodgers & Sons were awarded Royal Warrants. This is a quality 13” long, Spear Point Bowie knife & Scabbard made by Rodgers at their Norfolk street workshop for Manton & Co Calcutta. It has chequered horn scales secured by German Silver pins. A void German silver plate is mounted on one scale and it has a thick oval German silver cross guard. It has an 8 ¼” double edged, spear point steel blade with central fullers on both sides. One side of the blade is crisply marked ‘Joseph Rodgers & Sons, No 6 Norfolk Street Sheffield’ together with ‘Star and Maltese cross’ trademark and the reverse ‘Made For Manton & Co Calcutta’. The blade has just small areas of staining consistent with age. The excellent, original open top brown leather scabbard has a rear belt loop. All leather & stitching of the scabbard are intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 19279

£1,700.00