ANTIQUE "1865" CAMBRIDGE CUTLERY WORKS SHEFFIELD

From a very strict collector pov the lack of a sheath might be a detriment but not always. Quite often, sheathes did not always match the quality of the blade ;) which can still be the case today with some pretty vile cheap sheathes mated to decent knives...

So yes I'd really search the catalogues and look into getting a period style sheath made up by an artisan leatherworker.

I don't think your knife has been a prolonged display model as there would be greater differences between the sides. We can never know what happened to the sheath, lost, put aside, never shipped with the knife...the rats gnawed it :eek: original owner didn't fancy it and intended to get another one but...or it was an unwanted gift. Quite a few collectors NEVER store their fixed blades in sheath due to corrosion or reaction with the leather. Hence there's always a risk that the sheath goes missing, does tend to prove yours was a treasured unused piece. You are fortunate to get it though, a very fine item indeed. :cool::thumbsup:
 
The sheaths are usually rarer than the knife. Leather tends to deteriorate much faster than metal and is subject to mold, dry rot, insect and animal damage, rips and cuts; and when it gets to the point that it becomes unsafe, it is often discarded. An original knife with its original factory/maker's sheath can sell for twice the price of the knife alone. Also, the sheath is often a big help in identifying the knife. There are a lot of reproduction knives out there, but few of those come with sheaths, because leather is much harder to artificially age.

n2s
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top