William Rogers Knife: First fixed blade post.

[Blake the Blade]

I mentioned recently I'd been lucky enough to have inherited my Great Grandfather's pocket knife. Apart from being a wonderful family heirloom, this was of particular interest to me as a collector of folders. But having also been fortunate enough to have received a fixed blade that had belonged to my Grandfather, I find myself on somewhat foreign ground. The Knife is by William Rogers, has what appears to be a stag/bone handle, is marked Sheffield England and has the rubbed inscription '.........my way' on the tang. The handle has something of an unusual dogleg design to it. Now I know that many of these knives were made and I don't suppose my one is that unusual, but I would like to know more about them, I.E. what sort of market were they originally aimed at? was my one designed for a particular use? what sort of age is it? and whether or not there is much interest amongst collectors in these knives today. In fact any information regarding this knife would be of interest. Many thanks.

Mark.

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr
Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

 

[Jack Black]

Congratulations on getting hold of your Grandfather's sheath knife Blake :thumbup:

Sheffield cutlers would call your knife a 'Whittle-tang Bowie', and it is one of the 'Town Patterns' (the patterns produced by many different cutlers). Knives like this, and similar patterns have been produced, by the hundreds of thousands, in Sheffield for many years, and are still made today, usually either with handles of stag or of stacked leather washers. They come with blades of various lengths (eg 3", 4", 5", 6"). When I was young, virtually every boy owned at least one such knife, and many of us carried them regularly. I had several, including at least one by William Rodgers (note the inclusion of the 'd'). They were known simply as sheath knives, or as 'Scout Knives', which indicates their primary market. The Boy Scout movement was absolutely huge at one time, and tens of thousands of these simple sheath knives were made for Scout troops. The design of the knife was almost certainly based on American patterns, such as those designed by Webster Marble.

The famous 'I Cut My Way' mark originally belonged to a a Sheffield cutler called Thomas Hobson, who operated in the late 19th century. It was acquired by John Clarke & Son before WW1. Clarke had set up in business in the mid 19th century, and as well as a cutler and factor, he also helped recruit Sheffield cutlers to go to work in America. After acquiring the 'I Cut My Way' mark, they used it in conjunction with the name 'William Rodgers' (though I have seen Clarke knives also marked with it), and this became a 'stand alone' brand for them. The choice of name was clearly an attempt to confuse buyers into thinking there was an association with the much more famous and prestigious Joseph Rodgers firm, and even today, people commonly think the two firms were related.

While Clarke's went under in the 1960's, their mark (and the William Rodgers mark) is today owned by the Eggington group of companies.

As for your knife, assuming the handle is stag (and it may not be), the dogleg design is simply the shape of the material. What were such knives used for? In my experience, making bows and arrows, playing 'splits', sharpening tent-stakes, and stalking whatever imaginary foe the woods conjured up that day. When it came to more delicate camp chores, they weren't really the best design. Because of the huge numbers produced, they are very common, and I see them regularly on market stalls and at car-boot sales (swap meets). I would expect to pay around a fiver for a knife like that, but I'm sure you consider it priceless, as indeed you should :thumbup:

 

[meako]

I Cut My Way-is what it sa....gaaah too late

 

[screened porch]

Handsome and handy knife. It looks like your Grandpa used it a lot and cared for it well.
I've seen such things only with straight plastic stag handles, so the dog-leg surprises me.

 

[Blake the Blade]

Congratulations on getting hold of your Grandfather's sheath knife Blake :thumbup:

Sheffield cutlers would call your knife a 'Whittle-tang Bowie', and it is one of the 'Town Patterns' (the patterns produced by many different cutlers). Knives like this, and similar patterns have been produced, by the hundreds of thousands, in Sheffield for many years, and are still made today, usually either with handles of stag or of stacked leather washers. They come with blades of various lengths (eg 3", 4", 5", 6"). When I was young, virtually every boy owned at least one such knife, and many of us carried them regularly. I had several, including at least one by William Rodgers (note the inclusion of the 'd'). They were known simply as sheath knives, or as 'Scout Knives', which indicates their primary market. The Boy Scout movement was absolutely huge at one time, and tens of thousands of these simple sheath knives were made for Scout troops. The design of the knife was almost certainly based on American patterns, such as those designed by Webster Marble.

The famous 'I Cut My Way' mark originally belonged to a a Sheffield cutler called Thomas Hobson, who operated in the late 19th century. It was acquired by John Clarke & Son before WW1. Clarke had set up in business in the mid 19th century, and as well as a cutler and factor, he also helped recruit Sheffield cutlers to go to work in America. After acquiring the 'I Cut My Way' mark, they used it in conjunction with the name 'William Rodgers' (though I have seen Clarke knives also marked with it), and this became a 'stand alone' brand for them. The choice of name was clearly an attempt to confuse buyers into thinking there was an association with the much more famous and prestigious Joseph Rodgers firm, and even today, people commonly think the two firms were related.

While Clarke's went under in the 1960's, their mark (and the William Rodgers mark) is today owned by the Eggington group of companies.

As for your knife, assuming the handle is stag (and it may not be), the dogleg design is simply the shape of the material. What were such knives used for? In my experience, making bows and arrows, playing 'splits', sharpening tent-stakes, and stalking whatever imaginary foe the woods conjured up that day. When it came to more delicate camp chores, they weren't really the best design. Because of the huge numbers produced, they are very common, and I see them regularly on market stalls and at car-boot sales (swap meets). I would expect to pay around a fiver for a knife like that, but I'm sure you consider it priceless, as indeed you should :thumbup:

You know it's one thing to inherit great family heirlooms, especially knives, even if they have little monetary value they still mean so much. But it's another to have experts such as yourself on hand Jack to give a full and concise history of an object and take so much interest in that object whilst doing so. Thanks so much mate it really means a lot. So these William Ro(d)gers knives are the fixed blade equivalent of the Richards folding scout knife, I thought as much to be honest. It's interesting to know also that the dog-leg shape of the handle is the result of the nature of the material used. Originally I thought it might be plastic but on closer examination decided it was bone but now, looking at the bowed angle of the handle, believe it could also be stag. Still not sure though. Again, it's great to know all the additional background info on the piece and great to know it would have been put to such great use by that little boy scout (most likely my Grandad) all those years ago. Thanks again Jack you're a gentleman and a scholar, you've really brought the thing to life. :thumbup:

 

[Blake the Blade]

I Cut My Way-is what it sa....gaaah too late

Thankyou anyway meako. :thumbup:

 

[Blake the Blade]

Handsome and handy knife. It looks like your Grandpa used it a lot and cared for it well.
I've seen such things only with straight plastic stag handles, so the dog-leg surprises me.

Yep, I'm a lucky man for sure. Thanks for your interest my friend. :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

You know it's one thing to inherit great family heirlooms, especially knives, even if they have little monetary value they still mean so much. But it's another to have experts such as yourself on hand Jack to give a full and concise history of an object and take so much interest in that object whilst doing so. Thanks so much mate it really means a lot. So these William Ro(d)gers knives are the fixed blade equivalent of the Richards folding scout knife, I thought as much to be honest. It's interesting to know also that the dog-leg shape of the handle is the result of the nature of the material used. Originally I thought it might be plastic but on closer examination decided it was bone but now, looking at the bowed angle of the handle, believe it could also be stag. Still not sure though. Again, it's great to know all the additional background info on the piece and great to know it would have been put to such great use by that little boy scout (most likely my Grandad) all those years ago. Thanks again Jack you're a gentleman and a scholar, you've really brought the thing to life. :thumbup:

Thanks for the very kind words

I'm sure that your Grandad put that knife to a great deal of use, and that it could tell some good tales My grandfather probably owned one of those knives too! Richards did a FB Scout Knife, and your Will Rodgers, and all the similar knives, are a big step-up from them. You are the best person to judge if the handle is antler or synthetic, it can be hard to tell from a photograph. I might be worth having a look with a strong magnifying glass. I have an early example of this kind of knife made by Maleham & Yeomans, with a 'Scout Knife' etch on the blade, but while interesting, the quality is not great (it has a cast aluminium guard and pommel). I'll see if I can find some old advertising pics for these knives :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

 

[Blake the Blade]

Thanks for the very kind words

I'm sure that your Grandad put that knife to a great deal of use, and that it could tell some good tales My grandfather probably owned one of those knives too! Richards did a FB Scout Knife, and your Will Rodgers, and all the similar knives, are a big step-up from them. You are the best person to judge if the handle is antler or synthetic, it can be hard to tell from a photograph. I might be worth having a look with a strong magnifying glass. I have an early example of this kind of knife made by Maleham & Yeomans, with a 'Scout Knife' etch on the blade, but while interesting, the quality is not great (it has a cast aluminium guard and pommel). I'll see if I can find some old advertising pics for these knives :thumbup:

Thanks again Jack, yet more interesting info. Of course it matters not to me what the actual material of the handle of this knife is but, just to say that, having looked closer at the handle through a jewellers loop there are signs of the sort of striations associated with bone but in the darker areas the dimpled almost furry look one might associate with stag. Unless of course it's just very convincing stained, aged plastic. To me the side of the handle in the first picture looks more convincing than the side shown in the second which looks worked or jigged in some way. If I had to say one way or the other I would say bone to look like stag, but for now it remains a mystery as I am not totally convinced either way. :thumbup:

 

[Dan Budd]

This is a set that I have been after for several years now, anyone know who to talk with please ? Only leather handles and preferably vintage but happy to talk, pretty please ? Thanks guys, Dan

 

[Campbellclanman]

Great Knives, I would hate to think just how many William Rodgers "I Cut My Way" fixed Blades I have owned in the past, I always thought these were great!

 

[r redden]

Great knife Blake

Congratulations on getting hold of your Grandfather's sheath knife Blake :thumbup:

Sheffield cutlers would call your knife a 'Whittle-tang Bowie', and it is one of the 'Town Patterns' (the patterns produced by many different cutlers). Knives like this, and similar patterns have been produced, by the hundreds of thousands, in Sheffield for many years, and are still made today, usually either with handles of stag or of stacked leather washers. They come with blades of various lengths (eg 3", 4", 5", 6"). When I was young, virtually every boy owned at least one such knife, and many of us carried them regularly. I had several, including at least one by William Rodgers (note the inclusion of the 'd'). They were known simply as sheath knives, or as 'Scout Knives', which indicates their primary market. The Boy Scout movement was absolutely huge at one time, and tens of thousands of these simple sheath knives were made for Scout troops. The design of the knife was almost certainly based on American patterns, such as those designed by Webster Marble.

The famous 'I Cut My Way' mark originally belonged to a a Sheffield cutler called Thomas Hobson, who operated in the late 19th century. It was acquired by John Clarke & Son before WW1. Clarke had set up in business in the mid 19th century, and as well as a cutler and factor, he also helped recruit Sheffield cutlers to go to work in America. After acquiring the 'I Cut My Way' mark, they used it in conjunction with the name 'William Rodgers' (though I have seen Clarke knives also marked with it), and this became a 'stand alone' brand for them. The choice of name was clearly an attempt to confuse buyers into thinking there was an association with the much more famous and prestigious Joseph Rodgers firm, and even today, people commonly think the two firms were related.

While Clarke's went under in the 1960's, their mark (and the William Rodgers mark) is today owned by the Eggington group of companies.

As for your knife, assuming the handle is stag (and it may not be), the dogleg design is simply the shape of the material. What were such knives used for? In my experience, making bows and arrows, playing 'splits', sharpening tent-stakes, and stalking whatever imaginary foe the woods conjured up that day. When it came to more delicate camp chores, they weren't really the best design. Because of the huge numbers produced, they are very common, and I see them regularly on market stalls and at car-boot sales (swap meets). I would expect to pay around a fiver for a knife like that, but I'm sure you consider it priceless, as indeed you should :thumbup:

Wow Jack excellent post.

 

[Jack Black]

Wow Jack excellent post.

Thanks Randy, I must have had some time on my hands that day!

By coincidence, someone gave me a rusty old William Rodgers knife like this just the other day, (needs a good deal of work)