BC Historically Inaccurate Joseph Elliot & Sons 5" Paring Knife Shear Carbon Steel Horn Handle Sheffield 1870s-1900?

Joseph Elliot & Sons from approx circa 1870s to 1900 (Joseph Elliot & Sons 1822-1998)

Originally an integrally forged table knife made by Joseph Elliot & Sons in Sheffield England. This carbon steel bladed knife with forged laminated iron bolster and shear steel blade with a turned horn handle was re-ground into a paring knife here at Bernal Cutlery. Along with being re-profiled into a pointed sheepsfoot, the sides have been ground with a fine convex face with an old stye long swedge along the spine. 

This knife had another whole life before being repurposed so expect wear to the handle and 'imperfections' that might be associated with a used antique table knife. 

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"...you gotta as yourself one question." - Harry Callahan

A quick word from Josh Donald about these:

From time to time, I have found vintage paring knives ground from antique carbon steel table knives. While they had an appeal (it's super hard to find old paring knives), there was something that I couldn’t get past. They are historically inaccurate, bordering on fakes if sold as "(fill in name of old maker here) paring knife".

I resisted the temptation to make them despite seeing the possibility of great little knives; however, after using one in my personal kitchen that came in through an antique collection, I conceded that its a great re-purposing of an old knife. It's far more useful to most people than a carbon steel table knife, which let's be honest, got their clocks cleaned with the invention of stainless steel.

For over a hundred years, the necessity of using a table knife that would rust or interfere with the flavors of food has not been a concern. While most early stainless steels underperformed compared to carbon steel in terms of edge retention and cutting ability, they were significantly easier to use and maintain. Carbon steel table knives bit the dust in the 1920s, and it’s not surprising that by the 1950s a separate knife for cutting meat had become a regular part of Western tableware. Newer stainless steel table knives often sucked at cutting meat, but back when carbon steel was the norm these were super uncommon.

Anyway, with the addition of a laser to our workshop and the ability to provide the mark "historically inaccurate" to re-purposed antique table knives, I feel confident about starting to make these here, given the vast trove of often unloved antique table knives.

These are great for all those little jobs that a larger knife is less suited for and a great addition to a knife kit. They look damn fine on a charcuterie board for guests, and you'll have an answer for when they ask you why the knife says "historically inaccurate".

While not marked 'shear steel' it most likely is. it shows a 'puddle weld' near the bolster at the beginning of the blade opposite side as markings, almost looking like a thumbprint, this is where hard shear steel is forge welded to the mild steel or iron bolster and tang. Forks were forged in a small mold and ground by hand and knife blade forged by hand to shape and then hand ground on a saddle grinder to finish the geometry being finished on smaller buffing wheels. Many of these process were in use for hundreds of years in Sheffield which really held its strength through the massive amount of low priced skilled labor available in Sheffield.