Vintage Spear & Jackson Neverfail 9.5" Hog Splitter Carbon Steel Sheffield, England 19th-Early 20th Century

Massive Spear & Jackson hand forged hog splitter with 9.5" blade, 26.25" overall weighing 5.8lbs. 

This cleaver has a very unusual long integral bolster design and the original brass and steel pin riveted handle. The blade has a fresh convex edge and is ready to get back to work. Handle has a crack on each side at the second rivet from bolster but is solid and secure. 

Spear & Jackson was established in 1830 in Sheffield England and has been most known for their saws but also has made other tools and apparently here in no subtle form cleavers. Spear & Jackson patented the first iron backed steel hacksaw blade which modern hacksaws are built on. 

It is difficult to date this but given that there is no 'England' in the marking it is possible for pre-1890 manufacture as a good deal of Sheffield goods were exported to the United States which demanded a country of origin mark after 1891. The sans serif letters on "Extra Quality" suggest very late 19th or early 20th century manufacture. I think 1900-1920 is a safe bet but cannot verify. 

 9.5" blade, 26.25" overall weighing 5.8lbs.