John Wigfall & Co Table Knife Set "Goffed" Carbon Steel & Turned Horn Sheffield 1870s-1880s

Late 19th century table knife and fork set made by the John Wigfall & Co (John Sidney Wigfall 1851-1905). In the late 19th century, Sheffield table knives got longer, straighter, round-tipped blades, and the forks got slightly larger. The fork on this set (assuming it is correct) is a little shorter than turn-of-the-century forks.

This knife was forged on an American-style tilt hammer fitted with dies to shape the forging, eliminating the need for hand forging. So-called 'goffing' with the tilt hammer sped up production but was objected to by the traditional hand forgers as being inferior to the old style forge, laminated shear steel, and iron construction.