Vintage Antique R. Bunting & Son 1800s Era Folding Dirk Sheffield Pocket Knife

  

Bunting & Son 1800s Era Folding Dirk Sheffield Pocket Knife. An absolutely incredible piece of early cutlery from Sheffield England. This folding dirk pocket knife was produced by R.

This knife is extremely rare. Any folding dirk is very uncommon and highly desirable. Theyre very difficult to find and attain. Folding Dirks were used from the 1830s-1860s primarily as a weapon.

Back then, your personal protection was of the utmost importance, and having a high quality bowie knife or folding dirk like this one was quite the status symbol. Robert Bunting was one of the first Sheffield bowie makers and was manufacturing knives as early as 1822.

He was well known for making defense knives for the American market in 1839 when he was working with his sons Richard, Abner and George. By 1840 their partnership was dissolved and Robert began working with his son Richard until Roberts death in 1850.

This information dates this particular knife to being made between 1840 and 1850 as it is stamped R. Bunting & SON not sons.

This means it was made during the years of Roberts partnership with his son Richard, and was manufactured before Roberts death in 1850. This knife is in great condition from a legendary maker. The handle covers are GORGEOUS Buffalo horn with beautiful grains. The handle features a cartouche bar shield and locks with a hump back lockback. They have a beautiful reverse hourglass shape to them, swelling in the center. The guard on the knife is made from German silver and is extremely ornate and intricate. It features scrolling leaves with a shell in the middle. The knife also features its original pin which is pretty unusual as most have been replaced. The knife snaps closed extremely well and locks up with some wobble. The guard is in good shape with some dings and some minor lead exposed spots as is normal for a knife of this age. The horn covers are beautiful and are chip and bug bite free. There is a pin crack on the pile side that could be glued if the new owner chooses to. There is no missing pieces of horn whatsoever. With the exception of the one crack, the handles are perfect. The blade is dagger ground and is about 4 and 1/4 inches long. It is in nice shape with a great patina.

There is only one very small spot with very light pitting, otherwise the blade is completely smooth. The blade has been sharpened with a tiny bit of sharpening loss, but retains nearly 95% of its original blade. The dagger blade is very beautiful. Overall this is a very rare, old and hard to get knife.

Its in great shape for being 171 years old at the newest. You will be extremely hard pressed to find another like it available for sale. Dirks are very highly desired and very difficult to obtain. If you have any questions please let me know! Check out my other listings for more exceptional early Sheffield pocket knives. The item "Vintage Antique R. Bunting & Son 1800s Era Folding Dirk Sheffield Pocket Knife" is in sale since Monday, November 29, 2021.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Knives, Swords & Blades\Collectible Folding Knives\Vintage Folding Knives\Factory Manufactured". The seller is "brandomasu-0" and is located in Middlesex, New York.

This item can be shipped to United States.

1. Blade Material: Carbon Steel
2. Dexterity: Ambidextrous
3. Blade Range: Over 4in.
4. Color: Brown
5. Opening Mechanism: Manual
6. Blade Edge: Plain
7. Modified Item: No
8. Vintage: Yes
9. Brand: R.

   Bunting & Son

10. Blade Type: Dagger
11. Type: Pocketknife
12. Lock Type: Lockback
13. Year: 1860
14. Original/Reproduction: Original
15. Number of Blades: 1
16. Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
17. Handle Material: Horn