An antique Sheffield wood-handled steel knife and fork set, made by Hiram Wild, England, probably third quarter 19th Century (1850-1875)
My grandmother passed this set of knife and fork down to me. They supposedly came over with the family when they immigrated from Scotland in either 1833 or 1839. The knife has a name stamped on it: Hiram Wild, Cutler Sheffield. That company is now called Hawley Sheffield Knives. Hiram Wild was born in 1843 and started a cutlery business in 1864. However, he specialized in cutlery with bone handles. The items look much older than the late 1800's and obviously they are simple.
Knife is 9 inches. Fork is 7 inches.
Inherited
Yes
Hi Charles,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Hiram Wild was a well-known cutlery manufacturer based in Sheffield, England—a city famous for its high-quality steel and cutlery production. The company produced a variety of knives, scissors, and other cutting tools, continuing Sheffield’s long tradition of fine craftsmanship.
There's a bit of a disconnect in the story. Since we know from documentary evidence that Wild didn't start manufacturing cutlery until the mid-1860s, this knife and fork set could not have come to the US in the 1830s. It's been my experience that family history often gets changed (never intentionally, but over time, people often remember things differently). There is evidence that Sheffield goods were available for purchase in the US in the third quarter of the 19th Century and it's possible your Scottish ancestors acquired them, possibly out of some patriotic nostalgia for British products.
While Wild is best-known for his bone-handled cutlery, he could either provided plain wood handles as a cheaper retail option or sourced his steel parts out to different makers who used different materials (wood, mother of pearl, ivory, stone, etc). for handles; this was an occasional practice in the 19th Century.
The somewhat primitive appearance of this set likely suggests a modest purchase price that may have appealed to recently-immigrated residents, and wood handles will show wear - handling and washing - more than any other material.
Comparable fork and knife sets that have been auctioned recently have sold for about $20-30.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An antique Sheffield wood-handled steel knife and fork set
made by Hiram Wild, England, probably third quarter 19th Century (1850-1875)
A three-tined fork with tapering wood handle and a knife with tapering wood handle, the knife blade engraved "Hiram Wild, Cutler Sheffield."
Knife: 9 inches long. Fork: 7 inches long
CONDITION: This fork and knife display
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 20-30*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
