George Woodhead Folder
George Woodhead Folder
I've just acquired a George Woodhead folder. It has some pretty gnarly stag covers and has the blade marked George Woodhead, Sheffield, 36 Howard St. I know he lived from 1808 to 1884 and opened his own shop about 1849 and was known for his Bowies but I can find little information about his folders. Can't post pics but am hoping someone can tell me more about this knife. Closed length is 4" and has what looks like a whale etched into the blade.
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
Can you give the knife a pattern name?
Charlie Noyes
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
Without pictures it is difficult to give any information on it.
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Wayne
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Wayne
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
It would be a spear blade and has a swage near the tip.
Re: George Woodhead Folder
Posting pictures is not difficult. Here is a link to a thread with instructions. Pictures are needed before anyone can give you much information on your knife.
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=50258
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=50258
Dan
Re: George Woodhead Folder
How do you post pics?
Re: George Woodhead Folder
FLHTK, to AAPK. The instructions for posting pictures are described in the link in my post above your last post.
Dan
Re: George Woodhead Folder
Here's one on ebay that is 'similar' to yours, different scales. I wouldn't get too overwhelmed with the asking price until you can research your knife a bit more. There is NO guarantee your knife is worth what they're asking. Maybe, maybe not. There are several George Woodhead knives on ebay that sellers are asking 'top dollar' for. Again, this doesn't equate to yours being worth hundreds of dollars without more research. If it is, you have a GREAT find. You might try the National Knife Collectors Association (NKCA) to see if they have any information regarding your knife for a fair market price point.
I don't know anymore about these knives than what I've presented in a basic search.
Good luck.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Woodhea ... Sw675eJycr
Here's another GW knife 'similar' to yours that sold for $56.00 on the bay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Woodhea ... 7675.l2557
I don't know anymore about these knives than what I've presented in a basic search.
Good luck.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Woodhea ... Sw675eJycr
Here's another GW knife 'similar' to yours that sold for $56.00 on the bay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Woodhea ... 7675.l2557
LJ
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
Thanks for the information. I don't plan on selling this knife and it's going into my collection.
Re: George Woodhead Folder
Thanks for posting the photo. Interesting old knife!
The following is information from "Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740 - 2013", by Geoffrey Tweedale:
George Woodhead moved into the Howard St location in 1849. In 1851 he employed 20 men making pen, pocket, and table knives. In 1871 he employed 40 men. In 1876 the firm became George Woodhead & Sons and was listed as a specialist bowie knife maker in that year. In 1884 the firm became George Woodhead & Son again. George died on Feb 14, 1884. His son died the following year and his wife died in 1886.
Tweedale does say that the "GW*I over George Woodhead & Son" was acquired by Thomas Ellin and later by Joseph Elliot. He does not say whether or not the subsequent owners of the mark ever used it? There is also no mention of the Fishermans Knife stamp on the blade of your knife and the ebay knives.
The following information is from "Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings", by John Goins and Charlotte Goins:
He says that George Woodhead & Son was sold to Thomas Ellin & Company about 1880. Ellin was taken over by Joseph Elliot & Sons about 1944. Elliot is still in business and they were using the Woodhead marking as late as 1953. Again, there is no mention of the Fishermans Knife stamp in Goins.
I would believe that your knife is from the original George Woodhead and is older than 1880.
The following is information from "Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740 - 2013", by Geoffrey Tweedale:
George Woodhead moved into the Howard St location in 1849. In 1851 he employed 20 men making pen, pocket, and table knives. In 1871 he employed 40 men. In 1876 the firm became George Woodhead & Sons and was listed as a specialist bowie knife maker in that year. In 1884 the firm became George Woodhead & Son again. George died on Feb 14, 1884. His son died the following year and his wife died in 1886.
Tweedale does say that the "GW*I over George Woodhead & Son" was acquired by Thomas Ellin and later by Joseph Elliot. He does not say whether or not the subsequent owners of the mark ever used it? There is also no mention of the Fishermans Knife stamp on the blade of your knife and the ebay knives.
The following information is from "Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings", by John Goins and Charlotte Goins:
He says that George Woodhead & Son was sold to Thomas Ellin & Company about 1880. Ellin was taken over by Joseph Elliot & Sons about 1944. Elliot is still in business and they were using the Woodhead marking as late as 1953. Again, there is no mention of the Fishermans Knife stamp in Goins.
I would believe that your knife is from the original George Woodhead and is older than 1880.
Dan
Re: George Woodhead Folder
Thankyou for the information. It's definitely an interesting knife. The snap on closing would put an alligator to shame although it is a nail breaker to open.
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
I looked forward to seeing the pictures of the G.W. knife as I have a couple of his knives and wanted to compare them.The ones I have are not much better than relic condition. After seeing the O.P.'s knife I am inclined to think it is of much later construction.
I base this on a couple of observations:the one being the stamp looks a bit more modern and the nail nick in the blade. The other example posted as is the two blade jack that I have use a match striker style of nail mark whereas the fish knife does not.The swedge on it is also a bit unusual.
In no way am I demeaning the O.P.'s knife;George Woodhead knives are hardly commonplace. I didn't even know that he made them until I got my first one. I also was not aware that his stamp was used after 1900.I'm going to have to get an updated copy of Goins book and a copy of Tweedale's. Here is a pic of my two knives and the tang stamps.
I base this on a couple of observations:the one being the stamp looks a bit more modern and the nail nick in the blade. The other example posted as is the two blade jack that I have use a match striker style of nail mark whereas the fish knife does not.The swedge on it is also a bit unusual.
In no way am I demeaning the O.P.'s knife;George Woodhead knives are hardly commonplace. I didn't even know that he made them until I got my first one. I also was not aware that his stamp was used after 1900.I'm going to have to get an updated copy of Goins book and a copy of Tweedale's. Here is a pic of my two knives and the tang stamps.
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
Ray, interesting observations. I apologize if I misread your post, but I have to respectfully disagree. I believe the OP knife is not a later knife. The OP knife does have a match striker pull, similar to your jack. The stamp on your jack is the one that Goins says was subsequently used by Thomas Ellin. One of the reasons I believe that the OP knife is an original George Woodhead is the use of the 36 Howard St address in the stamp.
I like the stamp on your old pruner. That stamp is not mentioned in either Tweedale's or Goins'. Actually, the stamp on the OP knife is not mentioned in either book either.
I like the stamp on your old pruner. That stamp is not mentioned in either Tweedale's or Goins'. Actually, the stamp on the OP knife is not mentioned in either book either.
Dan
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Re: George Woodhead Folder
No.you didn't mis-read my post Dan I mis-read the post! When I was looking at the pictures I was looking at the one that has the lanyard in the end and thought that was the O.P's knife!danno50 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 7:14 pm Ray, interesting observations. I apologize if I misread your post, but I have to respectfully disagree. I believe the OP knife is not a later knife. The OP knife does have a match striker pull, similar to your jack. The stamp on your jack is the one that Goins says was subsequently used by Thomas Ellin. One of the reasons I believe that the OP knife is an original George Woodhead is the use of the 36 Howard St address in the stamp.
I like the stamp on your old pruner. That stamp is not mentioned in either Tweedale's or Goins'. Actually, the stamp on the OP knife is not mentioned in either book either.
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