French sodbuster

[Eustace]

Interesting French knife of a friend of mine. The tang stamp is very similar to Joseph Rodgers and son, but on the other side is 12c27(steel) and "made in France". Any suggestions?

[knife7knut]

Interesting that the G crown R mark was used on a French knife. If it were an English knife that would indicate that it could be either pre-1830(highly unlikely)or date from 1910 to 1952 when the last King George reigned. I would go with the latter. Looks like a well made sodbuster.

[kootenay joe]

12C27 is i believe a relatively recent stainless steel made by Sandvik.
kj

[Eustace]

All searches for a similar mark (two letters with a crown between them) lead to British producers with titles such as "cutlers of their majesty", the first letter of the respective monarch, and R is rex or regina. What is the connection of such a mark with France? The last king with G was George VI, who died in 1952. The knife is certainly the earliest since the 1980s because Sandvik patented 12C27 late 70s.

[kootenay joe]

Definitely a mystery at this point. G (crown) R does not show up in any of my knife books.
kj

[knife7knut]

Found it! There is a French website of maker's marks that list a G crown R mark as that of Victor Dolzome

[knife7knut]

Found it! There is a French website of maker's marks that list a G crown R mark as that of Victor Dozolme

[kootenay joe]

Right on Ray !
kj

[knife7knut]

Here is the mark.

[Eustace]

Well done, Ray! Thanks a lot!

[tendots]

https://www.coutellerie-pitelet.com/ma- ... -fermants/

[Eustace]

https://www.coutellerie-pitelet.com/ma- ... -fermants/

That's it! Thanks, tendots!