What is it?

[dartsil]

Hello all.

I wonder if anyone can say for certain what this item is?

It carried the makers mark of William Knight II and will date to around 1820

On first glance one would think its an apple corer , however the blade is straight and not curved like an apple corer, so then we think maybe a fruit knife but blade on either side is not sharp and there is no evidence of it having been sharpened , I dare say it could cut very soft fruit, if a fruit knife why of this design when folding examples were the norm and a lot handier to open than having to screw this one together.

Total length when screwed together is 102mm, length of blade 41mm.

Thanks in advance,
Colin

[AG2012]

Hi,
It was obvioussly meant to be suspended on chain; travelling fruit knife.
There are William IV knives of this form (screw).
If not sharp, I would find it very useful to peel an orange; always hated to start peeling it with fingernails. And oranges were expensive at the time, worth enough to be peeled with silver.
But somebody might appear with surprisingly different and logical answer. Let`s see.
Regards

[dartsil]

Thanks for your thoughts,

Nothing else being suggested so at the moment it is the leading contender, Thank you

Colin

[JayT]

An oyster knife?

[Truls J Tonsberg]

maybe an letter opener?

[Truls J Tonsberg]

Interesting English antique sterling silver soft fruit peeler