Pocket Knife - Hallmarks and Their Meaning

[NFR2024]

I am new at this but have figured out some of the hallmarks. I believe the NB identifies the maker's name as Nathaniel Bartlett from Concord, MA, but he is c. 1760 so it must be his future company?

One side has hallmarks: crown, lion, and B, indicating Sheffield, sterling, and 1944. If the maker is in Concord, MA, does the crown simply indicate the source of the silver is from Sheffield?

The other side of the knife is identical except it is missing the crown. What is the significance of this?

Thanks for any help!

[silvermakersmarks]

Hi and welcome to the forum

There is no American connection here. NB is the Sheffield (England) company Needham Brothers and the hallmark is Sheffield (crown mark) sterling silver (lion passant) with the date letter B for the assay year 1944/45.

The reason for the partial hallmark is simply that, although the knife is a single item, it is made from 2 pieces of silver, each of which must be hallmarked with at least one full hallmark across both parts.

Phil

[NFR2024]

I'm not sure I would have figured out the "Needham Brothers" maker on my own. I was able to find some information about them via a google search. Thanks for all the wonderful detail!