All,
Awhile back I picked up a rather unusually large butcher knife at a southern Ohio antique store. I’d never seen a butcher this large so I had to add it to my collection of original similar knives. What better place to inquire about this knife than here.
The blade length is 14.5 inches, overall length is 21 inches. Maker is ‘Worth’. Apparently Worth cutlery started out around 1870 and was primarily a big razor manufacturer.
Stamped on Blade (as it appears):
WORTH
SHEAR STEEL B. WORTH AND SONS
CUTLERS, SHEFFIELD
ENG.
As you can see (revolver added to photo only as a reference for size) this knife is rather large. The 6 pin handle is proportionately large to the blade so from a distance it looks like a normal butcher knife. But when I pick it up I feel like a 7 year old holding a normal sized butcher.
I’m not sure why the heck it was made so large and have no documentation indicating what the purpose of such a large knife was. I can only figure it was a salesman’s example or something for a trade show, or more likely intended for commercial application like meat cutting at a slaughter house. Maybe it was something intended to be a trade knife? All of this is pure conjecture and I hope you guys may know the facts.
If anyone here can assist with facts/documentation on this knife I’d appreciate it. Though opinions are welcomed if you have documentation please cite sources as it’s always valued and appreciated.
YMH&OS,
Brass