Help for my bowie knives

[varanus]

Can anyone tell me about this... Sorry for my englisch .great from austria

[ChuckBurrows]

The images aren't hi-quality enough for me to read the markings. If you would please type what the markings are that would help a lot in knowing what they are. I can read the EXL (=excel) but nothing else.

[varanus]

thank you. I make better photos

[varanus]

Now i have take a lot of photos in.

flickr.com
My Account is
sikia1969
In Album ... CivilWar
Think you

[varanus]

Now i have take a lot of photos in.

flickr.com
My Account is
sikia1969
In photostream
Think you
You find my Account under ... Personen suche!
In German

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

That is I-X-L, a good quality Sheffield brand.

Wilkommen Varanus.

[varanus]

That is I-X-L, a good quality Shefield brand

How old are this?

[Blair]

varanus,

Use your computer to do a search for "Sheffield Knives". "Wolstenholme" or "IXL"  both well known manufactures names of high quality knives and other types of cutlery from Sheffield, England.
There are many others, these are just two registered manufactures names of one manufacture that I can think of at this time.
Some of these companies have been in production for well over 2 hundred years now. And some still manufacturing knives.
The marking have changed over that time, so you have to research how these are marked to get an idea how old they might be.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[varanus]

varanus,

Use your computer to do a search for "Sheffield Knives". "IXL" or "Wolstenholme" are both well known manufactures of high quality knives and other types of cutlery from Sheffield, England.
There are many others, theses are just two that I can think of at this time.
Some of these companies have been in production for well over 2 hundred years.
The marking have changed over that time, so you have to research how these are marked to get an idea how old they might be.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair
thank you for all.i am collecting austrian swords. i dont know about american things.

[varanus]

Nobodyknows about this??

[ChuckBurrows]

Varanus - this is a complicated subject especially since you've got knives made by bonafide Sheffield England makers such as Wostenholm as well as German made Bowies. Time line wise the dates could be as early on some as the 1840's and others as late as the 1940's. Adding to the complications is that some of the knives are also knock offs of the prominent makers such as Wostenholm (knockoffs of his knives include using deliberately misspelled versions of Wostenholm such as Wistenholme and Wostenholme, etc. as well as variations on his trademark IXL) which were made by other English makers as well as those in Germany and Belgium - these are not necessarily "bad" knives but they were not made by the pre-eminent makers of the same time period and don't have the same value for collectors.
In order for me to give you all the facts it woud most likely take several hours of research both in the dozen books I have on Bowies as well as using the internet.
A good start would be to do an internet search using the names from the individual knives and see what info you gain. For books to begin with I suggest Norm Flayderman's "The Bowie Knife, Unsheathing and American Legend".
Another option is to contact Bernard Levine or other experts such as Flayderman on the subject. He has a forum here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/691-Bernard-Levine-s-Knife-Collecting-amp-Identification

as well as his own website:
http://knife-expert.com/appr-k.htm

There is also the Antique Bowie Knife Association http://www.antiquebowieknife.com/

as I noted it's not a simple subject but IMO well worth the effort to do the research since you appear to have some nice examples running the gamut of Bowie Knives from various makers.

[Blair]

ChuckBurrows,

Good reply to the original posting!

Varanus,

It is not the people don't know, or don't want to help you. It has to do with the little amount of information you have given us.
The photos you have offered (those I can see) are not clear enough to read very well, and are also up-side down.

Have you tried doing your own computer search?
Much of this info maybe in English, but most computers offer a "translation" choice.
My best,
Blair

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Don't forget St. George's post on makers names;

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,24719.0.html

[varanus]

 ;

Don't forget St. George's post on makers names;

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,24719.0.html

Thank you for all... I make better photos and take it here if i Can....

[varanus]

this are no knockoffs.....i am sure
Varanus - this is a complicated subject especially since you've got knives made by bonafide Sheffield England makers such as Wostenholm as well as German made Bowies. Time line wise the dates could be as early on some as the 1840's and others as late as the 1940's. Adding to the complications is that some of the knives are also knock offs of the prominent makers such as Wostenholm (knockoffs of his knives include using deliberately misspelled versions of Wostenholm such as Wistenholme and Wostenholme, etc. as well as variations on his trademark IXL) which were made by other English makers as well as those in Germany and Belgium - these are not necessarily "bad" knives but they were not made by the pre-eminent makers of the same time period and don't have the same value for collectors.
In order for me to give you all the facts it woud most likely take several hours of research both in the dozen books I have on Bowies as well as using the internet.
A good start would be to do an internet search using the names from the individual knives and see what info you gain. For books to begin with I suggest Norm Flayderman's "The Bowie Knife, Unsheathing and American Legend".
Another option is to contact Bernard Levine or other experts such as Flayderman on the subject. He has a forum here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/691-Bernard-Levine-s-Knife-Collecting-amp-Identification

as well as his own website:
http://knife-expert.com/appr-k.htm

There is also the Antique Bowie Knife Association http://www.antiquebowieknife.com/

as I noted it's not a simple subject but IMO well worth the effort to do the research since you appear to have some nice examples running the gamut of Bowie Knives from various T

[varanus]

www.flickr.com/photos/sikia1969/

[Camano Ridge]

Varanus, very nice collection. Some of those knives definetely look like originals. However it is irresponsible to try to give an age or appraisal based on pictures on the internet. To really find out a value you will need to have them looked at in person by a knowelagble person. However that does not mean you cannot find information on them. Look up each of the manufactures to get an idea of the date ranges of manufacture. Also check online auctions for similar knives. Here is some information on Wm Jackson & company Sheaf Island Works Shefield http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUK/Jackson,WM&Co/history/JacksonWm&Co-hist-01.asp.