Scientific Instruments > Drawing Instruments

Tortoiseshell and Steel Multi Blade Quill Knife by Rodgers, Sheffield.

Item#: SDI459

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Tortoiseshell and Steel Multi Blade Quill Knife by Rodgers, Sheffield. A Victorian quill/pen knife with three blades by Rodgers & Co made of tortoiseshell steel and ivory. This knife was used to make quills for writing. One blade was used to chisel and scrape the shaft making it smooth and thin. The second was used to split the bottom of the quill so that it would hold a small amount of ink, and to remove the edge and create a new one, once the old nib has been worn out. The third ivory blade was used as a letter opener. The tang of the wider knife is marked ‘Rodgers Cutlers to Her Majesty’. On the other knife the tang is marked ‘No. 6 Norfolk Street Sheffield’.