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Antique Silver Shell End Pistol Grip Knives (Set of 6) - Dru Drury, Gist & Sellick Family Crests - Josiah Gist, Samuel Gist
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Reference: S1978
Period: George II
Year: 1746-1777
Silversmith: Dru Drury II
Place: London
Price: $ 920.00
Weight: 466, but loaded and steel blades grams
Dimensions: 21.6 cm
Condition: Excellent, occasional small dent or scratch, all 6 securely fastened, blades sharp and well preserved.
Description: A rare set of 6 Shell End Pistol Grip table knives, made by the Drury Family, the pre-eminent family of haft makers in 18th Century London. The knives have pistol hafts with ornate shell ends, and the sabre or scimitar shaped steel blades are engraved "WARWICK 124 REGENT STREET", we assume the original retailer. They have a pleasing weight and feel in the hand, we really like these knives. Knives with steel blades have rarely survived in good condition, these are an exception. The handles are loaded, as is usual for knives, and each handle is engraved with a double family crest, described as "swans head and neck erased ermine collared gules between two palm branches vert" for Gist and "demi man proper holding in dexter hand chaplet vert and resting his sinister hand on a cross crosslet and belt sable" for Sellick, the engraving is clear on all 6. All 6 knives have 2 hallmarks, makers mark DD in script for Dru Drury II, and sterling lion passant, all the hallmarks are clear. Ian Pickford, in his book Silver Flatware, describes "the Drury family as particularly interesting haft makers", the father was fined GBP 100 in 1741 for using fake punches. The son, Dru Drury II, who made these knives, was freed in 1746, he was declared bankrupt in 1777 (Grimwade, page 495, mark 458), the bankruptcy caused by confidence tricksters who swindled him for GBP 7500, an enormous sum at the time. Dru Drury II was an interesting character, his main claim to fame is as one of the greatest entomological collectors of the day, he published extensively, and died in 1804. These knives probably belonged to Josiah Gist (formerly Sellick), born 1765, died 1834, he inherited Wormington Grange from his cousin Samuel Gist, with the proviso he took on the name and arms of Gist. This took place in 1815 and is recorded in the College of Arms. Samuel Gist made his fortune as a planter and slave owner in America prior to the War of Independence. Note - These knives are accompanied by a heraldic research report confirming the family crests.
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Antique Silver Shell End Pistol Grip Knives (Set of 6) - Dru Drury, Gist & Sellick Family Crests - Josiah Gist, Samuel Gist
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Pistol Grip antique silver knives
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Antique Silver Shell End Pistol Grip Knife
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Georgian silver table knives
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Shell end pistol haft silver knife
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Warwick 124 Regent street - silver steel knives
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Gist & Sellick Family Crest - Josiah Gist, Samuel Gist
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Dru Drury silver makers mark - hallmark
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Antique Silver Shell End Pistol Grip Knife with scale
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