WH Wragg

The cutler's name W.H. Wragg is synonymous with the form of travel cutlery in which the handle of one implement forms the sheath of the other. The two parts slide together to make a compact bar that is easily packed with the steel blade of the knife and the tines of the fork protected. Sets made with square handles of either rosewood or ebony with pewter banding are invariably stamped W.H. Wragg Patentee to the knife blade. Often corresponding numbers are stamped to the wood to identify pairs where more than one set is owned.

Whether Wragg actually took out a patent is unknown. It was not uncommon for manufacturers to mark their work as patented even if it wasn't to offer some degree of protection. There is little variation in the make of cutlery stamped W.H. Wragg Patentee suggesting that it was all made in the same workshop or by the same family as opposed to being licensed to other makers. A similar design cutlery set, but often smaller in size, is known to have been made in Europe in the early 19th Century. Whether these sets were Wragg's inspiration, or they followed his design has not been established.

Little is known of WH Wragg except that he was from Sheffield. It seems that a number of cutlery makers were interwoven with each other in the city during the first half of the 19th century. It is possible that W.H. Wragg (or a family member) was involved in the business Thorpe, ... show more

The cutler's name W.H. Wragg is synonymous with the form of travel cutlery in which the handle of one implement forms the sheath of the other. The two parts slide together to make a compact bar that is easily packed with the steel blade of the knife and the tines of the fork protected. Sets made with square handles of either rosewood or ebony with pewter banding are invariably stamped W.H. Wragg Patentee to the knife blade. Often corresponding numbers are stamped to the wood to identify pairs where more than one set is owned.

Whether Wragg actually took out a patent is unknown. It was not uncommon for manufacturers to mark their work as patented even if it wasn't to offer some degree of protection. There is little variation in the make of cutlery stamped W.H. Wragg Patentee suggesting that it was all made in the same workshop or by the same family as opposed to being licensed to other makers. A similar design cutlery set, but often smaller in size, is known to have been made in Europe in the early 19th Century. Whether these sets were Wragg's inspiration, or they followed his design has not been established.

Little is known of WH Wragg except that he was from Sheffield. It seems that a number of cutlery makers were interwoven with each other in the city during the first half of the 19th century. It is possible that W.H. Wragg (or a family member) was involved in the business Thorpe,

Wragg & Yeomans who were likely to have been born out of Thorpe, Turner & Co. with both companies listed in Orchard Street. When Yeomans left the partnership in 1823 the business became Thorpe, Wragg & Co and were based at 10 Carver Street. The two principals at that point were George Wragg and William Thorpe and they continued together until 1831.

Wragg was quite a common Sheffield name and it is difficult to pinpoint W.H. Wragg's dates. It could be that he was a fore father of George (who may have benefitted from the patent) or a later generation. We have had one set of his cutlery which was stamped both W. H. Wragg's Patent to the knife and Thomas Turner to the fork. Given Thomas' involvement in the company of Thorpe, Turner & Co. which became Thorpe, Wragg & Yeomans it would seem that Wragg and Turner had a connection.

Thomas Turner went on to establish a business at the Suffolk Works that grew throughout the 19th century to become fairly large. As well as manufacturing, they also retailed and so may have bought items, such as Wragg's cutlery, in.

There were a number of different Wraggs working as cutlers in Sheffield. Most probably worked as cottage industries or family concerns. Others such as John Wragg & Son and Wragg Brothers developed into larger businesses. It is possible most were related to each other and Wraggs continued to make knives in Sheffield well into the 20th century.

Some examples of Wragg cutlery were also marked 'Emigrant Knife' and this was likely to capitalise on the great movement of people to California and Australia chasing the gold rushes of the mid 19th century. We have also seen two sets stamped Perry & Co. who presumably retailed them. This is likely to be James Perry's company (listed separately in Makers) formed in Manchester in 1824 to make and supply dip pens.

Wragg's design (if indeed he was the originator) of this type of travel cutlery was used by a number of English, French and German makers through the 19th and into the early 20th century. Later examples tend to have rounded handles, and are not marked Wragg Patent, but earlier sets are also seen. As mentioned above, they tend to be smaller in size with inset ivory, bone, horn, tortoise shell or wood to the grips. Examples in silver are also known. The names of other makers seen on this design of cutlery include F. Ashman & Co., Dodworth, Hill, Riviere, Rodgers, Schulder, Temple and Williamson.

As yet we do not have precise dates for W.H. Wragg or the length of time his patent was stamped to cutlery but it would seem it was made for quite a long period in the 19th century. It is known that Wragg also produced a variety of other folding knives some of which were also stamped Sheffield, a city famous for its cutlery.