sgian-dubh hallmarks help

[AWKAYETHENOO]

first time post !

ive got a sgian dubh with hallmarks I would like to identify,
ive uploaded some pics but difficult to read

it has a few hallmarks

.lion rampant
.castle
.unreadable possibly a letter
.initials RR ( I think? )

any help would be greatly appreciated

cheers,
Steve.

[AWKAYETHENOO]

ive tried to capture the hallmarks as best I can....

[Tomo]

The lion rampant indicates this is Scottish silver. It was used in Glasgow from 1819 until the assay office closed in 1964 and in Edinburgh since 1975 when it replaced the thistle.

The castle (it should have three turrets) is Edinburgh.

Unfortunately the letter you can't identify is perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle as this (and the font used) will identify the year.

The initials RR are makers mark - maybe Robert Robertson or Robert Rankin.

[AWKAYETHENOO]

brilliant info Tomo, thank you!

& yes its a 3 turret castle

I did upload pictures but I can't see them, are they showing on your end ?

[AWKAYETHENOO]

this is the best imagine I can get...

[bookish]

brilliant info Tomo, thank you!

& yes its a 3 turret castle

I did upload pictures but I can't see them, are they showing on your end ?

Images uploaded need to be quite small. I resize to 100MB, I don't know if they need to be that small.

[AWKAYETHENOO]

hopefully this works ive reduced the image size..

[spr0k3t]

I did upload pictures but I can't see them, are they showing on your end ?

I believe you need to have a minimum number of posts to be able to upload pics. An alternate is to use a photo bucket from another site, then link to them here. Interested to see the pics of what you found for sure.

[Troglodyte]

first time post !

ive got a sgian dubh with hallmarks I would like to identify,
ive uploaded some pics but difficult to read

it has a few hallmarks

.lion rampant
.castle
.unreadable possibly a letter
.initials RR ( I think? )

any help would be greatly appreciated

cheers,
Steve.

Hallmarks are not as baffling as you might think, once you know how the system works. Each of the assay offices in the UK has its own identifying mark - castle for Edinburgh - and the letter is the year. The style of letter varies between upper- and lower-case fonts, in script, Roman or Gothic, and the shape of the stamp changes accordingly.

The marks as they can be seen in you photo show that the mounts on your sgian are sterling silver, and assayed in Edinburgh. The date stamp is too badly rubbed or indistinct to be sure, but Edinburgh used Roman caps from 1906-30, and script from 1931-55, and Gothic from 1956-73.

The maker's mark looks as if it could be RA for Robert Allison, who was producing good quality silver - including Highland dress accessories - during the mid-years of last century.

As for value of your sgian, a full-length photo of both front and back, and blade, is necessary, and certainty that the handle is carved wood or moulded resin. A good condition carved wooden handle sgian of pre-1970 in an unusual style might be worth as much £300 ($380us) to a serious collector, but I would work on about half that for your sgian.

Second hand silver items are priced at their scrap-metal value, plus what the item may have in terms of appeal to a collector. This is oftem much lower than you might think it ought to be worth, sadly.

[AWKAYETHENOO]

so many folk full of knowledge on the forum, thank you.

I will upload lots of pics,dimensions, blade etc im sure it will find a new home,
I did have it on eBay but only for a short time as it was classed as a prohibited item, but lots of interest and it was only live for a couple of hours

would £100 be a fair price you guys think ?