OMG OMG OMG.... guess what I'm about to post?Probably my oldest blade atm. This Samuel Norris S:Norris stamp could make it as early as 1767. View attachment 938712 View attachment 938713 View attachment 938714
The "*P" mark, marks it as a Fox&Norris. There is absolutely no indication of any names on the blade or tangs (I've seen Sam Norris blades bearing his name, even with a *P, as well as a few with names of the Fox Brothers). By my estimate this could be as old as 1735 - 1738 when the oldest of the two Fox brothers and matthew norris were granted freedom (and possibly started using *P mark) or as late as the 1790s (when the last of the Fox's died the 'fox and norris' brand was no more).
At the very least - the strop/box was made by Crenet Fils, a parisian cutler who did work around 1800-