Significance

This pocket knife is believed to have been used by an employee of the Bacchus family and possibly given to the employee by the Bacchus family. It is therefore an object with a probable linkage to one of the earliest European colonist families in the Bacchus Marsh area.

Physical description

A pocket knife with mother of pearl handle and a silver blade.

Inscriptions & markings

On the handle on one side there is an engraved decorative design featuring a bird, leaves and flowers. Along the middle of the handle there is a blank cartouche of silver, intended for the name of the owner. On the other side there are two engraved starbursts.
On the blade there are five hallmarks, a crown, a lion passant, head of Queen Victoria, letter G and the letters JM. The crown represents Sheffield. The lion passant indicates the knife was made in England, the image of Queen Victoria is a Duty Mark, the letter G indicates that the year of manufacture was 1850. JM indicates one of two manufacturers - JM or Mappin & Son.