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Durham-Duplex Bringing Sheffield History to Blade Show Atlanta 2026
For centuries, Sheffield has been recognised across the world as the home of fine cutlery and master knife making. Generations of skilled craftsmen built the city’s reputation through innovation, artistry, and uncompromising attention to detail, creating knives that became treasured possessions across Europe and America alike. This June, Durham-Duplex will proudly continue that heritage at the Blade Show Atlanta 2026 from the 5th–7th of June at Booth 2316.
For collectors, enthusiasts, and lovers of traditional craftsmanship, Blade Show offers the perfect opportunity to experience two remarkable historical Bowie knives recreated using the same traditional skills and methods once practised by Sheffield’s legendary cutlers. These extraordinary pieces are far more than knives, they are reflections of history, craftsmanship, and the enduring legacy of British knife making.
The Eagle Head Bowie
Among the centrepieces of the exhibition will be the stunning Eagle Head Bowie, a historical design proudly bearing the famous Star and Cross trademark of Joseph Rodgers & Sons.
This exceptional knife has been produced using original traditional methods that mirror the techniques once used by the master craftsmen of Sheffield. Its blade is hand forged, carefully hand ground, and polished using traditional wheels dressed with bulls neck leather to achieve an extraordinary mirror finish. Every detail of the process reflects the patience, precision, and dedication that defined Sheffield craftsmanship during its golden age.
Within the original hand-drawn pattern books of Joseph Rodgers & Sons are many extraordinary designs listed under the title “Showroom Knives.” These pieces were created not simply as working tools, but as showcases of artistic and technical excellence — knives designed to impress visitors entering the famous Rodgers showrooms on Norfolk Street in Sheffield.
Standing before a piece such as the Eagle Head Bowie, it becomes easy to imagine those historic showrooms filled with polished ivory, pearl, exotic hardwoods, and mirror-finished steel. These knives represented the very best of Sheffield workmanship and helped establish Rodgers’ worldwide reputation for quality and prestige.
It is also easy to understand why Joseph Rodgers proudly carried the famous title:
“Knives For Kings — The King of Knives.”
The Half Horse Half Alligator Bowie
Also travelling to Atlanta is another iconic historical pattern — the legendary Half Horse Half Alligator Bowie knife.
Taken directly from the archives of George Wostenholm & Son, this genuine I*XL pattern carries the striking pommel known as “The Hunters of Kentucky.” The sand casting for this knife was taken directly from the original George Wostenholm steel dies, allowing another historic Sheffield pattern to return exactly as it would have appeared generations ago.
Created using the same age-old hand skills passed down through Sheffield for hundreds of years, the knife pays tribute to the strong historical connection between Sheffield cutlers and the American frontier. During the 1800s, George Wostenholm travelled extensively throughout America, where his Bowie knives became famous symbols of adventure, exploration, and frontier life.
Many original Wostenholm Bowies featured elaborate acid etched blades displaying patriotic slogans, hunting scenes, and stories inspired by American history. These details transformed the knives into highly collectible works of art as well as functional tools, admired for both their beauty and craftsmanship.
The Half Horse Half Alligator pattern remains one of the most distinctive and recognisable Bowie designs ever produced, and seeing it recreated using traditional Sheffield methods is a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Visit Durham-Duplex at Booth 2316
If you are attending the Blade Show Atlanta 2026 this June, we warmly invite you to visit Booth 2316 to experience these incredible knives in person.
From the craftsmanship of hand-forged steel to the rich stories carried within every historical pattern, these knives represent a living connection between Sheffield’s proud past and today’s collectors and enthusiasts around the world.
We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the knife making community and sharing a small piece of Sheffield history in Atlanta.
For more information on Durham-Duplex Bringing Sheffield History to Blade Show Atlanta 2026 talk to Durham-Duplex