Joseph Close
Joseph Close (1791-1868) was born at Heeley – probably the son of John (a cutler) and Amelia. Joseph was listed in directories between 1828 and 1845 as a spring knife manufacturer in Broad Street Lane, Park. His name has been found on a distinctive folding dirk with unusual pearl-hafted crossguard (over 9-inches when closed). An identical knife unfortunately has no markings, but is likely to have been made by the same cutler (information courtesy of Mark Zalesky). In 1841, Close was living in Br....
