I have quite a few references to forks offered for sale in the 18th century, going back as far as 1736, IIRC. One or two are described as having silver handles, but they usually are just offered for sale as 'table knives and forks', or some such. Handles are described as stag, bone, buck, shambuck, horn ivory. Sometimes sheathes are mentioned.
An item in 1762 offers 'spoon forks'.
A 1773 item offers 'trade knives and forks'.
The problem is, we don't know what shape or type of forks they were talking about. It was in transition, but what were they like in 18th century? In the general history of the use of forks, it is usually stated that a change of form from 2-tine to 3-tine or even 4-tine took place in late 17th to mid-18th century, and at the same time the fork assumed some version of a curved shape rather than straight. T. Jefferson brought 3- and 4-tined silver ones from France in 1784.
An interesting item thought by some to be the first entry of forks, probably 2-tine, to England, from 1611.
In 1608, Thomas Coryate, son of the Rector of Odcombe, took the "grand tour" of Europe, and on his return published a narrative that included the Italian custom of eating with a fork. Thereafter, Coryate's friends jokingly called the young traveler Furciferus, "Pitchfork."
"I observed a custome in all those Italian Cities and Townes through which I passed that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels, neither doe I think that any other nation of Christendome doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian, and also most strangers that are cormorant in Italy, does alwaies at their meales, use a little fork when they cut the meate . . . their forkes being for the most part made of iron or steel, and some of silver, but these are used only by gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is because the Italian cannot endure by any means to have his dish touched by fingers, seeing that all men's fingers are not alike cleane. Hereupon I myself thought to imitate the Italian fashion by this forke cutting of meate, not only while I was in Italy, but also in Germany, and often-times in England since I came home."”¨Thomas Coryate, ”˜Coryat's Crudities’ (1611)
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