One clue (not necessarily a certain) to determine Sterling is to rub the piece with a clean, soft cloth. Even the cleanest of sterling will have some tarnish which will show on the cloth.

ML

Maddielee - I did think of that, and at first was relieved by the blackened area on the silver cloth; but then it occurred to me the areas within the filigree could have been darkened deliberately so I tried rubbing the wide flattened sides - nothing....

Solid Sterling silver is not magnetic. Stainless steel might be magnetic but it depends on what alloys were used in the manufacturing. If you have a strong magnet you could test it on the knife. Just remember that even sterling knives usually have stainless blades.

I believe knife blades started being made out of stainless in 1942, prior to that they were sterling.

My butter knives are all sterling and I believe that is usually the case. I have two sets of sterling (one inherited and from the early 20th c. and the other my wedding flatware from the 1970s) which both have the sterling butter knives. They are not hollow handles with stainless blades as are the dinner knives.

The butter knives that I have (Towle, made before 1970) have stainless blades.

Peegee, try leaving your knives out in the air for a few days, see if they tarnish. (I've heard jewelry makers speed up the tarnishing process by placing the piece in a jar with some sort of sulfar powder, or even a split open hard boiled egg???).

ML

Oh maddilee - I'll try the egg thing! I do wish though someone with this pattern would post if their sterling butter handle with stainless blade is marked anywhere....

Ah, semantics! I was talking about butter spreaders. :). Sorry.

Cyn - I don't think it matters - they would probably both have similar markings if they had any at all...

Oh, meant to add that it is a beautiful pattern, peegee. Your table must look lovely all set with it!

I would go to this page and inquire if they could tell you.
Maybe send them a photo of yours and ask is there should be any writing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Look here

Thank lyban! I had tried calling them over the weekend, but they said call back on Monday when knowledgable staff would be in - I got sooooo busy at work I didn't have a chance to call, but forgot about it anyway, and would not have remembered for tomorrow without your reminder - thanks!!!!!

My mom has Michelangelo in stainless. Could someone have switched out the sterling knives for stainless in your set?

marti-this one master butter is the one in question....I suspect the seller is trying to pass off a stainless knife at silver prices. I plan to take to a jeweler on my day off and have it tested. If not silver it will go back to the seller who insists it is not stainless. But...daughter's larger service just arrived (from elsewhere) and she reports the dinner knife handles are all marked silver and have that warm silver look, unlike this one!. Really was hoping someone with the master butter would have popped in to comment on whether their's is marked...or if someone knows if silver must by law be marked - you'd think it would be required....thanks for your comment!

The Michelangelo sterling silver master butter knife is marked "sterling handle stainless blade" on the blade. if it is not marked sterling, it is the stainless steel pattern.