How Do I Know If My Old Cutlery Is Sterling Silver and Where Can I Sell It?
Old flatware shows up everywhere. Tucked in drawers. Wrapped in cloth at estate sales. Inherited from grandparents. Sometimes it's sterling silver worth actual money. Most of the time it's silver-plated and worthless for scrap.
People ask how do I know if my old cutlery is sterling silver and where can I sell it all the time. The answer starts with checking hallmarks and ends with finding a buyer who processes precious metals.
Look for the Marks First
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% copper for strength. That ratio never changes. Real sterling pieces almost always have marks stamped somewhere on them.
Flip the flatware over and check the back of handles. Look near where handles meet the fork tines or spoon bowls. Most sterling shows "925," "Sterling," or "Ster" stamped right there. Older British pieces might have a lion passant symbol instead of words.
No mark doesn't automatically mean fake, but it makes things harder. Some very old pieces have marks that wore off over decades of use and polishing. Others were made before consistent hallmarking became standard practice.
Simple Tests That Work
Grab a magnet from the refrigerator. Sterling silver isn't magnetic at all. If the magnet sticks to the cutlery, it's plated or made from something else. This test takes five seconds and eliminates a lot of confusion.
Weight tells the story too. Pick up sterling silver and compare it to regular stainless steel flatware. The difference is obvious. Sterling feels substantially heavier in hand because silver is denser than the metals used in cheap flatware or plated pieces.
Real sterling tarnishes. It develops gray or black discoloration over time that polishes off without damaging anything. Silver plate tarnishes differently—it can flake or show a completely different colored metal underneath where the thin coating wore through. That's the base metal showing itself.
Some people tap sterling to hear the sound it makes. It rings clear, almost like a small bell. Stainless steel or plated pieces sound duller. It's subtle but noticeable once someone knows what they're listening for.
Silver Plate is Not the Same Thing
Here's what matters: Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners does not accept silver-plated cutlery at all. The silver content is too minimal to process.
Silver plate has marks like "EPNS" (that stands for electroplated nickel silver), "A1," "AA," or "Sheffield Plate." These pieces have an incredibly thin layer of silver electroplated over base metal. The actual silver might be a few microns thick. Refiners can't extract enough silver from plated items to make processing worthwhile.
Anyone who inherited boxes of flatware marked EPNS should know upfront those pieces have no scrap value. They might sell as vintage décor or at antique shops if the pattern is desirable, but precious metals refiners won't take them.
Getting Verification
Local jewelers who buy precious metals can verify whether cutlery is actually sterling. Many will check marks and do basic testing at no charge, especially if they're potentially interested in buying.
For pieces with maker's marks from established manufacturers—or complete matching sets in decent condition—an antiques dealer or auction house might see value beyond basic scrap. Pattern, age, and condition all factor into those assessments.
Knowing total weight helps with any sale. Keep in mind that kitchen knife blades usually contain steel even when handles are sterling, so blade weight doesn't count toward precious metal content.
Where Sterling Silver Cutlery Actually Sells
Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners processes sterling silver cutlery along with other precious metal materials. The company evaluates pieces based on actual silver content. This works well for straightforward scrap sales where the goal is converting metal to cash rather than hunting for collectors.
Local jewelers and silver buyers offer another route. They typically provide quick transactions for sellers who want immediate payment.
Auction houses and antique dealers make sense when flatware carries notable maker's marks or forms complete matching sets. These venues can return more than scrap value when the right buyers show interest.
Online marketplaces exist for anyone willing to photograph items, write detailed descriptions, and wait for buyers. This takes more time and effort but sometimes works for complete sets or pieces with collector appeal.
For mismatched pieces, damaged flatware, or partial sets without particular historical interest, selling for precious metal content is more efficient than trying to find specialty buyers who care about patterns and manufacturers.
What Actually Determines Value
Weight and silver content drive most values. Heavier pieces contain more recoverable silver. The 92.5% composition stays consistent across all genuine sterling.
Certain factors can add premium over base scrap value. Maker's marks from recognized manufacturers, complete matching sets in good condition, rare patterns—these sometimes command higher prices from collectors. But pieces in rough shape or incomplete collections typically sell based on their silver content and nothing else.
Market conditions for precious metals change constantly. Refiners base evaluations on current conditions and actual metal content.
Clean or Not Clean Before Selling
Basic cleaning makes sense. Get dust and surface grime off so buyers can examine pieces properly. But don't go overboard with aggressive polishing. That can reduce value for older items by removing patina or blurring the hallmarks buyers need to see.
Professional silver buyers and refiners work with tarnished pieces every day. They factor condition into evaluations without needing everything polished to perfection first.
What to Do Next
Start by determining whether old cutlery qualifies as sterling silver. Check for hallmarks. Test basic properties like magnetism and weight. Get professional confirmation if marks are unclear or missing.
Once authenticity is confirmed, deciding where to sell depends on what the pieces are. Mismatched flatware or damaged pieces usually sell best as scrap based on silver content. Complete sets with desirable maker's marks might warrant exploring antique or collector markets first.
Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners works with individuals and businesses selling sterling silver cutlery and other precious metal materials. The company evaluates based on actual metal content and provides processing for various precious metal forms. But only genuine sterling—not silver-plated items under any circumstances.
For anyone discovering sterling silver flatware in an estate, storage unit, or family collection, properly identifying what's there prevents wasted trips hauling worthless plated pieces to refiners who can't accept them anyway.