Fish knives and forks were quite common at one time but are now rarely used.
Why were they necessary?
Wondering
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Dear Wondering,
The fish fork and knife were introduced during Queen Victoria’s time. Back then fish were served whole, including the head and tail, and the fish knife in particular served the purpose of assisting with deboning the fish before eating it.
Fish cutlery often were made of pure silver, as the fish, and particularly the lemon with which it was often served, reacted badly with the steel then used in cutlery, creating a distinctly unpleasant taste.
Anne