Replace a piece

Losing a fork should not mean replacing a service. This is how to work out what you own and find more of it.

Step one: find the mark

Turn a piece over and look at the back of the handle, near the end. Manufacturers stamp the brand there, and often the alloy. Common marks include the brand name alone, the alloy pair such as 18/10, or older marks like Community and Oneidacraft on mid-century pieces.

Step two: identify the alloy

If no alloy is stamped, use a magnet. A piece that grips firmly is 18/0. One that barely responds is 18/10 or 18/8. This matters more than the pattern for how the drawer will age, as the metal guide explains.

Step three: measure

Pattern names change across decades but sizes are stable. Measure the dinner fork end to end and note the tine count, then the teaspoon. Two patterns that look similar in a photograph are usually a quarter inch apart in the hand.

Step four: buy singles, not sets

The open stock section is single pieces and dozens. If the exact pattern is out of production, match the alloy and finish and accept a near miss on the handle; a consistent finish across the drawer reads better than a perfect pattern match in two different metals.