| You might have seen a store with the $500 | | | | spoons than dinner size. |
| 5-piece place setting. Or a store with $150 place | | | | Continental teaspoons tend to be the same as |
| setting. Relax, for a start you do not have to pay | | | | American standard sizes. (For example, in the |
| such a price yet. Start small, and slowly you can | | | | popular Wallace Grand Baroque pattern the knife |
| build up a very large collection of Wallace La Reine | | | | sizes are - L: 9", D: 9 3/4", C: 10 5/8".) Almost all |
| flatware entirely through eBay. | | | | the listings for collections and single place setting |
| This article will note a few things you need to | | | | you see on eBay will be for luncheon size, not |
| know regarding knives and forks in two different | | | | dinner size flatware. Dinner size is much rarer, and |
| sizes. The examples and size used are specifically | | | | thus more expensive. |
| to the Wallace La Reine pattern. | | | | You must know the dimensions of the pieces in |
| Dinner Size vs. Luncheon or Place size | | | | your pattern and be sure you are bidding on what |
| The main knives and forks in most patterns | | | | you want; sometimes you may have to ask the |
| come in two different sizes: The dinner size and | | | | seller for measurements. Some patterns (rarely) |
| luncheon size which is also called "place" size. The | | | | come in different weights and have an M |
| dinner forks or knives are usually around a half an | | | | ("Massive" - the heaviest), H ("Heavy") and there |
| inch longer than the luncheon size. However, they | | | | are also lighter "Trade" and "Extra" weights. Of |
| are substantially heavier than that extra half an | | | | cause, the rarer it is, the more expensive it |
| inch would indicate. Few patterns come in | | | | becomes. |
| Continental size, but it is very rare and refers to | | | | In the next article, I will talk about French blade v |
| the overall larger size and longer length of | | | | modern blade knives and difference between a |
| flatware that is popular in Europe. It is also | | | | discontinued patterns and patterns that are still |
| marked by larger dinner forks, knives, and soup | | | | been manufactured. |