picked up this set of vintage silver forks with markings

[green papaya]

does anyone know any information about the makers of these silver forks? ever heard of Montana silver? ME ? when do you think these were made? are these from the Golden era?

I picked them up at the flea market for a dollar

they are marked

Montana silver ME

the guy said he thinks these came from an old mining camp or hunting lodge in Montana ?

 

[Tourbillion]

There is a listing for silverplate in a different pattern from Montana Silver at replacements.com.

These may be silverplate if they aren't marked sterling. They might not be miner's forks, but just from a silver company named Montana. Or the guy could be right, who knows?

 

[GOK]

Perhaps the E stands for Electroplated? As in EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver. Just a wild stab in the dark there.

My grandparents used to have cutlery similar to that when I was a child (proper silver ones for 'best' though!) and I always remember that one or two of the forks had begun to lose some of the silver, which made them taste odd. I used to swap mine with my grandmother's place setting!

ETA: Just found this - might be of some use to you:

http://www.925-1000.com/

 

[green papaya]

Montana silver ME

ME could be a property stamp ?

 

[GOK]

As in the owner's initials? Could be.