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Vintage & Antique Silver Hip Flasks

Sterling Silver Hip Flasks — no two quite the same, with prices starting around £450.
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Hip flasks are genuinely individual — there’s no standard size or design, so no two are quite alike. Some have a ‘bayonet’ fastener, which stops the cap getting lost if you’re out in the field, and many come with an integral cup that slides off the base. Flasks with the cup are generally the most desirable, both for the extra weight of silver and the fact that they’re built for sharing. Every piece is hallmarked, guaranteeing the silver content under UK law.

At a Glance

No two are quite alike — no standard size or design
Bayonet fastener stops the cap getting lost
Integral cup (slides off the base) is the most desirable feature
Prices start around £450 in sterling silver
Occasional silver-plated or pewter examples, when the design earns it

Style & Maker History

The silver hip flask dates to the 18th century, though genuinely early examples are rare; demand grew substantially through the 19th century, with sterling silver becoming the most sought-after material over glass or pewter. Most take a slightly curved form to sit against the body, finished with a bayonet twist-lock cap and a removable cup doubling as a lid. Engine-turning — a fine, machine-engraved crosshatch pattern — is the decoration most associated with the category, and a plain cartouche was often left deliberately blank for the owner’s own initials. Silver-mounted glass flasks, sometimes leather-covered, were just as common as solid silver. Popularity rose sharply again during American Prohibition in the 1920s and flasks have stayed a popular gift ever since. James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield and Sampson Mordan & Co. are among the makers whose flasks appear regularly.

Buyer's Guide

Prices for sterling silver hip flasks usually start around £450. We occasionally have silver-plated examples, and very occasionally a pewter one if the design earns its place. If you’re deciding between two flasks, the integral cup is worth paying attention to — it’s the detail that separates a purely practical flask from one built for sharing a drink with company.

A few things to know

Any item which is guaranteed to be over 100 years old.
Sterling Silver is guaranteed by the UK Hallmarking Act. Each piece is independently verified and assayed for the purity of silver content.
Yes, all of the items shown on our website are available to view at our showroom in The London Silver Vaults.
Looking after your silverware is a simple process. We have put together a guide at https://johnsurtees.co.uk/knowledge/how-to-clean-silver-care-guide/