British and Commonwealth Military Knives

A place to discuss & share pictures of military related knives and tools. Conversation relating to objects of war and peace from all eras welcome.
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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

Yes, nice Wostenholm. Thanks for adding it to the thread. :-)
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tjmurphy
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

Do you know if this knife is common or not? This is the very first one I've seen in all my searches.
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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

I've seen a few but they are rarer than some of the common patterns shown earlier. You did well to find that one. Congrats!
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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

sakoblade wrote:Now I'm smiling too Mr smiling-knife! :D

Thanks for the pics and the history! I will certainly keep looking for British knives but they are not easy to find over here.

By the way, is there any good reference litterature out there?

Cheers!

Jim
Hi Jim, Ron Flook's book British and Commonwealth Military Knives is an excellent resource. :-)
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sakoblade
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by sakoblade »

smiling-knife wrote:
sakoblade wrote:Now I'm smiling too Mr smiling-knife! :D

Thanks for the pics and the history! I will certainly keep looking for British knives but they are not easy to find over here.

By the way, is there any good reference litterature out there?

Cheers!

Jim
Hi Jim, Ron Flook's book British and Commonwealth Military Knives is an excellent resource. :-)
Thanks a lot! Will try to find it ASAP!

Have a great weekend!

Jim
mac657
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by mac657 »

Hello all,

I've just received this Wostenholm knife from my father. It belonged to his father who served in the British army during WW2 with the Royal Engineers.

My limited research would indicate that it is a Canadian knife, which would be possible as he served alongside the Canadians in 30 corps in NW europe, is that right ?

Also, what is the number stamp on the marlin spike for ? My initial thought was that it is a soldiers service number.

Thanks for looking,

Mac.
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jerryd6818
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

Welcome to AAPK Mac. I have very little expertise regarding British Commonwealth military knives.

Do you see a MoD ownership stamp on it anywhere (see image below). I think you're on to something Re: the service number. It appears to be stamped with individual hand stamps. The two I have are stamped with the year (1943) and the MoD broad arrow on the main blade tang.
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CommonwealthGovernmentOwnershipMark.jpg
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by mac657 »

Thanks for looking and reminding me Jerry !

I did mean to say that there is not an MOD 'crows foot' on it, although i believe this was not that unusual ?

I'm going to post on a WW2 forum that i use regarding the possible service number.

Mac.
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Eustace
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Eustace »

As far as I know, until 1964, the British Army and Navy are separate structures. The knives ordered by the army are stamped with arrow and year on the blade or the can opener, and the knives ordered by the admiralty are stamped with number on marlin spike.
Another thing I've read somewhere is that the knives ordered by the navy never have a can opener because the ships have a galley, and the sailors have not given cans.
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Eustace
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Eustace »

My British army knives
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

I just scrolled through the thread and discovered I haven't posted my BAK's and Fairbairn Sykes. The India BAK I did post went to a new home in a POS roundtable and now I regret that decision. The things we do out of ignorance.

Both are 1943. One with the marlin spike, the other without.
British Army Knife 1943 - Two Blade.JPG
British Army Knife with Marlin Spike 1943 - Pile Side.JPG
This Fairbairn Sykes, nine ring "rings and beads" is a scarce edition, made even more so because most were private purchase and this one has the MoD broad arrow and inspectors stamp, meaning it was a government purchase and issued. There is another one with six rings that is even more scarce. In fact it's so rare the even pictures of it are rare.
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F-S Bead & Ring.jpg
fs01.jpg
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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tjmurphy
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

Were ALL British military issued knives marked with the broad arrow or inspection/serial number?
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

tjmurphy wrote:Were ALL British military issued knives marked with the broad arrow or inspection/serial number?
The "Broad Arrow" (sometimes called "crow's foot") is a mark used by the British government from at least the 17th century to designate government ownership. Read the "Use for British Government property" section on Wikipedia ---> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow

The Inspector's number seems common on WWII F/S knives but I don't recall seeing it on BAK folders but then I've only seen a few of those. As for "serial number", are you referring to the service member's serial number?
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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tjmurphy
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

This is the knife I am wondering about. It has the earmarks of WWII issue: black, checkered plastic handles, all steel construction and bird's-eye rivot with no bolsters, same build features as the WWII knives posted. Think it's WWII issue or post WWII civilian sales? No broad arrow stamping.
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

T.J. it just hit me you already know all that stuff I posted. I apologize for treating you like a newbie. ::facepalm::

Compare the handle material to that of the ones you already have. Does it look the same? It's just from a picture but I'm thinkin' no. Plus, no crow's foot would mark it as post WWII civilian sales? Until proved otherwise, I'm going with that.

Where's Iron Hoarder or smiling-knife when ya need 'em?
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

Only have one other British WWII knife and it is a different breed of cat. Not a knife at all but a lineman's knife with slick handles. I'm kind of inclined to go along with the post WWII, but don't know how "post" it is. Yeh, where's those Brits when ya need 'em?? Maybe they're from across the channel :lol:
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Treasure Trawler »

Can any of you guys educate me on this pocket knife? I know it was only made between 1914-1916 but I can’t seem to find anything that says if it was used during WW1. No arrows or serial numbers on knife. There is an “R” Appreciate the help.
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cottage hill bill
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by cottage hill bill »

That is a maker I haven't seen before but it certainly fits the 6353/1905 pattern. It is pretty common to find them unmarked. Some have the soldier's service number, a few have the broad arrow usually on the marlin spike. The exception seems to be the Canadian knives. I have several Camillus and Schatt & Morgans and the majority of those have the C/|\ on the spike.

Now I'll have to go look through them and see what the balance. Most of the Boer War era knives I have has a service number burned into the scales.
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Eustace
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Eustace »

The photos are from a Bulgarian online trading site. The manufacturer is clear. What is this knife and why there is a British military mark? It looks more like a kitchen than a military knife.
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cottage hill bill
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by cottage hill bill »

It most likely is a kitchen knife. The broadarrow /|\ is the British government property mark. It was used by all branches of the government, not just the military. However, the military did use kitchen knives. Feeding soldiers is a big part of the military. I have a nicely marked meat cleaver. Given that there were British troops in Greece and the Balkans during WWII it wouldn't surprise me to see it turn up in Bulgaria. Looks like a nice, useful knife.
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Eustace
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Eustace »

cottage hill bill wrote:It most likely is a kitchen knife. The broadarrow /|\ is the British government property mark. It was used by all branches of the government, not just the military.
Thank you, CHB! This is new for me, I thought, that this is a military stamp. I have some British Army pocket knives with the same markings.
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by cottage hill bill »

Yes, the stamp means it belongs to the government, and since the military is a part of the government, you get the idea. Two arrows stamped point to point was the mark that meant it had been released from government service, for instance sold off as surplus.
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Not sure if this is a military issue knife but I have seen one posted somewhere and I can't remember where.
Marked C.J.(Christopher Johnson)in a flag Western Works Sheffield on one side and Hand Forged England on the other. No sheath. Paid $30 for it at a yard sale today. Seems to be in decent shape. Anyone have any info on it? Nothing in the books I have.
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cottage hill bill
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by cottage hill bill »

Just about all the big British cutlers jumped on the Fairbairn-Sykes band wagon during and after the war. British officers had to purchase their own gear so there was a much bigger market for "private purchase" items than in the US army. Nowill, Rodgers and several others offered knives with a FS style blade and either stacked leather washer (like yours) or bone/stag handles. Yours appears to have been liberally sharpened and maybe repointed in its life. These knives carried on post war being offered as hunting knives so could date anywhere from the 40s to the 60s.
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by sailingmaster »

I have had this knife for most of 60 years. My mother gave it to me and said it was from my stepfather and he used it in WWII. He died due to food poisoning and he just made it back to Canada before he died. It is marked on the can opener with “L.D. (arrow pointing up) followed by “218”.
Beside that is another mark at 135 degrees to the first reading “H.O. 44” Th “O” is slightly missing at the top and so it could be a “U”. Unlike a lot of the pictures posted under this heading, the rivets are not very noticeable. Also unlike other knives shown, there doesn’t appear to be any markings at the base of the main blade or anywhere on the marlin spike. Anyone have any info on this knife?
I would like to give it a good cleaning. There is rust deposit in the slots and the checking is compacted with foreign material in several places. Is there a best method of cleaning and lubricating the knife? It is difficult to swing the blade and can opener to the open position. The marlin spike is easier to open.
Thanks for your knowledge and advice.
Hunter
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