British and Commonwealth Military Knives
- wornoutwrench
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Not quite a pocket knife but here is an Australian combat knife from WW II. They ended up with Americans too. Its a bit out of line with my collecting.. wouldn't mind trading it for a nice old 5165 or similar.
Experience keeps a dear school but fools will learn in no other.
Not all who disagree with wise men are fools.
Not all who disagree with wise men are fools.
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Here is a Camillus made Canadian WWI knife. Orvet posted one similar in the Camillus subforum. Closed length is 5". It does not appear to have the regular broad arrow stamp, however, there are a couple dings in the marlin spike which may be a misstamping of the broad arrow (pic 3).
Dan
Dan
Dan
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Hit submit when I meant to add another photo. Showing the dings in the marlin spike which may be a mistamped broad arrow?
Dan
Dan
Dan
- Miller Bro's
- Gold Tier
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Alex K. wrote:M346; W.R. Case & Son made this pattern knife for Canada during WWII ....According to Mr. Flook's book : "The World War Two period US Navy knives were made by W.R. Case...between 1940 and 1942 and bore the mark CASE XX on the blade. The knives made by Case during the war for the Canadians carried the CASE XX METAL STAMPINGS LTD mark...The early POST-WAR Canadian made knives were produced between 1948 and 1949 by the Case subsidiary W.R. Case and Sons of Canada Ltd, Pictou, Nova Scotia. These knives bear the M.S. LTD XX mark."
Closed Length: 4 7/8 inches
1) Sheepfoot: 3 3/4 inches
2) Marlin Spike 4 inches
3) Punch Blade 1 5/8 inches
______
Alex
Here's the M.S. Ltd. Canadian Navy Knife. Paid $20 shipped for it off Ebay and it arrived today. Problem is, instead of leaving it up the buyer, the seller cleaned it a little too roughly. He used coarse steel wool or a wire brush, as scratches abound. He did an awful job, as the "punch" as you refer to it (I thought it was a can opener), bail, and spine of blade still have signs of rust. I didn't know this until arrival, but the backspring on the blade is cracked, but doesn't affect snap that much, but may be why the marlinspike is wobbly. Thanks for the info, I'd thought it was made during WWII, not after.
Marlinspike does an awesome job at what it's intended for--made quick work of a bootlace that was in a knotted mess. I won't be using it for anything other than that, it will be going into the collection. I'll get another British Navy Knife (I prefer those with the black checkered handles) to use, which was what I was doing when I came across this one. Like the electrician's pattern already has, the British Navy Pattern I presume will multiply quickly in my collection, as I plan to get another I can actually use. This one's too rare.
It's quite large compared to a Case electrician's knife
Closeup of "Broad Arrow" inside of the letter "C" stamp.
Sheepsfoot Blade:
Closeup of tang stamp:
Punch blade:
Marlinspike:
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
I'm a new member from Sweden and I thought I'd start out here with my only military issued knife so far, a British one made by W&S Butcher Sheffield.
It is marked as such and has a Broadarrow and 1943 but has no marlin spike.
They did a sloppy job when marking the blade but the knife is in decent shape for being over 70 years old.
I am not sure which forces they issued these knives to?
Thanks for looking!
Jim
It is marked as such and has a Broadarrow and 1943 but has no marlin spike.
They did a sloppy job when marking the blade but the knife is in decent shape for being over 70 years old.
I am not sure which forces they issued these knives to?
Thanks for looking!
Jim
- smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Hi Jim, Welcome on board. That's a nice example of a WWII British Army knife. There were a number of variation on this pattern. There were two piece patterns, like your knife, and three piece models with a marline spike. Some, especially earlier in WWII, had steel bolsters.
Rust Never Sleeps
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
smiling-knife, thank you for the welcome!
Do you happen to know to which units these two piece patterns were issued to? And why the two patterns? Was it simply the fact that they wanted a less expensive knife and omitted the marlin spike?
Nevertheless, I really like this one and it fits very well in my small Sheffield collection and I hope to expand that section when I can.
Have a great weekend!
Jim
Do you happen to know to which units these two piece patterns were issued to? And why the two patterns? Was it simply the fact that they wanted a less expensive knife and omitted the marlin spike?
Nevertheless, I really like this one and it fits very well in my small Sheffield collection and I hope to expand that section when I can.
Have a great weekend!
Jim
- smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Hi Jim, No sorry I don't know about the specific units. I think they were widely distributed. This is the three piece version.
Hope you have a great weekend too.
Hope you have a great weekend too.
Rust Never Sleeps
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Thanks for sharing!!smiling-knife wrote:Hi Jim, No sorry I don't know about the specific units. I think they were widely distributed. This is the three piece version.
Hope you have a great weekend too.
As a former Naval officer I have a thing for Navy items and I might, eventually, focus my collecting on such knives. For now, I'm just a hoarder!
Jim
- smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Hi Jim, As you mentioned Navy knives, these are the standard British Navy patterns from WWI and WWII respectively. The WWI era knife is the Admiralty pattern 301 and was in service from 1910 to the 1930s. In the 1930s they went from stag to metal alloy handles. The pattern evolved and became smaller in WWII.
Rust Never Sleeps
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Now I'm smiling too Mr smiling-knife!
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
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
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
I posted this one in "General Knife Discussion" but I think it would feel right at home here also.
"There are none so blind as those that refuse to see"
God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
tjmurpjy, it is awesome!! Congratulations on a great find!tjmurphy wrote:I posted this one in "General Knife Discussion" but I think it would feel right at home here also.
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Jim
- smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Yes, nice Wostenholm. Thanks for adding it to the thread.
Rust Never Sleeps
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Do you know if this knife is common or not? This is the very first one I've seen in all my searches.
"There are none so blind as those that refuse to see"
God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
- smiling-knife
- Posts: 3365
- Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:39 pm
- Location: Bedford, UK
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
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!
Rust Never Sleeps
- smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Hi Jim, Ron Flook's book British and Commonwealth Military Knives is an excellent resource.sakoblade wrote:Now I'm smiling too Mr smiling-knife!
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
Rust Never Sleeps
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Thanks a lot! Will try to find it ASAP!smiling-knife wrote:Hi Jim, Ron Flook's book British and Commonwealth Military Knives is an excellent resource.sakoblade wrote:Now I'm smiling too Mr smiling-knife!
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
Have a great weekend!
Jim
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
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.
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.
- jerryd6818
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
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.
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.
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
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
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
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.
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.
Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives
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.
Regards,
Georgi
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.
Regards,
Georgi