Dartmoor WS Knife

[TeeDee]

I was was watching TV last night and First Blood came on - I thought , " I'll watch the first 30mins and then turn it off " - anyway.... after the end credits stared rolling it got me thinking about big 80s knives and at that exact point I remembered I have a WS Dartmoor blade ( sharpened) in the Shed-nuocopia of clutter.

Now i've looked and you can seemingly purchase all the required elements to make the knife complete - handle , tube , contents of tube , crappy scabbard.

But - and this question I guess is aimed at those who either have one in their collection or have had one - is it worth rebuilding as it was intended ? Yes , it would make the Knife "as was sold" but is it a case or , not worth doing?

I could just fashion some wood slab scales and ignore the desire to make it "as intended" if as intended wasnt all that much to write home about.

Interested in hearing peoples thoughts.

 

[CLEM]

Have you ever seen/read this TeeDee???

An 80s Revival: Surviving with the Dartmoor Knife

The Dartmoor Knife CSK185 is a redesign of the Wilkinson Sword Survival Knife. I headed to the woods with little else to see how this survival tool served me.

paulkirtley.co.uk

 

[TeeDee]

Have you ever seen/read this TeeDee???

An 80s Revival: Surviving with the Dartmoor Knife

The Dartmoor Knife CSK185 is a redesign of the Wilkinson Sword Survival Knife. I headed to the woods with little else to see how this survival tool served me.

paulkirtley.co.uk

Thanks Clem - reading it now!

 

[JonathanD]

Funny you should ask this. I’ve just been playing with mine. Personally I’d make it as intended. After the edge has been re profiled with a convex grind, it’s a neat little knife and a great chopper. You could just buy the handle and permanently fix it on with resin. Have you got the guard on yours or is it just the blade?

 

[Falstaff]

I remember the Ray Mears knife and how they changed it to make it more Rambo. The tang with a cut out looks pretty beefy, obviously strong enough in use, are there any really significant downsides to doing this?

Interesting article, but what it highlighted to me was my lack of plant knowledge, I would have starved!

 

[JonathanD]

CLEM and I are visiting Stu Mitchell in a couple of weeks. This was the one of the projects I’ll be discussing with him. I’m in two minds whether to get rid of the choil and the blade will have a bit more belly and angle down like the original. Full tang, g10 scales, with Stu’s secare style bolts. It will also have a small lanyard hole like the original too.



Not sure yet with to do it full flat as well.



The original handle will hold up fine against everything you can put it through at it on the Dartmoor. It was tested by Royal Marines over Dartmoor (hence the name) over quite a long period. And you know how hard bootnecks go on tools. But if you’re not going to use the survival aspect of it, I’d epoxy it on permanently. I personally like the shape and feel of the original Wilky survival handle. Although John Fenna will tell you that he broke that version a couple of times when he was reviewing them back in the day. The Dartmoor improved the design somewhat to make it stronger.

 

[CLEM]

Funny you should ask this. I’ve just been playing with mine. Personally I’d make it as intended. After the edge has been re profiled with a convex grind, it’s a neat little knife and a great chopper. You could just buy the handle and permanently fix it on with resin. Have you got the guard on yours or is it just the blade?View attachment 105076View attachment 105077View attachment 105078View attachment 105079View attachment 105080

One autumn day as young boys sitting on a giant old felled Elm tree oh how me n my mate The Alice absolutely poured over the Survival Aids catalogue at all the marvelous and wonderous pieces of kit within that we could never ever dream of ever owning , did we ever lust over this knife .

 

[JonathanD]

The old CEO of Wilkinson Sword has just been selling off his collection. Some rare stuff with prototypes, production samples etc. I managed to get a couple of rare bits including the original. Mint in box with all the paperwork etc. It’s a lovely bit of childhood memorabilia.

 

[CLEM]

The old CEO of Wilkinson Sword has just been selling off his collection. Some rare stuff with prototypes, production samples etc. I managed to get a couple of rare bits including the original. Mint in box with all the paperwork etc. It’s a lovely bit of childhood memorabilia.

View attachment 105083

Very nice indeed mate, all boxed and complete

 

[Forest fella]

I've owned 2 and just from a future selling view I'd restore it, As for using well it was about as heavy as a forklift.

 

[hughtrimble]

Reading Kirtley's review makes me want one, even know I am almost certain I wouldn't have the skills to use it suitably in such a situation!

 

[TeeDee]

Funny you should ask this. I’ve just been playing with mine. Personally I’d make it as intended. After the edge has been re profiled with a convex grind, it’s a neat little knife and a great chopper. You could just buy the handle and permanently fix it on with resin. Have you got the guard on yours or is it just the blade?View attachment 105076View attachment 105077View attachment 105078View attachment 105079View attachment 105080

I went out to check on the blade - and had a pleasant surprise!!

I thought I just had the blade blank - but I have the handle and the little tube survival capsule !
So i need to source or more likely fabricate a guard and a butt retainer pommel .

 

[Longstrider]

I went out to check on the blade - and had a pleasant surprise!!

I thought I just had the blade blank - but I have the handle and the little tube survival capsule !
So i need to source or more likely fabricate a guard and a butt retainer pommel .

I might be able to help you there fella I took a job a few years back to handle a number of Dartmoor blades, but the customer wanted guards ....
I ended up having to make my own broaching tool to make the correct hole through the brass we were using. If you decide to make a brass guard (broach would not work on steel) give me a shout. It's knocking around in the workshop somewhere still.

 

[CLEM]

I’ll look forward to the result

 

[TeeDee]

I might be able to help you there fella I took a job a few years back to handle a number of Dartmoor blades, but the customer wanted guards ....
I ended up having to make my own broaching tool to make the correct hole through the brass we were using. If you decide to make a brass guard (broach would not work on steel) give me a shout. It's knocking around in the workshop somewhere still.

Hello

Yep - not too sure what you mean ( not a knife maker....yet.. ) but if its what i think it is , yes please - let us have a chat if you can find it please.