Do You Know What This Is? Bit fun for a Sunday afternoon
- Thread starter Blundstoned Love
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I think it might be an aircrew survival knife of 1950's era. Later ones had metal sheath.
Do I win £5.00?
Do I win £5.00?
yep thats something like i was thinking. metal sheath rings a bell, got a blunt nose recurve blade in my head though
Yes, a pal of mine who is ex RAF has the knife you describe. It was for cutting straps, harness etc in event of bailout. The handle on this one is pretty much identical.
Yep, the more I look at that the more convinced I am that it's a Scouting sheath knife from the early '60's, if I remember correctly the side of the blade you show had "The Bushman's Friend" engraved on it, but so lightly that it never lasted beyond the first camp before wearing off.
OK. Don't want to milk it, so time for the reveal.
It is, I believe an Auxiliary Unit Knife.
Made by Joseph Rodgers of Sheffield - were they linked to William Rodgers?
It is, I believe an Auxiliary Unit Knife.
Made by Joseph Rodgers of Sheffield - were they linked to William Rodgers?
Yes Randal's a manufacturer of custom and semi-custom knives. Particularly popular with troops in the Vietnam War.
Yup it's a Auxilary Unit knife,
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/edged-weapons/british-aux-unit-knife-363854/
see Also Ron Flooks seminal British And Commonwealth Militartr Knives page 229
Theres a almost identical one (see link) except the blade has been cut down made by Paulsons also of Sheffield with AU provenance. Unfortunately because of the nature of the AU there's no paper trail for them. A rare beast in deed.
it wasn't unusual for Sheffield firms to use the same stock parts but the fact that very similar knives are coming up with AU connections makes it sound like some sort of informal contract was put out based on a commercial pattern and several makers were roped in to full fill a rush order. The AU were set up years before there was FS to dish out and a civilian item would have been easier to explain away than a issue one. Not that that have done much good if the Gestapo had picked you up walking around town with it hidden in your sock...
Nice, any family history to it or did they keep schtum like most AU recruits?
ATB
Tom
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/edged-weapons/british-aux-unit-knife-363854/
see Also Ron Flooks seminal British And Commonwealth Militartr Knives page 229
Theres a almost identical one (see link) except the blade has been cut down made by Paulsons also of Sheffield with AU provenance. Unfortunately because of the nature of the AU there's no paper trail for them. A rare beast in deed.
it wasn't unusual for Sheffield firms to use the same stock parts but the fact that very similar knives are coming up with AU connections makes it sound like some sort of informal contract was put out based on a commercial pattern and several makers were roped in to full fill a rush order. The AU were set up years before there was FS to dish out and a civilian item would have been easier to explain away than a issue one. Not that that have done much good if the Gestapo had picked you up walking around town with it hidden in your sock...
Nice, any family history to it or did they keep schtum like most AU recruits?
ATB
Tom
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Sounds like mine, which I dug out last night for the first time in years; except mine has rosewood scales fixed with brass pins. They are very small and boxy, I think to suit a young boys hands. I'll get a pic of mine up later when I get home, but I'd be really intrigued to see a photie of your one as well.
After a bit of reading last night, provoked by this thread, it seems that this blade pattern was very common to a lot of mid century Sheffield makers, (the blanks perhaps even coming from one place), and were handled and sheathed to be sold for many different purported purposes such as my Boy Scout knife.
With the very thin blade it struck me last night that this would make a very good knife for food prep and slicing, so I'll make a sheath for it and carry it in my cook kit for a while.
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