The knives with the black Bexoid scales where in production up until at least 1952 with the ones for the Belgium army even later , the earliest know production is 1939 but its claimed they possibly go back as far as 1933 but I've never seen any before 39.
The all metal versions were briefly made in 1939 - 1940 but main production started in 1944. Tellingly these were known in the trade as Burma knives and were far more resistant to corrosion, the earlier Bexoid scales being moisture traps.
There's also loads of civilian versions of the army issue knives, made by the same folk who had the army contracts ( and they are legion ) something that continues to today. Over all millions were made and value is related to condition and scarcity of that exact version and manufacturer.
All that aside they are great, sturdy knives and are one of the few things I've kept when I stopped collecting.
The Navy had alloy scaled versions of the clasp knife into the 1970s but the version with the can opener is very rare, I've only seen the one in Ron Flooks book
The one I'm after, either issue or a civilian version is the pre 1938 jack/ clasp knife which has the older sort of can opener, like a thick oyster knife blade with a stud on the side. I want it as a user so even a good replica would do. It's the sort they used in the Boer and Great Wars.
ATB
Tom