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 »

George21 wrote:Whats the purpose of the 'spike' on these knives? I got one today for a couple of quid. Having trouble reading the makers mark but will check back when I have it cleaned up a bit.

It definately says Sheffield on it. And perhaps... Venture or Adventure or something of the sort.

The can opener bit is snapped off but the majority of it remains.
Hi George, the marline spike is used for untying knots. Your mark could be Venture. That was the mark of H.M. Slater Sheffield. Looking forward to seeing your knife.
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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

Spot on S-K.

Looks like it says VENTURE SLATE BRASS SHEFFIELD.

Or something of the sort. Could be Slater bros or something like that.

Will get some pics now and put them up in a tick.
George, Bristol UK

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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

Full blade: http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2985/dscn1183.jpg

Tang stamp: http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1203/dscn1181a.jpg

Also, it has the 'Broad Arrow' ( -> ) on the spike with a '4' under neath it. Any idea what the 4 means?

George
George, Bristol UK

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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

Venture Slater Bros sound about right. Usually, the WWII knives were marked with the Broad Arrow and the year. Could the 4 be part of 1940 or 1941? The copper shackle dates your knife to 1941 at the latest when the copper shackle was replaced with a steel one. :D s-k
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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

smiling-knife wrote:Venture Slater Bros sound about right. Usually, the WWII knives were marked with the Broad Arrow and the year. Could the 4 be part of 1940 or 1941? The copper shackle dates your knife to 1941 at the latest when the copper shackle was replaced with a steel one. :D s-k
You beauty! Thanks a lot.
Can't see any other markings, faint or anything, next to the 4. The 4 is central to the arrow to... like -

|
4

Managed to snap a pic of it: http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/529/dscn1193.jpg

perhaps it means 40 but they were lazy and didnt put the '0' lol :roll:
George, Bristol UK

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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

2 of my knives:

Knife 1: http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7502/dscn1231z.jpg
Knife 1 blade stamp: http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/274/dscn1238w.jpg
Has the military broad arrow and SSP 1944.


Knife 2: http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5597/dscn1205u.jpg
Knife 2 tang stamp: http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/306/dscn1216d.jpg
"Venture Slater Bros Sheffield" or "Venture Slate Brass Sheffield" or something of the sort.
Knife 2 Marline Spike Stamp: http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/117/dscn1213eqx.jpg
Had an arrow and just a 4? any ideas?

Cheers,

George

Both Knives: http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6571/dscn1243a.jpg
Both Knives 2: http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7109/dscn1242l.jpg
George, Bristol UK

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Owd Wullie
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

The Venture knife is early war issue. I seem to recall that they quit using the copper bow in or around '41. Looks like it met a can that was tougher than it was. :( Those were issued to the soldiers. Often wondered what kind of ropes the poor dog faces were up against to have a marlin spike on the knife. They probably messed with more ropes and stuff than did the sailors of that era though.

Neat old knives.

Here is my version given to me by my father in law.
Image
Image

It was made by WATTS in Sheffield, It's dated '41 but has a steel bow. The springs in those things are awesome. Nearly 70 years old and been though who knows what and they still snap like an alligator.
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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

Thanks for the information chap!

Still can't find a date stamp on that second knife though. The only number on it is there "4" on the marlin spike.

Also, is the first knife a military knife? It looks like it has the military broad arrow on the can opener but it's very faint. It also doesn't have a marlin spike. Who would this have been issued too without the marlin spike?

Cheers,

George
George, Bristol UK

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Owd Wullie
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

I stole this quote from our friend SMILING KNIFE. This was posted by him at THE BRITISH BLADES FORUMS http://www.britishblades.com l Nice bunch of gents over there too.
It may also apply to your knife in question. He was referring to the knife I posted above when I posted it over there looking for information on it.
Althought the basics were similar there were some changes from the early WWII knives to the Korean era knives. The copper shackle was replaced with steel around 1940ish... your's looks to be steel. By 1945 the can opener attachment also had a bottle opener as standard. The steel bolsters were phased out around the same time (1945) in favour of a full-length moulded scale with a big 'birds eye' rivet. Or so is my understanding.
He's a LOT more knowledgeable on this stuff than I. ::nod::
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George21
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

Aye indeed I'm a member over there too! Good forum that!

Sometimes I forget what I post here and what I post there. Post a lot of the same things most of the time!

I'm in the middle of making a website to catalogue my knives at the moment. So will be easier to provide links etc when I'm done with it!
George, Bristol UK

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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by zorrothegreyblade »

Been way to long since I posted here. :oops:

Been researching this, a wooden handled pattern 6363/1905, as used by the British Army from 1905 through till 1939. The early ones had horn scales, later ones had bexoid, but never wood?


Image


Turns out it was made in India for their own troops, so if ever you come across one, now you know. :)
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Owd Wullie
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Harumph!! Those silly Indians. All those water buffalo cruising around eating and messing up the sidewalks and they use WOOD for knife handles.. :roll:

Good info to know now though. :mrgreen:

Neat old knife too. ::tu::
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

Great knives guys ::tu:: ::tu:: . Thanks for sharing them.

Zorro do you have any date info on your Indian knife? It is the older 6353/1905 pattern but maybe they were made later in India than UK???

The springs on the WWII folders do generally maintain a strong snap over time. Unfortunately the Bexoid scales are highly prone to shrinkage. :D s-k
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

George... regarding your second knife. I have this 1939 6353/1905 pattern with the broad arrow and number 3 on the spike. According to Flook these numbers are inspectors' marks along with the GI arrow. There must be a hidden tangstamp for the maker. Your other knife is Venture Slater Bros :D s-k

Image
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by George21 »

smiling-knife wrote:George... regarding your second knife. I have this 1939 1095 pattern with the broad arrow and number 3 on the spike. According to Flook these numbers are inspectors' marks along with the GI arrow. There must be a hidden tangstamp for the maker. Your other knife is Venture Slater Bros :D s-k

Image
Ah wonderful, cheers for the info mate.

What would they have been inspected for? Just to make sure they're in good order?
George, Bristol UK

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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

George21 wrote:
Ah wonderful, cheers for the info mate.

What would they have been inspected for? Just to make sure they're in good order?
I think so. Just making sure they are up to standard specs. :D s-k
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by zorrothegreyblade »

smiling-knife wrote: Zorro do you have any date info on your Indian knife? It is the older 1095 pattern but maybe they were made later in India than UK???
Hi Steve, checked again but cannot find any marks. Flooks has a picture of one on page 212, plate 513, which is identical to mine, not much info though. ::shrug::
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

For some reason I was typing 1095 when it is 1905 that this pattern (6353) first appeared. Apologies for any confusion. :) s-k
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

These belong over here too, I originally posted them over in knife lore in the Rope Knife thread..................................... ::tu::





M.B.
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Gigi62
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Gigi62 »

Hi,

I’ve found my first sheffield knife on a battle field near my home.
Since I found some british knives.
I've the specs of the Pattern 6353/1905, but I shall like to know if there is same specs for the following models.

Clasp Knife pattern 6353/1905 with manufacturing specs No. 429a approved 1 Sept 1905:


The blade and Tin Opener to be made of best cast steel, free from flaws, properly hardened and tempered, and to be as thin and as well ground as the Standard Pattern; the edge of the Blade to be wetted on an oilstone; to be 3 ½ inches long from “kick” point, to be 11/16 inch wide; the Bolster to be ½ inch long, to be solid, and made from the best iron; the “Springs” to be made of best spring steel, properly hardened and tempered. The Marline Spike to be made of cast steel, properly hardened and tempered. Length of Marline Spike when shut to be within 1/8 inch shorter than Spring; and the point, when shut, to be fitted close on the spring to prevent catching in the pocket.
The Length of the Handle to be 4 7/8 inches; the Scales to be checkered black horn 4 3/8 inches long Bolster ½ inch; to be riveted to plates with two iron rivets; the Shackle to be made of copper wire, No. 11 gauge, same size and shape as that of the Standard Pattern, and riveted with brass wire. The Blade, Tin Opener, and Marline Spike to be firmly riveted in, and to bear makers name on tangs.”
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Jean-Jacques
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Owd Wullie
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Hello Jean-Jacques

Those are some very nice knives. Thanks for showing them.

As for the I*XL that you found on the battlefield, what battlefield was it?

Salud!
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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

Great looking knives Gigi62. The original 6353 spec was for stag handle. It was replaced in 1913 with chequered horn. The pattern was in use until 1939. Does your knife have the broad arrow indicating official government issue? The other two are likely pre 1941 as they have a copper shackel which was phased out in favour of the steel shackel about that time. Thanks for posting your knives :D s-k
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Gigi62
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Gigi62 »

Hello Friends,


Thanks for your answers.
It is near Vimy that I found my first knife.
The patterns 6353, the Wade and Butcher has the broad arrow.
The country where I live was the théatre of big battles during ww1 (Artois, Somme, Yser). Many British troops were engaged.
And during ww2, under the German occupation, we had the secret weapons.
i show you other knives, and you can see these sites.

WW1:
http://www.historial.org/
http://www.carriere-wellington.com/
http://www.museedelaguerre.ca/cwm/exhib ... ex_f.shtml

WW2:
http://www.leblockhaus.com/modulosite2/ ... calais.htm
http://www.linternaute.com/musee/diapor ... nes/55663/
http://www.linternaute.com/musee/diapor ... nes/55663/

And recently, I found the grave of the small son of the great Sitting Bull, at 20km ago.
http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pa ... t_80_1.htm

Goodbye.
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Jean-Jacques
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smiling-knife
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

You're welcome. The last knife you posted (W & S Butcher) must be 1945 or later as that is when the bottle opener was added to the can opener attachment. Maybe it is 1946? :D s-k
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Gigi62
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Re: British and Commonwealth Military Knives

Post by Gigi62 »

Hi,

I think you 're right for the last knife (W & S Butcher ).
It's post ww2 and at the same period that these 2 knives of the Belgian Army (1948/1950 Corean war)

Thanks ::tu::
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