Cogswell & Harrison knife

[knifegnome]

Just picked this up at the flea market. Cogswell & Harrison Ltd , Gunmakers , London W1. The blade is 6 1/4" long and overall 10 1/2". I have found some information and photos on some knives being made for WW11 as a private purchase. The photos showed knives with wood handles only. This knife has a thin layer of plexi-glass or some plastic type layer over the wood . It appears to be someone added this on because only one pin is holding it and the hole for a lanyard does not go through the wood handle. The sheath looks original to other photos I found. Any information would be appreciated.

[bladeguy58]

Just picked this up at the flea market. Cogswell & Harrison Ltd , Gunmakers , London W1. The blade is 6 1/4" long and overall 10 1/2". I have found some information and photos on some knives being made for WW11 as a private purchase. The photos showed knives with wood handles only. This knife has a thin layer of plexi-glass or some plastic type layer over the wood . It appears to be someone added this on because only one pin is holding it and the hole for a lanyard does not go through the wood handle. The sheath looks original to other photos I found. Any information would be appreciated.

What a beautiful old piece of history, it will be fun cleaning it up. In looking the history, it mentions leather and wood handles but if someone encapsulated it in plastic or some type if polymer it would have been in more modern times. And if it is, they took away from the knifes true value. I'm sure some of our more scholared members will have better information. Great knife!
Richard

[stockman]

I might take the plastic off and see about restoring the wood handles. Neat old knife. Harold

[New_Windsor_NY]

Just.....

Here is a Cogswell & Harrison fixed blade knife that Ray (knife7knut) posted back on March 25, 2014.
This link is good as of this posting.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 63#p401863

[FRJ]

My "The London Knife Book" by Ron Flook shows a knife quite like yours except for the plastic on the handle.
It is in minimally better condition. It also shows a sheath quite like yours,
Their (Cogswell & Harrison) history of the knife trade appears to be one of retailer.
They state, the knives illustrated were in all probability not made by them.
London Gun Makers from 1830 to 1963 when the company was brought back into British hands.
Various ownerships prior.