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Author Topic: Do you think this knife was used in war?  (Read 5040 times)

snowflake

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Do you think this knife was used in war?
« on: October 19, 2011, 09:35:33 pm »
This knife/dagger may have been my husbands Grandfathers. He wrote his name on it, and drew swastikas on it. There were numbers beside them. 3's mostly, a few fours. It was made in Sheffield Eng.
I'd show you the back of the case but he drew a naked woman on it and I don't know if I can post it here.

Do you think it was used in the military or he was just doodling? His son (from his first marriage) with the same name was in the war and was killed. Could have been his? I don't recall his Grandfather being in it, but he died when my husbands father was a toddler. They rarely spoke of him. Guess it was a taboo subject back then since they were Catholic and he had been married when he met hubbys grandmother. Never got to know much about him.

The blade is 7 inches. The tip is missing. Top to bottom it is 11 7/8 inches long.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2011, 09:39:46 pm by snowflake »
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snowflake

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2011, 09:38:18 pm »
Once again, I forgot the pictures:
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KevinB

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2011, 11:14:42 pm »
Are there any markings on the knife? Blade? crossguard? Measurements of the blade and overall length would help too.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2011, 11:20:02 pm by KevinB »
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JoshandLila

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2011, 05:21:04 am »
looks like a combat knife, and Sheffield made them, but need some close ups for sure. Im thinking if it is, the handle may have been added later on later.. I really like it!!
« Last Edit: October 20, 2011, 05:27:25 am by JoshandLila »
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"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."
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Rauville

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2011, 06:43:12 am »
I'm just guessing that it could have been a privately purchased knife, bought in England, and carried by an aircraft crew member during WWII. Those inked markings might have indicated enemy planes brought down during a mission. Once again...just guesses.
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Texasbadger

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2011, 08:36:26 am »
Looks to me like a modified Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife. Handle changed out over time.

http://www.macdonaldarms.com/armoury/FairbairnSykes.php
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sapphire

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2011, 08:53:52 am »
I know diddly squat about knives but came across this collection of fighting knives

http://www.militaryfightingknives.com/collection.html


and noticed this one.......

"WWII F/S---Wood Handle with 8 rings. The blade is marked "John Blyde / Clintockworks / Sheffield / Genius". The scabbard is original to the knife.."



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sapphire

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2011, 09:00:44 am »
Texasbadger mentioned the Fairbairn Sykes which took me to this interesting site......

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/fs/ribbed_wood/fs_wood_eng.htm
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jondar

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2011, 09:39:48 am »
Ditto Texas Badger, it's a Fairbairn.
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snowflake

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2011, 10:39:35 am »
Wow. Thanks for all the help! I did find those sites with the knives but since this one wasn't identical, I thought it must not be one. The blade is black. I hadn't noticed a single marking, but will inspect it closer. I'll get some better pictures of the handle. When I first measured the blade, I said 7 inches but the tip is missing from it. I took the tape measure to it today and see it is just under 6 3/4 inches. I was tired yesterday and obviously  not reading it clearly. Sorry.

So, the blade is 6 3/4 inches (tip missing), at the handle the blade is 7/8 inches wide, then there is the metal guard thing (1/8 of an inch), the wood handle is about 4 3/4 inches and the metal thing on the end is just over 1/8 of an inch. All put together about 11 7/8 inches.

And now that I did all that I have noticed writing on the handle, I am so sorry, I think it's time I get glasses. Can't quite make it out, I'll try a magnifier and see.
Will be back with more photos of the handle.

Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it. For some reason, I thought he might have just been doodling and it probably wasn't a military knife.
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snowflake

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2011, 12:00:19 pm »
Okay, I managed to figure out the writing. It says: William Rogers, Sheffield. But when I looked it up, there is a D in Rodgers that made the knives. I don't see the D in mine. It says that those were done by Fairbairn Sykes. And I apologize for not noticing the writing before. My eyes are getting worse every month!

Here are some close ups as requested.

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snowflake

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2011, 12:02:55 pm »
A few more:
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mart

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2011, 12:37:49 pm »
Don`t feel too bad Snowflake !!  Thats what I had to do yesterday,, get eyes checked and of course,, get glasses !!  Old age sucks !!!
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snowflake

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2011, 01:03:04 pm »
I just turned 40 and it's down hill from here I guess! You're right, it does suck. Guess the wrinkles come next! I don't want to think about that!  :o
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JoshandLila

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Re: Do you think this knife was used in war?
« Reply #14 on: October 20, 2011, 04:26:34 pm »
Its a beautiful blade, and I agree with Rauville , those swastikas could very well be someone keeping a kill count.. very cool, I love old blades with history :D
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"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."
H. G. Wells
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