A Joseph Rodgers WW1 Clasp Knife

Jack Black

Jack Black

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I picked up this beast of a clasp knife the other day. It’s a British Army pattern made by Joseph Rodgers of Sheffield for the War Department. The pattern is the 6353/1905, commonly known as the World War 1 pattern. It was adopted at the turn of the century, and carried by British and some Commonwealth troops in World War 1, and after, being replaced by a smaller knife in 1939 (see for example: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1032637-A-Knife-That-Went-Through-A-War ), though some variations were still made, in particular an easy-open spear-point with can-opener (see for example: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-A-Knife-Dewsbury-With-My-Pockets-Hanging-Out).





The hand-forged spear-point blade on the WW1 knife is a whopping 3 ¾”. It locks up very solidly and there is no blade play.



The British military first adopted a clasp knife with a can-opener in the Boer War, and the one on the WW1 knife is of the same pattern. British Army & Navy clasp knives have a reputation for having strong springs, but the can-opener on this knife really takes some opening, in fact I’ve not been able to do it yet without the assistance of pliers!





The marlin spike is as solid as the rest of the knife, and carries both the War Department acceptance mark and a serial number.





The copper shackle looks like it’s been run over by a tank! Though there is always the possibility it was deliberately bent in this way in the field for some reason.

This is such a big knife that I can’t see me carrying it very often, but I was still pleased to find one in such good condition.

Thoughts, opinions and further information welcome as always

Jack
 
Neat find, can you explain how the can opener works?
 
BJE said:
Neat find, can you explain how the can opener works?
Click to expand...

I have a similiar can-opener on a Rough Rider Camp Knife, which I posted about in the Rough Rider & Co thread. Since I didn't realise it was a can-opener at first, I was very glad to have it explained to me, and there's quite a bit of discussion about it in that thread. The can-opener on this knife is a little larger as it would have been used for opening larger tins I guess, and also probably cans would have been a bit more substantial in those days I think. You use the point to pierce a hole in the can, and then rest the other part on the edge of the can. I tried my RR Camp knife a few times and can't say I thought it worked that well, something that I think is universally agreed upon. In those days, the venerable P38 had yet to be invented though, and as British troops in the Boer War were often issued canned rations, I'm sure they were very grateful to have some assistance in opening them :)
 
Interesting, was curious how and small blade and a stud could used to open cans.
 
Another fine clasp knife. I wonder why the clasp knife design switched over to a sheepsfoot instead of staying with the more versatile spearpoint.

I hope you run into a British Admiralty 301 soon. That'd be wicked!

- Christian
 
Another absolutely great find Jack.

Thanks for taking the time to post about it.

Always makes you wonder how much 'action' these knives saw.
 
Interesting that the Great War version is bigger, wonder why?

What material is the handle? I've heard of chequered horn and bone but this looks like an early composite, or?

Thanks, Will
 
scruffuk said:
Another absolutely great find Jack.

Thanks for taking the time to post about it.

Always makes you wonder how much 'action' these knives saw.
Click to expand...

Thanks Thom. Absolutely, I'm sure they could all tell a few tales.

willgoy said:
Interesting that the Great War version is bigger, wonder why?

What material is the handle? I've heard of chequered horn and bone but this looks like an early composite, or?

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

You can certainly see why they went to a smaller size. I think the handle is compressed fibre.

Jack
 
kamagong said:
Another fine clasp knife. I wonder why the clasp knife design switched over to a sheepsfoot instead of staying with the more versatile spearpoint.

I hope you run into a British Admiralty 301 soon. That'd be wicked!

- Christian
Click to expand...

Sorry Christian, for some reason I missed your post earlier. Thanks. I have to say, I don't know why the shape of the blade was changed, but it's an interesting question.

Yes, I'd definitely like to come across some older clasp knives :)
 
I think I read that Canadian WW1 issue knives had Sheepfoot (possibly naval) whereas British ones were Spear. Interesting because WW2 and later knives seem to be predominately Sheepfoot. Might be due to the War Dept employing many different contractors to make these knives. Versions were made in Stag and some Canadian issue were made by American firms like CASE or Schatt&Morgan, but the basic specs were followed.
 
A local army surplus store has one of these that caught my eye. For some reason I didn't bother asking to see it, probably because I'd picked out the knife I wanted and I had already had the clerk take out enough knives for me to look over, but when I seen it I recognized it right away as an old British military knife. The details beyond that, such as time period it was issued and branches of service eluded me, but I recognized it nonetheless. I didn't bother buying it because I didn't want to get carried away with purchases on a day that had in general become expensive enough as it is, and it's bulkier than I'd likely pocket carry everyday, and wouldn't get much use out of it's tool selection.

I might pick it up at a later time though, will definitely go take a look at it at least! Doubt that the one in my shop is antique, but cool nonetheless. As for the one in the OP, great find!
 
Ah clasp knives, you gotta love them. Really nice Jack, I love seeing different types of this kind of knives. This one's a real looker and very interesting indeed. Really good score. I wish I were able to find something different like you always seem to do. Keep 'em coming!
 
Very nice example Jack. This Rodgers has similar marks and has buffalo horn scales. The darker and lighter colour variation in the horn is just visible in this photo.

Rodgers2-1.jpg
 
smiling-knife said:
Very nice example Jack. This Rodgers has similar marks and has buffalo horn scales. The darker and lighter colour variation in the horn is just visible in this photo.

Rodgers2-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you S-K, I was hoping you'd pop in :) Beautiful, I would have never guessed that was buffalo from the photo :)
 
Nice pick-up Jack, It's a nice one for sure. Love the old markings and the
copper bail, very nice... Congrats!

Jason
 
willgoy said:
I think I read that Canadian WW1 issue knives had Sheepfoot (possibly naval) whereas British ones were Spear. Interesting because WW2 and later knives seem to be predominately Sheepfoot. Might be due to the War Dept employing many different contractors to make these knives. Versions were made in Stag and some Canadian issue were made by American firms like CASE or Schatt&Morgan, but the basic specs were followed.
Click to expand...

HI Will. The Canadian Army used the British pattern in WWI. This photo shows a Wostenholm, an all metal knife made by Thomas Turner and a Schatt and Morgan with lovely bone scales. The British Navy pattern in WWI was the Admiralty pattern 301 which was a large jack knife with a sheepsfoot and spike. I hope these are of interest.

WW1003.jpg
 
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