Another Belgian Clasp Knife

[Jack Black]

I've posted up pics of Belgian Army clasp knives before, made to the same pattern as the British Army clasp knife, in the early 1950's. I was lucky enough to pick up another, and in this case it was the display model from a shop and in incredible condition for a 60 year-old knife. Compared to the other Belgian knives I got, the blades are much better stepped, so it's possible to pinch them open rather than risk breaking a nail, and while the springs are still strong, they're not frighteningly so. This is the best I've had to date and I can't imagine they could be any better than this. These are knives that will certainly take a kicking, built like tanks, and with a can-opener which looks like its designed to open them! Just thought you might like a look at a couple of pics of it

Jack

 

[kamagong]

Looks to be in great condition. So do you actually use and carry any of these old beauties?

- Christian

 

[Jack Black]

Looks to be in great condition. So do you actually use and carry any of these old beauties?

- Christian

I carry all my of my knives Christian, and these clasp knives are great for rough use. I'd certainly use them for things that I might think twice about using other slipjoints for

 

[Humppa]

Jack, that´s a beautyful piece of cutlery. I like the look of those sailor´s knives.

It´s great to have a second knife in the other hand to replace the one you use mainly if it gets lost... just in case.

 

[9blades]

I like it. Nice find!!!!

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, that´s a beautyful piece of cutlery. I like the look of those sailor´s knives.

It´s great to have a second knife in the other hand to replace the one you use mainly if it gets lost... just in case.

Thanks Andi. I'd like to get one of the Navy clasp knives again. ScruffUK and I saw one on a market stall the other day, but the guy wanted a silly amount of money for it. I also got a British Army clasp knife the other day, but it's very worn and a little rusty and needs a bit of care. I'll post pics at some point though. The British knives were originally carried with a length of thin rope to prevent loss, and I've taken to attaching my Belgian ones to a chain, so hopefully they won't stray too far

 

[Jack Black]

This particular knife is a present for someone, but if I can get hold of another at some point, maybe I could put one up for a giveaway or a pass around, so others can see what they're like. Though I have to say, I think I'll struggle to find one as nice as this

 

[smiling-knife]

Hi Jack, Great knife. I thought you would be interested in seeing another example.

 

[quattromori]

Jack,
thank you for this thread. Some time ago I discovered that even the Italian army issued the same knife (made by a few factories in Maniago); it's a very interesting knife, and I assume it's quite handy as well. Maybe someday I will get my hands on one of the Italian made ones.
Now, a question for you: how stiff are the springs on these Belgian and British versions? the Italian one that I handled was a finger cutting trap

Fausto

 

[Jack Black]

Hi Jack, Great knife. I thought you would be interested in seeing another example.

Hi S-K, and thanks a lot for that, it's a beauty. I've posted a few other pics of these knives here over the past few months, some are included in the thread below. The Colin Winand has the best stamp I think, but as you'll see with the second thread, I had a few problems with mine.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Arthur-Wright-Knife-amp-An-Older-Clasp-Knife

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1011643-Broken-back-spring-on-Belgian-clasp-knife

I understand that you collect clasp knives, and I'm sure everyone would really enjoy seeing more of your collection and hearing your perspective. I think you'll also be interested to see pics of the 1939 Wraggs I picked up

Jack,
thank you for this thread. Some time ago I discovered that even the Italian army issued the same knife (made by a few factories in Maniago); it's a very interesting knife, and I assume it's quite handy as well. Maybe someday I will get my hands on one of the Italian made ones.
Now, a question for you: how stiff are the springs on these Belgian and British versions? the Italian one that I handled was a finger cutting trap

Fausto

Hi Fausto, Yes, interesting that the pattern was made in Italy too. For me, it's an interesting knife. I only wish I had the Joseph Rodgers ones my grandfather gave me as a boy. If I ever come across one of the Italian ones I'll be sure to let you know my friend The springs are certainly strong, sometimes brutal, but this particular knife is OK, and the one I got from 1939 has a pull about the same as my GEC Bladeforums 2010 knife.

Jack

 

[Will Power]

That bail/shackle is useful for lashing it to a pack or belt. Can't really imagine trousering one of those

 

[Jack Black]

That bail/shackle is useful for lashing it to a pack or belt. Can't really imagine trousering one of those

The Army ones aren't as heavy as they look (though still a substantial knife). The Navy one certainly is a bit large for pocket carry

 

[scruffuk]

Jack, that's a great looking find.

I'm gonna have to remember to ask m'father to bring hos clasp knife over at the weekend so i can take a few snaps.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, that's a great looking find.

I'm gonna have to remember to ask m'father to bring hos clasp knife over at the weekend so i can take a few snaps.

Thanks mate, much as I like it, I'm going to let someone else have it. Look forward to seeing the pics

Jack

 

[Vanguard41xx]

Beautiful knife Jack! I think I may know who the knife is for.
PM to follow.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Hey Jack,

I made a thread on these a while ago...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/939001-A-B-L-1950-Colasse-(Picture-heavy)

I can still pick these up at the local market. The guy still has lots of 'em. Most of these are still covered in factory greese and are quite rusty, but they clean up relatively nice.
The problem is the plastic (bakelite?) that tends to deform when it gets touched by water and then dried out, same thing with quick transitions of hot to cold.

Read through the thread, you might find it interesting. Most of these knives were not issued to the Belgian Navy, but to the Army. I only have 1 that is made specifically for the navy (it has an anker on it, and made in Solingen, Germany). The ones of the regular army were mostly made in the UK (it's these that tend to have the deformation problems, too). I carry the one from Solingen quite often. As you said, they're built like a tank and they're quite up to something!


Jerry

 

[Jack Black]

Hey Jack,

I made a thread on these a while ago...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/939001-A-B-L-1950-Colasse-(Picture-heavy)

I can still pick these up at the local market. The guy still has lots of 'em. Most of these are still covered in factory greese and are quite rusty, but they clean up relatively nice.
The problem is the plastic (bakelite?) that tends to deform when it gets touched by water and then dried out, same thing with quick transitions of hot to cold.

Read through the thread, you might find it interesting. Most of these knives were not issued to the Belgian Navy, but to the Army. I only have 1 that is made specifically for the navy (it has an anker on it, and made in Solingen, Germany). The ones of the regular army were mostly made in the UK (it's these that tend to have the deformation problems, too). I carry the one from Solingen quite often. As you said, they're built like a tank and they're quite up to something!


Jerry

Hi Jerry, thanks a lot for the link and for the very interesting read and great thread. Really nice to see the German knife in particular. It's incredible that these knives are still around and that you can buy them in the market! The guy I got mine off has had a lot too, but says he can't get hold of them now and fears the supply has dried-up. All the ones I've had have been in reasonable condition when I bought them though covered in grease and dirt (and then there was the problem I had with the spring on one).

I'll post some pics of the 1939 British model I have over the next couple of days, but probably in a different thread.

Best wishes

Jack

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Just a small correction to avoid confusion, the one from Sölingen is indeed German made, but issued for the Belgian Navy (the German army or navy hence never used these). The specific manufacturer was only issued to make these.

Please post pics of the other knives you get, they're very nice indeed! Very interesting part of history too. I wonder why the Belgian army decided to issue them to their soldiers for only a couple of years. I've heard there is quite a large stock still... But never used, just rusting away.

 

[Jack Black]

I wonder why the Belgian army decided to issue them to their soldiers for only a couple of years. I've heard there is quite a large stock still... But never used, just rusting away.

Yes, it's strange that there was such a stockpile. I don't know enough about Belgian history to hazard a guess I'm afraid. Not the end of conscription certainly, but perhaps there was a reduction in troop numbers around this time? See I'm guessing despite my ignorance!

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Yes, it's strange that there was such a stockpile. I don't know enough about Belgian history to hazard a guess I'm afraid. Not the end of conscription certainly, but perhaps there was a reduction in troop numbers around this time? See I'm guessing despite my ignorance!

Don't think so. There was obligatory military service/conscription until early nineties if I'm not mistaken, and these pocket knives were unissued early sixties, in the middle of the babyboom. I think that this combination of facts would have led to an increase in new soldiers at the time...
My dad, who was in the army in the early seventies, never saw these pocket knives and they have never been issued anything else but their bayonet/dagger. No folding knives at all, he said.