De Oppresso Liber Special Forces Bowie Questions

[KBreezy101]

Hello all,

I'm new to the Bladeforums after months of general browsing and decided to it was time to actually create an account.

I recently came into possession of a bowie knife that I'm finding very little info about online. It was my uncles and as the title states it's a De Oppresso Liber 10" bowie knife with Taylor Surgical printed on it. I'm just looking for any info on its background, rarity, and potential value. Cool looking knife, but I have no use for it and if it has any value that would be great! Any responses/info would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

 

[GIRLYmann]

Welcome! Not entirely familiar with what you're asking.
But it might help to post a picture ?...

 

[abcdef]

Welcome to BF.

 

[evilgreg]

You may want to check out this thread.

 

[BladeScout]

'De Opresso Liber' is the motto of US Special Forces.

Most like not the name of the knife but a motto stamped on there to honor the Special Forces.

It means "to free from oppression" or "to liberate the oppressed" in English.

It might be a SOG-like Bowie like or in the style of those used in Vietnam.

There are several variations of this bowie. Some quality, some not.

Here is but one;

 

[BladeScout]

Here a couple of Al Mar's with the DOL motto banner and crossed arrows.

Other knives of varying quality have used it.

 

[evilgreg]

'De Opresso Liber' is the motto of US Special Forces.

Most like not the name of the knife but a motto stamped on there to honor the Special Forces.

It means "to free from oppression" or "to liberate the oppressed" in English.

As it turns out, Latin scholars give a wide range of translations to "de oppresso liber", generally none of which turn out to be "to liberate the oppressed". Which is not to say it's straight dog Latin, actual translations are often in the neighborhood of the intended meaning (e.g. “From a man caught, a man free").

Source: not long after I was first assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Group, a jaded E8 told me not to believe anything anyone had ever told me about SF units, because it was all BS--"even what they tell you about the pin is wrong", so I did some research and quickly found he was correct. He was right about a lot of things, come to think of it.

 

[BladeScout]

Your knife might be made by Taylor.

Surgical steel often means some variation of 440.

As mentioned the DOL scroll is a SF motto.

Dont know if its the same maker but here a thread about Taylor Japan Surgical Steel.

Might be the same Taylor company but dont know. You need to post a pic.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/taylor-japan-surgical-steel.1501001/

 

[BladeScout]

As it turns out, Latin scholars give a wide range of translations to "de oppresso liber", generally none of which turn out to be "to liberate the oppressed". Which is not to say it's straight dog Latin, actual translations are often in the neighborhood of the intended meaning (e.g. “From a man caught, a man free").

Source: not long after I was first assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Group, a jaded E8 told me not to believe anything anyone had ever told me about SF units, because it was all BS--"even what they tell you about the pin is wrong", so I did some research and quickly found he was correct. He was right about a lot of things, come to think of it.

Should have written "It means "to free from oppression" or "to liberate the oppressed" in English or somehing to that effect."


Yep.
Lots of bull, myths and outright lies about Special Forces units.
Most by people not associated.

 

[tltt]

These were made For Taylor Cutlery (who later owned Schrade, S and W, etc....). They were a almost exact copy of the Al Mar Quest/Pathfinder knives. They later brought them back under the Schrade brand at a much cheaper price. Not much value, but the early ones were thought of as decent knives by guys who actually used them.

Should look a bit like this -

.