- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
- Messages
- 346
I recently picked up this "copy" of a Russell Belt Knife at a small local gun show...it is very well made, nicely balanced, but sturdier and more hand-filling than the Russell, which has always felt too small to me. The guy I bought it from told me it was made in the 1950s by Red Gibson at Fairey Aviation, near CFB Shearwater, just outside Dartmouth (across the harbor from Halifax) in Nova Scotia, where he said several employees made knives in their "spare time." (In a thickening of the plot, I note from the official Grohmann history that the founder of Grohmann knives, Rudolph Grohmann himself worked at Fairey in the 1950s) The seller told me that back in the day, it was considered the best place to work in the entire region and employed a thousand people. Fairey Aviation was a branch of the British firm (Fairey "Swordfish" biplanes were the torpedo planes that damaged the Bismarck as a prelude to its sinking), and among other things, renovated Spitfire fighter planes after WWII (presumably for sale to 3rd World countries). Whether this Fairey-made knife is a copy of a Russell/Grohmann belt knife, a precursor, a prototype, or just another version of the same "Canadian Belt Knife" seems to depend on who you talk to...
I don't know what the steel is; it's not stainless, but I assume it is a properly tempered tool steel of some kind. The knife handle is made from some sort of hard synthetic material...like very hard Bakelite....the fellow I got the knife from, who filled me in on some of its history, didn't know what the handle material was and just told me that it was made from "airplane stuff." It is a dull red colour and is very hard.
Any guesses as to the handle material? Airplane stuff?
The attached photos show the knife (with a new, very nice, but non-original sheath) along with a couple of original Russell Belt knives, both marked "1958." You can see how non-standard the original Russell Belt Knives were... For instance, check out the difference in the size of handle rivets.
About - Grohmann Knives - Superior Outdoor & Kitchen Knives
"However, the Nova Scotia government closed the business after three years and sold off all the machinery. Mr Grohmann and Mr Babinec Sr then went to work at Trenton Steel making Canon shells for the Korean War and then to Fairy Aviation in Shearwater machining airplane parts amongst other jobs. Mr. Grohmann however was determined in his trade to make knives, and built a garage workshop to begin producing..."
Fairey Aviation Company - Wikipedia
Fairey Aviation of Canada
Formed in 1948 the Fairey Aviation Company of Canada Limited[11] and grew from a six-man operation to a major enterprise employing around a thousand people. In March 1949, the company undertook repair and overhaul work for the Royal Canadian Navy on the Supermarine Seafire and the Fairey Firefly and later the Hawker Sea Fury and also undertook modification work on the Grumman Avenger. The Avro Lancaster conversion programme created the need for plant expansion. The Lancaster was followed in service by the Lockheed Neptune and again the company undertook a share of the repair overhaul and service of these aircraft. The company was engaged in the modification and overhaul of the McDonnell Banshee.
Fairey of Canada also developed a component and instrument design and manufacturing organisation. The company began manufacture of Hydro Booster Units which control flight surfaces hydraulically rather than manually. Other flight controls were designed and manufactured for the Avro CF-100. The Canadair Argus used Fairey-designed hydraulic actuators. The company also produced the "Bear Trap" helicopter /ship handling system for the Royal Canadian Navy. In the early 1960s the company undertook the conversion of the Martin Mars flying boats to water-bearing firefighters.
Drawing on the parent company's expertise in the design of hydraulic equipment led to local manufacturer of the Fairey Microfilter, which had applications in industries beyond aviation. Yet another Fairey designed and manufactured component was the Safety Ohmmeter. This instrument had many applications in missiles, mining, quarrying and similar fields. The company was appointed agent for RFD Inflatable Marine Survival Equipment. This agency included sales, service inspection and repair of inflatable liferafts.
The West Coast Branch of the Fairey Aviation Company of Canada Limited was formed in 1955 at Sidney, Vancouver Island. The plant was located at Patricia Bay Airport. This facility handled mainly repair, overhaul and modification of military and civil aircraft including the conversion of ex-military Avenger aircraft to commercial cropdusting roles. Additionally, the company diversified into designing and manufacturing items of hospital equipment.
Following the failure of the UK parent, Fairey Canada was acquired by IMP Group International.
I don't know what the steel is; it's not stainless, but I assume it is a properly tempered tool steel of some kind. The knife handle is made from some sort of hard synthetic material...like very hard Bakelite....the fellow I got the knife from, who filled me in on some of its history, didn't know what the handle material was and just told me that it was made from "airplane stuff." It is a dull red colour and is very hard.
Any guesses as to the handle material? Airplane stuff?
The attached photos show the knife (with a new, very nice, but non-original sheath) along with a couple of original Russell Belt knives, both marked "1958." You can see how non-standard the original Russell Belt Knives were... For instance, check out the difference in the size of handle rivets.
About - Grohmann Knives - Superior Outdoor & Kitchen Knives
"However, the Nova Scotia government closed the business after three years and sold off all the machinery. Mr Grohmann and Mr Babinec Sr then went to work at Trenton Steel making Canon shells for the Korean War and then to Fairy Aviation in Shearwater machining airplane parts amongst other jobs. Mr. Grohmann however was determined in his trade to make knives, and built a garage workshop to begin producing..."
Fairey Aviation Company - Wikipedia
Fairey Aviation of Canada
Formed in 1948 the Fairey Aviation Company of Canada Limited[11] and grew from a six-man operation to a major enterprise employing around a thousand people. In March 1949, the company undertook repair and overhaul work for the Royal Canadian Navy on the Supermarine Seafire and the Fairey Firefly and later the Hawker Sea Fury and also undertook modification work on the Grumman Avenger. The Avro Lancaster conversion programme created the need for plant expansion. The Lancaster was followed in service by the Lockheed Neptune and again the company undertook a share of the repair overhaul and service of these aircraft. The company was engaged in the modification and overhaul of the McDonnell Banshee.
Fairey of Canada also developed a component and instrument design and manufacturing organisation. The company began manufacture of Hydro Booster Units which control flight surfaces hydraulically rather than manually. Other flight controls were designed and manufactured for the Avro CF-100. The Canadair Argus used Fairey-designed hydraulic actuators. The company also produced the "Bear Trap" helicopter /ship handling system for the Royal Canadian Navy. In the early 1960s the company undertook the conversion of the Martin Mars flying boats to water-bearing firefighters.
Drawing on the parent company's expertise in the design of hydraulic equipment led to local manufacturer of the Fairey Microfilter, which had applications in industries beyond aviation. Yet another Fairey designed and manufactured component was the Safety Ohmmeter. This instrument had many applications in missiles, mining, quarrying and similar fields. The company was appointed agent for RFD Inflatable Marine Survival Equipment. This agency included sales, service inspection and repair of inflatable liferafts.
The West Coast Branch of the Fairey Aviation Company of Canada Limited was formed in 1955 at Sidney, Vancouver Island. The plant was located at Patricia Bay Airport. This facility handled mainly repair, overhaul and modification of military and civil aircraft including the conversion of ex-military Avenger aircraft to commercial cropdusting roles. Additionally, the company diversified into designing and manufacturing items of hospital equipment.
Following the failure of the UK parent, Fairey Canada was acquired by IMP Group International.