Military Clasp Knives

This Sheffield Steel Products 1943 two-piece model was an early Xmas present from ADEE :)



 
Hello all

I'll post some pics of it over the weekend but in the meantime does anyone know what M.A.A.B. 43 on a clasp knife means (there's nothing else written on it)? It's on the can opener of a rather tatty clasp knife I bagged on a car boot the other day, I assume the 43 is the year but have no idea concerning anything else etc.
I've tried to find info' about it but drawn a blank :confused:
Many thanks & have a good weekend
Dave :)
 
Hi Dave,

That's intriguing. So far the nearest I've got is a stamp on a German WW2 mess-tin! :D Not seen this one before. I've got some new stuff I need to photograph though! :thumbup:

Jack

 
Jack Sir...You must have quite a few Clasp knives now-I carried the one you gifted me the other day when we went on a hike!-loved it!!! How about a group shot of all your clasp knives together and a quick identification for each?
 
Hi Duncan, my friend, I do have quite a few, including a few new ones I haven't posted here yet. I'll have to drag them all out for a photo shoot, including the ones you've very kindly gifted me yourself :) I'll try to get something organised Duncan :thumbup:
 
That would be so awesome Jack - I look forward to that - but please at your leisure as I do know it takes a lot of time to take the photos, Photobucket them, and then list them...so Please dont rush matey - I was just thinking it would be great to see your whole line-up!
 
I think this is actually something new for this thread.
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The Dutch knife company AMEFA (Apeldoornse Messen Fabriek or Apeldoorn Knife Factory) still sells a lot of Chinese made table cutlery.
The company made razor blades and pocket knives between 1931 and 1996.

After WWII they made the Dutch Army Knife or DAK in different configurations and handle materials, until 1983 when they lost the job to Victorinox.
The last DAK's out of Apeldoorn looked a lot like the SAK ALOX Pioneer.

Judging from the handle material, pin configuration and the tang markings this knife is from around 1960 or earlier.
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It was sold to me as a Dutch Navy Knife. There was some rust, but an oil bath and some scrubbing solved most of that.
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It's a lambsfoot.
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Here it is, next to it's Belgian cousin.
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The action is still pretty good, not nearly as heavy as the A.B.L.
 
Very interesting to see that Dutch knife, a great addition :thumbup:

Thanks for your interest Duncan, I'll try and get something organised soon pal :)

Jack
 
That Dutch knife is very cool, never seen one of those before, thanks for the info' too :thumbup:

Dave :)
 
.
I got this a couple of months ago and as you can see its been well used . and ground down with sharpening
 
Hello

Here's some pics of the clasp knife I picked up the other day marked M.A.A.B 43
It seems a bit rough & ready finish wise & the scales seem different to normal British ones, they're thinner with odd slightly translucent colouring in certain lights.
Cheers
Dave
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Thanks for the pics Dave, I think that might be Indian-made. Is it slightly larger than your other clasp knives?
 
Interesting Dutch knife QJerry. Thanks for posting it. Nice example R.c.s. Looks to be in good condition. I agree with Jack's id of Etchy's knife.

This is an Indian-made knife. It is a little bigger than the WWII British knives. The second photo shows it relative to the WWI knife on the left and WWII knife on the right.

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S-K.... A question my friend...... India made-under English scrutiny? as in an English Cutler firm based in India in the earlier period when all the Railways etc were in full swing ( and of course the slightly later period for this knife)?

Sorry if this sounds absolutely way out - just thinking aloud. :o

Nice Trio there :thumbup:

I scored a WW2 ( possibly earlier ) IXL Clasp knife just the other day- relatively full bladed - had to scrap on the auction site to obtain it - in other words I paid more for it than I wanted really, but really wanted to check out the knife in person - so to do this I paid for it lol.
 
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Thanks S-K, do you know what the 'MAAB' stands for?

Nice score Duncan, hope you enjoy it my friend :thumbup:
 
Look forward to your impressions Duncan. I was planning to take those pics today, but I have a large Kiwi petitioning me to go out for a Sunday roast! :D
 
Hello

Thanks for all the input & comments concerning the MAAB knife.
Concerning its size it's virtually identical to an ordinary clasp knife of that type, perhaps a fraction bigger but the size difference is barely noticeable (certainly not obvious as the knives in S-K' s pics- thanks for posting those), you'd have to measure them side by side to spot it.
It's certainly most intriguing !
Glad I bought it now, the guy wanted a rather steep £7.00 but I got it for £4.00 :D
Cheers
Dave
 
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