Military Clasp Knives

Great to see some more of your collection S-K, those really are lovely examples :thumbup:

kamagong said:
Is that rust? :eek:

Better take that advice to heart. ;)

- Christian
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LOL! Yeah, those are the 'before' pics, the only ones I could find on my IPad! I really need to take a load of new pics! :D

Thanks for the additional pics Chinacatrider, that's certainly a very interesting knife you have there. The Spearpoint and overall length look to be a tad shorter than on the British or US examples. That seems like a reasonable theory to me, as the tang stamp does look like it says that. Thanks for sharing it with us :thumbup:
 
Here's a few more pics of that Keen Kutter, apparently made by Camillus in 1915, and currently winging it's way towards another forum member ;)





 
I was given one of these large British Navy clasp knives by my grandad when I was about 9, a Joseph Rodgers model, which he'd had during the war. It was far too big for a pocket, so I carried it in my bag, and it's the only knife I've ever lost. Forty years later it still irks! :grumpy:

This one shown here was very kindly given to me by ADEE, who picked it up in the local market. The tip is broken unfortunately, something I've seen before on these knives when they've been dropped, as there's quite a weight there. Hopefully I can make it nice again as there's plenty of steel to these blades :thumbup:









 
Jack Black said:
it's the only knife I've ever lost. Forty years later it still irks! :grumpy:

Hopefully I can make it nice again as there's plenty of steel to these blades.
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and because you are a knife lover, it will still irk at fifty years later! ;)

I think it won't be too hard to get that one in nice shape. It is a dandy and keep the vinegar handy! :thumbup::)
 
chinacatrider said:
IMG_6454.jpg
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That can opener sure looks like it was made from a file.
 
Something moved out of the corner of my eye, and I turned to see this sting-tailed beauty scampering across the sidewalk....

IMG_4994.jpg~original


It retracted its opener-appendage when I drew near, but left its stinger out.

IMG_4998.jpg~original


Once I'd soothed the savage beast, I saw it was a beauty of a Belgian Clasp Knife, artfully reclad in ebony by the inestimable glennbad.

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Okay, okay: alert readers may note that this very knife has already appeared in this thread, courtesy of Kamagong:

kamagong said:
Here's my only clasp knife, a Belgian model I had rehandled in ebony.
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I was shocked to discover it in my mailbox recently, the funny and sweet thing being that I didn't recognize his (real) name on the package, but I recognized "Kamagong's ebony clasp knife" right off!

It's not truly savage, but I have named it Beast-- what a substantial knife.

IMG_5000.jpg~original


Hard-use gear, indeed.

Its only mark:

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(ABL-195)

I am easily and happily wooed by all manner of knife covers, particularly enjoying the variations and possibilities in bone. However, at the end of the day, ebony is probably my all-time favorite for a knife handle. Picking up an ebony-clad knife is somehow the knife equivalent of coming home, and I am thrilled with the deep expanse of ebony that covers this upscaled Clasp Knife.

Thanks, Christian!

Now, for some Opener lessons.... ;)

~ P.
 
Truly a Beast ...I would say! So beastly its beautiful!! Congrats and good on Christian!

P.S. wonderful post as always,~P

and...don't get near any bodies of water...you would sink straight to the bottom!
 
The Beast indeed. I was lounging around the house once, barefoot as is my custom. The Beast was napping on the edge of the table. Thirsty I reached for my glass of lemonade. After a long drink I retured the glass to its rightful place on the coaster. Carelessly I knocked the Beast from its place. Disturbed, it made a beeline for its target. My foot.

It hurt. Strangely enough my first thoughts were not on my bruised appendage, but whether I had damaged my ebony clasp knife. There was just a tiny ding on the flathead extension. Oh, the strange, twisted thinking of the knife nut.

pertinux said:
Its only mark:

IMG_5012.jpg~original


(ABL-195)
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I'm pretty sure the mark reads ABL-1951. The final digit is very lightly struck.

- Christian
 
Primble said:
and because you are a knife lover, it will still irk at fifty years later! ;)

I think it won't be too hard to get that one in nice shape. It is a dandy and keep the vinegar handy! :thumbup::)
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Thanks Mr P :thumbup:

Great to see that beautiful knife Pertinux. A lovely gesture Christian :thumbup:

I've kind of lost track of my clasp knives, well the photos of them at least, but this is one of two which Duncan very kindly sent me a while back :)

 
kamagong said:
Strangely enough my first thoughts were not on my bruised appendage, but whether I had damaged my ebony clasp knife. There was just a tiny ding on the flathead extension. Oh, the strange, twisted thinking of the knife nut.
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Few (if any?) reading here will fail to nod in recognition.
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I'm pretty sure the mark reads ABL-1951. The final digit is very lightly struck.
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Ah, makes good sense. Thanks for the clarification.

And, of course, the knife.
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~ P.
 
A post on another thread prompted me to go dig this up. It was issued to me when I served in the Singapore army in 1987! A standard clasp knife with the "oil the joints" stamp. Not sure if the 1968 was the year of manufacture.
DSC_40313000x2000_zps9cda45fb.jpg

Linus
 
Very nice sir, lovely to see all these old clasp knives appearing :thumbup:
 
Thought I would bring this thread back up to share one I just finished.

 
Wow Glennbad, that is absolutely stunning!!!
 
Hello

First proper post from a newbie.

I've currently collected a few military clasp knives as these are becoming a bit of an obsession. I have 2 1950's ABL ones with the black plastic handles & marlin spike's, & a 1951 all steel British 2 piece by A Wright. I've managed to get these from Army & Navy shops (the ABL's) & a chap on a watch forum kindly supplied the British one.

My collection is small but I'm hooked on these things (my thumb nail aches from the not inconsiderable task of unfolding them :D)

I hope to try & find some older ones in the future (I want to try & get a 1940's one).

I have a question to ask if anyone could help? I've seen new British army pocket knives advertised, made by various manufacturers -(Ibberson, Joseph Rodgers & A Wright). Can anyone recommend one make over another? Are they all similar or is one make likely to be better quality? It would just be useful to gain an idea before I take the plunge & buy one.

Many thanks & it's good to be here.

Dave:)
 
Welcome to Traditionals Dave :thumbup: That's a fine pattern you're interested in ;)

First, you should check out this thread - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1094371-Military-Clasp-Knives

The ABL ones are actually Belgian :)

The old names of Ibbersons and Rodgers are owned by the same company, so apart from the tang stamp there's unlikely to be any difference between these knives, though the company use outworkers so there's an element of pot-luck. The quality of Arthur Wright knives can be very good, but their QC is very hit and miss to say the least. If you're able to buy Sheffield knives in person it's a big plus :thumbup:

Happy collecting! Your thumbs will get stronger! :D ;)

Jack
 
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