Stag Saturday - Let's See Some Traditional Stag!

Will Power said:
@the-accumulator Many thanks for the pics&reference, don't own that book unfortunately. What is the full caption above plate 299 please? It says something about 'style' Your example is better looking than the caption, again , very interesting :thumbsup:
Pictures first. Then text in my next post:
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Boer War knife:
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Text in next post. T-A
Click to expand...
 
Regarding the pictures in my last post, I have included the paragraphs that preceded the caption for plate 299 which talk about the Admiralty pattern knife. It certainly appears to be a Navy knife, but none have been seen with the Navy acceptance mark. W(broad arrow)D is the Army acceptance mark. Note the Boer War knife that has a very visible W(broad arrow) mark, while the D is missing. Apparently the stamp was held crooked causing the D to not make contact. Anyway, the WD mark is Army, not Navy. Why would a soldier need a marlin spike? I've read that it was used to remove stones from the horse's hooves. I can't remember where I read that, but I was also told that by an old English gentleman friend of mine before I read it. I thought he was crazy until I considered the WD Army mark, and then I read it somewhere, as well. Regarding the Red Cross reference, I know I read that somewhere, as well, but I searched through my library of over 40 knife books and can't find the reference. Sorry about that. So, while i'm quite sure of the date 1910 or maybe a little earlier, I am only fairly sure that someone believes that these knives were (at least sometimes) purchased by private citizens and shipped by the British Red Cross to soldiers serving in the Army. FYI I can post pictures better from my phone, while I can type faster from my computer. That's why I split my response into two posts. Thanks for your interest. T-A
 
Thanks very much for your explanations, much appreciated.

I think, or suspect, that sometimes the crowfoot mark was put on items not just to show that it had been approved by govt. or service, but also to ID as govt property to be returned when no longer in service, to stop people claiming it as personal property;) Just speculation that one.

Certainly at the start of The Great War, various groups made collections for troops or sent gifts etc but it was not unusual in the early stages for officers to be expected to buy sidearms or other items of kit, which also explains some of the differences in uniform colour & cut which may be seen in photos. The British Red Cross may well have been involved in sending gifts etc.

As for the Marlin spike, remember that soldiers often lived under canvas near to the Front and a spike would be very useful for untying tricky knots/ or forming them as rope was widely used so I wouldn't rule the Army out of this either as many service knives had a spike. I've heard the horse's hooves thing myself but even though I'm not an equestrian, I feel sceptical about it. Most horse riders would keep some kind of pry bar tool for dealing with hoof problems. Farriers would be suitably equipped too.

Your knife is a very fine item, quality construction and I strongly agree with the dating of it, a grand old item and once again thanks for taking the time to discuss and show it.

Regards, Will
 
Lloyd of course

These are off to new homes

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Only 3" closed

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This one's available

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