World War I Navy Issue Knife

I took my rope knife with me out on the boat on Saturday to do some duck hunting in the bay. It performed well cutting some cord to replace a few anchor lines on some of the decoys. My hunting partner asked me to use my knife, I asked what for and he said that he needed to cut a hang nail that he had, I thought it was quite fitting of a task for the rope knife, seeing as the original World War I knives came with a manicure blade for taking care of fingernails. I made a lanyard inspired by the ones shown in the photos posted by Jack Black and it was actually very handy, it allowed me to easily retrieve the knife from my pocket and gave me a bit of insurance from losing it.
 
Thanks to pertinux, Jollipapa and Jack Black for the discussion and examples of blade shapes on page 18! The details of traditional knives that make them what they are, are my meat and potatoes (and sometimes my lentils and kale!:D)!

Glad the knife arrived safely, Rachel. I am glad some of you are trying out lanyards on your knives. I have been wanting to do some braiding, but haven't found the opportunity yet.
NJerzy, keeping your knife attached while sailing is where it's at!
Of course us "Lubbers" don't really need such a thing, most of the time!:rolleyes:
 
waynorth said:
Thanks to pertinux, Jollipapa and Jack Black for the discussion and examples of blade shapes on page 18! The details of traditional knives that make them what they are, are my meat and potatoes (and sometimes my lentils and kale!:D)!

Glad the knife arrived safely, Rachel. I am glad some of you are trying out lanyards on your knives. I have been wanting to do some braiding, but haven't found the opportunity yet.
NJerzy, keeping your knife attached while sailing is where it's at!
Of course us "Lubbers" don't really need such a thing, most of the time!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I did buy some red and white paracord to try my hand at a lanyard on my cranberry red. I honestly could use the neck lanyard design on my fishing kayak!

The square tip is nice for me on the kayak, because with it being a sit-on-top style, if I were to drop my knife while working on something, its going to be falling right into my lap. Not somewhere you want a sharp tipped heavy object falling!
 
Last edited:
waynorth said:
NJerzy, keeping your knife attached while sailing is where it's at!
Of course us "Lubbers" don't really need such a thing, most of the time!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

"Most" being the operative word. We have all heard, or generated, the stories of loved knives lost.... I'm sure there are many who now wish they'd had their knives tied to 'em somehow!

I'm liking the looks of these extreme lanyards, befitting the rather extreme bail-- purpose-driven accoutrements. :thumbup:

~ P.
 
texmex03 said:
I was able to keep the bail in perfect condition and if I need to put it back on I would guess I just need a post....any idea what I would look for? Just Nickel Silver post of the same diameter?
Click to expand...

Josh, it's likely a nickel silver pin, but in order to get it to stay put one would need a pin spinner (with the proper diameter cutter) to spin a head on both ends of the pin. Without that the pin will just slide out.


Great knives everyone! I was completely unaware of these jewels! :eek::thumbup:

Eric
 
After first encountering this thread yesterday I thought it was perhaps kismet that one particular listing I was watching was coming to an end today. Now it's over and the result is official: I will soon be receiving my first American rope knife: a 4-line Camillus. Pics are from the bay:

s-l1600.jpg


s-l1600.jpg


It appears to be in very good shape for its age, the only obvious damage being a bent bail (but what kind of working naval knife has a pristine bail? :p). I already own a pretty nice example of a W&SB "Sheffield rigger" from the '40s with the marlin spike (talk about snap!), but the Camillus is kin to the beautiful knives already featured in this thread. I plan to oil it, clean it up (within reason), and really let its natural patina show. Can't wait to get it!

Bonus pics: The Sheffield '45 naval knife I decided to fish out of its resting place. Perhaps I can work it into tomorrow's carry... :D





And here is some information on this knife: http://rigger.hegewisch.net/WSB.html
 
The idea of making a newer version of the old WWI knife is getting around!!

Lone%20Star%20and%20AAPK%201_zpsesd2cpjj.jpg
 
waynorth said:
The idea of making a newer version of the old WWI knife is getting around!!

Lone%20Star%20and%20AAPK%201_zpsesd2cpjj.jpg
Click to expand...

The damascus on the middle one is nothing short of a work of art, Charlie. I'd probably mortgage my future to get that pattern on a proper Barlow (with a sheepsfoot, obviously :p).

What really has me interested, though, is the finish of the blade on the AAPK knife. And that gorgeous jigged bone. Outstanding stuff! :thumbup:
 
Just wanted to post a picture of my Cranberry Fleet certainly not money for old-rope:D:cool:

IMG_3752.jpg
 
waynorth said:
The idea of making a newer version of the old WWI knife is getting around!!

Lone%20Star%20and%20AAPK%201_zpsesd2cpjj.jpg
Click to expand...

Glad to see your two Lone Stars. [emoji6]
I didn't want to carry the same type of knife two weeks in a row, so your SFO Rope is next week.

I must say, loving that you did a different cover on the Lone Star. Who did that for you? Also, how did you patina your set of SFOs?
 
Jack Black said:
Two great-looking knives TsarBomba :thumbup: The latter is a British army knife, rather than a naval knife though. Sadly, many of the pics are now missing from this thread - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1094371-Military-Clasp-Knives - but you may find it of interest :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thank you, and thanks doubly for the information! A lot of the literature online about these knives claims a naval heritage (which explains the versions with a sheepsfoot master) but it makes sense that the pattern itself would have found wider use in the military. It really is built like a tank and has cutting power for days. You must know that I have to get my hands on a spear example now. :eek: ;)
 
TsarBomba said:
Thank you, and thanks doubly for the information! A lot of the literature online about these knives claims a naval heritage (which explains the versions with a sheepsfoot master) but it makes sense that the pattern itself would have found wider use in the military. It really is built like a tank and has cutting power for days. You must know that I have to get my hands on a spear example now. :eek: ;)
Click to expand...

You're very welcome, they're great knives. The British WW2 Navy Knife is larger and doesn't have the can-opener. Some of the confusion may come from the fact that some of the European copies WERE made for and issued to the navies of those countries, Belgium for example. The arrow found on British and Commonwealth examples is the military acceptance mark. The spear point is a BEAST! :D :thumbup: Good luck in finding one. I'll try to update that thread at some point, it's a shame so many images are no longer hosted :thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top