WWII Aussie Made Army Knives/BAKs

[Dunc]

OOOoooohhhhhhh I like those    thanks for sharing 

[65bellett]

Well I did some chasing and asking around about my Grandfathers BAK and apparently it was an original item from his days in the service. My Mum was telling me that my old Granddad told her stories when she was a kid about how he used the spike to detect land mines (not sure if it was true, he did like telling a tall tale ).

The sad part of the story is that he gave the knife to my cousin who had it stolen out of his fishing tackle box that was in the back of his ute ggggrrrrrr. I hope it has made it's way back to some body that appreciates it for what it is.

[Jack Russell]

We were instructed to probe beneath the surface of sand and soil for anti tank mines with pigsticker type bayonets when I did my National service so its most probably true.

Mike

[ausjulius]

its gonna have to be a crazy solider and a mine  that has been put far to close to the surface, these things are only 3 inches ,
they are marlin spikes  for undoing rope knots.
the spike bayonet was indeed conceived as a mine probe, in conjunction with the entrenching tool handle,

[u2eZ]

My grandmother recently gave me my late grandfathers WE army knife. It is a 1930s model with the original can opener.

Story from this past weekend:

Anyways, on the flight back I accidentally left it in my carry-on bag and took it through security. The security guys found it and made a fuss, I guess the old rusted thing looked menacing to them, especially with that marlin spike (they would not know what it is for).

So I was escorted back out to the check-in lobby and had to make a tough decision. Had 15 minutes to catch my flight and no way to check the knife in or mail it to myself.

Long story short, ended up out on the street and gave it to an honest-looking taxi driver along with a mailing address and $20 (mailing is $3.00, so $17 for being a good guy). Shook his hand, got his name and told him it belonged to my grandfather.

I hope to receive it in the mail in a few days

If I do receive it, I'm going to mail him an extra $20 as a christmas present.

This old relic is worth FAR more than $40 to me. Would have missed my flight to keep it safe even, but I had obligations that I could not miss back home.

It has seen combat in WW2, in an artillery unit. Would hate for it to finally be torn from the family after 75 years due to our overzealous airport clerks and a mental blunder on my part.

edit: from the first pic in the original post, it closely resembles the third one. It is marked with the WE of Wittingslowe Engineering, however the can opener is an older style (crab claw). It also has the military-issue 'crows foot' marking at the base of the can opener.

[Reinier]

That's quite a story! 
I hope that taxi driver is an honest man...

[Neil]

   Scary story.  Please keep us informed.

You should be OK.  Most people are honest

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Best of luck mate

[Dunc]

  Scary story.  Please keep us informed.

You should be OK.  Most people are honest

Yes please tell us the outcome .

[sparky415]

Fingers crossed here for a good outcome 

[u2eZ]

Will certainly keep you informed. It is domestic mailing, so probably at most a week for shipping, once he mails it.

Will snap some pics when it arrives, some before a clean/polish/oil, and some after.

Thinking about engraving my grandfathers name on it as well.

Got my fingers crossed too!

thank you

edit:

factoid - when we discovered it, it was lying in an old toolbox in the basement since the 60s. Aside from the usual scuff marks and wear&tear, it is in good condition. everything locks tight and nothing is loose. It will likely be the only drawer king in my stash. Definitely not a user tool, seeing as its lifetime warranty has expired three times over now

[MultiMat]

My grandmother recently gave me my late grandfathers WE army knife. It is a 1930s model with the original can opener.

Story from this past weekend:

Anyways, on the flight back I accidentally left it in my carry-on bag and took it through security. The security guys found it and made a fuss, I guess the old rusted thing looked menacing to them, especially with that marlin spike (they would not know what it is for).

So I was escorted back out to the check-in lobby and had to make a tough decision. Had 15 minutes to catch my flight and no way to check the knife in or mail it to myself.

Long story short, ended up out on the street and gave it to an honest-looking taxi driver along with a mailing address and $20 (mailing is $3.00, so $17 for being a good guy). Shook his hand, got his name and told him it belonged to my grandfather.

I hope to receive it in the mail in a few days

If I do receive it, I'm going to mail him an extra $20 as a christmas present.

This old relic is worth FAR more than $40 to me. Would have missed my flight to keep it safe even, but I had obligations that I could not miss back home.

It has seen combat in WW2, in an artillery unit. Would hate for it to finally be torn from the family after 75 years due to our overzealous airport clerks and a mental blunder on my part.

edit: from the first pic in the original post, it closely resembles the third one. It is marked with the WE of Wittingslowe Engineering, however the can opener is an older style (crab claw). It also has the military-issue 'crows foot' marking at the base of the can opener.

Mate I sure hope you get your grandfather's knife back, I would be gutted to loose something like that. My grand father served in France during WWI , apparently he was the ring leader of a group of Diggers(aussie soldiers) that 'borrowed'  a tram in Paris  . I was a baby when he died, I sure wish I could of got too know him  .

u2eZ I have come across 3 different Whittingslowe army issue clasp knives(trying too not call them BAK's  ). Maybe I should call them AAK's(Aussie Army Knife)  .

1'st one;

2'nd one;

3'rd one with minimal manufacturing markings


I think the 3'rd one might be the same as yours  , here are some more pics ;




You can just make out the WE & Arrow head on the can opener.

When you get yours back(fingers crossed) we need pics