RAF pilots knife

[Dunc]

Continued on from this thread http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,2541.0.html
  Heres the pics





If you look really close you can just see Joseph Rogers ( Sheffield ) but its not clear


If you type "SAS knife " or " Ninja , Navy Seal knife " into ebay or google you get back a load of crap cheap knives but this knife really was used by the SAS



I've tried to find a photo of an RAF pilot with the knife inplace upside down on his leg but the only ones I found were to small .So if anyone finds any pics or has any more info please let me know .

Dunc

[Benner]

Nice one Dunc! 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice knife mate, and it should serve you well on the ole lifeboats

What's the blade material mate

[Dunc]

Nice knife mate, and it should serve you well on the ole lifeboats

What's the blade material mate

Arr thats the problem , while I agree its a very nice knife I dont think it will be any good on the lifeboat , all that salt water exposure and the correct way to mount it is to stich ( or in my case glue ) a canvas sheath that the metal scabard fits into onto my drysuit .I have seen coastguard helicopter winchmen use them and I think they still do and would love to know if they are std issue but i doubt it , its more like the coastguard heli crews are ex RAF and aquired the kit .While they are very suited in that role and just look at the shape of the blade   when its sharp its an ideal rope/line cutter . But the knives an old design and there are much better knives on the market for its intended use . My Spyderco atlantic Salt is a good example although the good old Swisstool RS while not as easy to get to as the spyderco has seen more action   Theres just something about this knife I love . Maybe its because my father brought one home and kind of gave it too me ( I was five at the time ) , it was blunt and he kept an eye on me . But I had that knife all the way through to my teens , it had a std clip point blade which made it earlier then the one I have  ( its also exteamly rare   ) then I donated it to a museum   It seemed like a good idea at the time but now I regreet it so much . Anyway its nice to have one again , they hold alot of memories as  I was born on an RAF base which although now closed is only about 10 miles from me .

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Wow I can see your interest in them now that the family association's been mentioned, I'd just assumed you were an SAS wanabe

That why I was wondering about the steel, Ideally it'd be a stainless blade, but in my experience most brit blade are carbon steel, which would make it less than perfect for the north sea

It's a lovely knife though mate, and definatly a keeper, I would'nt take the risk of the glue coming loose and your knife taking a long lonely trip in to the deep brinney sea

Thanks for sharing the tale and the picture's mate

[J-sews]

Yes thanks for sharing!!

Now tell me again how those grip safety bars work? Are they uncomfortable when you hold onto the knife?

[Dunc]

Yes thanks for sharing!!

Now tell me again how those grip safety bars work? Are they uncomfortable when you hold onto the knife?

you push the two bars in together to release the knife from the sheath , it opens up the catch in the end of the handle . Funny enough its not uncomfortable to hold as they are spring loaded although you wouldnt think so to look at it .

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yes thanks for sharing!!

Now tell me again how those grip safety bars work? Are they uncomfortable when you hold onto the knife?

you push the two bars in together to release the knife from the sheath , it opens up the catch in the end of the handle . Funny enough its not uncomfortable to hold as they are spring loaded although you wouldnt think so to look at it .

Dunc

Its still a good solution for what was a pre kydex world

[Dunc]

Thats very true , in fact thinking about it its better then kydex , imagine being in the cockpit of a jet fighter pulling loads of Gs and the knife coming out of the sheath  The locking system is over engineered and expensive but its just about perfect , both buttons have to be pressed at the same time, one wont unlock it on its own but at the same time its quick just a press with the thumb and finger and its out and with it being mounted upside down its a very quick release system .

Dunc

[Dunc]

Thought I'd move this thread into here from the break room .

  I have just emailed The Egginton group who own the Joseph Rodgers company asking for any info . I wonder if they will be as helpfull as Victorinox .


Dunc

[J-sews]

Thought I'd move this thread into here from the break room .

  I have just emailed The Egginton group who own the Joseph Rodgers company asking for any info . I wonder if they will be as helpfull as Victorinox .


Dunc

Ooh! I hope they reply! 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Dunc has a way of charming companies into providing information!

Def

[J-sews]

He is quite the charmer alright....just ask the mother of his two children!

[Dunc]

    Well I heard back today . They didnt have any info for me but they did supply some interesting links . Heres a copy of the email ......

Thank you for your e-mailed enquiry.

 

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond personally to e-mails from private individuals.  Furthermore, the companies which comprise our group have only been with us for a relatively short time in their long histories.  Regrettably therefore we have only a limited knowledge about their products and history before this time.

 

We hope that this standard reply will answer any questions you may have about our products or our companies.

 

1. For valuations of old knives and cutlery, we suggest that you contact a reputable local antiques dealer or knife speSmurfpillst.

 

2. For historical information on old products made by the companies which now form our group or on the companies themselves, we suggest that you contact Sheffield City Museum, Weston Park, Sheffield, S10, England - tel: +44 (0) 114 278 2600 or The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, The Cutler's Hall, Church Street, Sheffield S1 1HG - tel +44 (0) 114 272 8456; fax: +44 (0) 114 272 1868.  Alternatively, there have been a number of books written on the subject.

 

3. You could also try the following websites which speSmurfpillse in the field of collectible knives - www.nwknives.com 

http://www.knivesaustralia.com.au/  or http://cutlerscove.com/knife-web-guide.htm

 

4. Please note that our current range of products are sold online by a number of internet stores which we list as follows:-

 

http://www.madeinsheffield.com

http://www.sheffield-made.com

http://www.littlemesters.com

 

We thank you for your interest in our products.

 

Best regards

 



 

EGGINTON BROS LTD

Sheffield Manufacturers of Sharpening Steels

& Equipment for the Food Processing Industry

 

including

GEORGE IBBERSON

WILLIAM RODGERS

JOSEPH RODGERS

& GEORGE WOSTENHOLM

Sheffield Manufacturers of Fine Knives

 

25-31 Allen Street, Sheffield S3 7AW, England

t: +44 (0) 114 276 6123; e: sales@eggintongroup.co.uk

www.eggintongroup.co.uk

 

Registered in England.  Company registration no: 548464

VAT no: GB172470273

 

Should keep us busy for a while 


Dunc

[Benner]

I'm quite impressed that you actually got a response and a quick one at that. 

[Dunc]

A couple more pics I've found of the knife being carried






Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I hate that second picture, it always make's my bum look big (I'm the one on the left)

[Sea Monster]

Eggerstons or Iggletons, or something like that "Of Sheffield" does a line of Military knives that includes this style.

If I can remember how to spell the name...

Oh, dunc already said that on the last page.

Don't mind me.

la la la.

I'm quite impressed that you actually got a response and a quick one at that.

They seemed fast enough to reply to me too, always a good sign. - I'm trying to get a Cat out of them.

[Dunc]

Well now I have two 














Dunc

[J-sews]

Awesome! I'm envious of anything with the Joe Rodgers name on it, but these knives are beyond cool!    Fascinating mechanism with a great history!


Any idea what the numbering on the blade or on the sheath/guard means?

[Dunc]

Awesome! I'm envious of anything with the Joe Rodgers name on it, but these knives are beyond cool!    Fascinating mechanism with a great history!


Any idea what the numbering on the blade or on the sheath/guard means?

Only one of the two knives has Joseph Rodgers on the blade , the other is unmarked apart from the number on the tang . I am told the later ones didnt have the manufactores name on them .The older knife has a shorter number 22C/2966 while the later has 22c/1278106  . The numbers got longer when they introduced the Nato supply numbers.   22/C indicates its for flight equipment  ( RAF ) . The newer knife is dated 1996 but the other is much older , 60's - 70's I would think .Just lately there has been quite a few on ebay .

Dunc

[J-sews]

Maybe you already told me Dunc.......how long was this style of knife in service?

[Dunc]

Maybe you already told me Dunc.......how long was this style of knife in service?

Late 50's to late 90's I think . I dont have the exact dates .

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well done Dunc , any more thought about what your going to do with the second one

[Dunc]

Well done Dunc , any more thought about what your going to do with the second one

Not sure  I dont think the spring mechanism will stand up to life on the boat with constant exposure to salt water .
  I may in time get another one 

Dunc

[J-sews]

How unusual is the clip-point version like you were looking at a few weeks ago? And are there other blade styles besides those two?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well done Dunc , any more thought about what your going to do with the second one

Not sure  I dont think the spring mechanism will stand up to life on the boat with constant exposure to salt water .
  I may in time get another one 

Dunc

You may have to stop calling yourself the Sakman , Rafman has a good ring too it

Is the spring mechanism fairly exposed then

[Dunc]

How unusual is the clip-point version like you were looking at a few weeks ago? And are there other blade styles besides those two?

There are only two styles that I know of .In my life I have only seen one clip point in the flesh ( the one my father gave me ) and two on the internet . They are as rare as rocking horse sh*t .

Dunc

[Dunc]

Well done Dunc , any more thought about what your going to do with the second one

Not sure  I dont think the spring mechanism will stand up to life on the boat with constant exposure to salt water .
  I may in time get another one 

Dunc

You may have to stop calling yourself the Sakman , Rafman has a good ring too it

Is the spring mechanism fairly exposed then

You cant actually see it but its very easy for water to enter and leave .All the ones I've seen have had rust just visible inside the mechanism already .

Dunc

[BIG-TARGET]

I thought this was their issued knife now?
http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/803594/