The "Purser's Dirk" - The Royal British Navy Seaman's Clasp Knife - 1943

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 As readers of this little blog have come to know, one of the areas of my modest collection involves military knives, and specifically knives from World War II, the war in which my father fought.  Every year I try to attend the local gun show in town and the military show just south of town in search of more knives.  Yesterday I was blessed with an unexpected find.  Amazon carries the so-called "Official British Army Knife" and I have one of those; a simple one with only a blade, and obviously made for the civilian market.  But this one is the genuine article, and a real piece of history to hold in your hand.  The blade, I'm pretty sure, was a Sheepsfoot originally, but with repeated sharpening over the years has worn the blade into a different shape.  It lacks the can opener that the Army version has, but possesses the familiar Marlins Spike used in splicing ropes and untangling them and loosening tight knots.  

The tang stamp on the blade reads: J. ROGERS & SONS, NORFOLK/ 6 NORFOLK ST. SHEFIELD ENGLAND, on one side, and a star and a Maltese cross symbol on the other with the date 1943.  The Marline Spike also has the number 2 stamped into it (which is probably a manufacturer's mark or an inspector/production lot number).  This knife is of the "Admiralty Pattern 301".  

 A couple of videos on this knife with additional information and background history: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km6c9TXzQHo

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGLxTfV6TFM

 

 

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