Definitely a thread I need to contribute to!
Following Private Lugnutz British Army Jack Knife, here are a couple more with similar origins.
The knife with the black “Bexoid” scales is another army knife, but this one is unusual in that it has no tin opener, making it slim to carry, and is in very good condition.
Most of the knives from this era are superb to use, partly because of the quality of the steel, but also because of the quality of the grinding. The blades are generally ground relatively thin, and incredibly consistently. They can be sharpened with just a couple of strokes, and if blunt, re sharpened just as easily.
Many modern knives, despite some being incredibly expensive, often have very poorly ground blades. The “whetted portion” (to use an English cutlers term) is huge, impossible to sharpen without a good deal of re profiling, and if found on a used knife would be deemed in need of re grinding by any experienced user.
However, I digress!
The other knife shown is a British “Royal Navy” pattern jack knife. These things are incredibly solid by modern standards (like most navy equipment of the period) and incorporate metal scales. The blades are still very well ground and take a keen edge.
This one is by Rodgers, a maker that is regarded highly, although as far as navy knives are concerned I prefer other makers, as the blades on the Rodgers knives sit at a slight angle to the handle when open. I have probably close to fifty of these knives, all in good condition, and many unissued. I have unissued examples with wartime dates, and also from the very last batch produced for the Ministry of Defence in the 1980’s.
Rodgers, like many names from the British cutlery industry, went bankrupt some years ago. The name lives on, but bought up by a company that refuses, or is perhaps unable, to make knives of any quality. There are still some quality knives available in Sheffield, including military patterns, but you need a good eye to tell the trash from the treasure! Most is the former!
Both the knives shown below are my daily “users”. I use them regularly, since I have yet to find anything better!
