Site last updated on: 19th Nov 2018 - Apologies for the long delay in updates but a number of issues got in the way. However the main news is that I have in final preparation a small booklet on the history and knives of ROBBINS DUDLEY. Its gives a full history of the firm along with illustrations of their unique knives. See books for sale page.
I started to collect edged weapons back in the early 1970's when I bought a french brass hilted bayonet as a wall hanger. A few further purchases got me into buying a book on the subject which led me to the late Gordon Hughes's Primers. Noting that Gordon had also done a small booklet on Military Knives I also bought that. But the one thing I noticed from this book was the lack of real information on Military Knives, thus I sold my bayonets and started collecting military knives. One of my first purchases being a 1st Pattern F-S knife from Gordon for the sum of £55, a good investment looking at what they are fetching now.
My interest was particularly aimed at research and finding out more about the knives as much as it was in the objects themselves. This research has over the years resulted in me writing to various museums, companies and individuals and finally many hours spent in the UK National Archives seeking out the World War 2 contracts for the F-S knives.
A slight deviation from the military side but one which partially stemmed from a military style knife was my research into the London cutlery trade and this developed into an interest in antique knives especially bowie style knives.
My various researches have culminated in a number of articles and published works. I am a member of the Antique Bowie Knife Association and was a member of the now defunct Wilkinson Collectors Society.
My website will provide occassional sales, articles and other information related to my areas of interest. Click on the link buttons that to be directed to the appropriate page. I welcome questions from other serious collectors, though I do not give valuations as there can be many variables that can impact of the value of a knife. I am also interested in purchasing F-S knives, SOE items and knives (non-surgical) made by WEISS of London. See my Wanted section for more specific details of my wants.
Ron Flook
Books by Ron Flook:
A Photographic Primer of Military Knives.
Privately Published by the author in 1990,
now out of print
British and Commonwealth Military
Knives.
Published by Airlife in 1999, now out of print.
The London Knife Book.
Published by Antique Knives Ltd 2008
Out of Print
The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife
and other Commando Knives.
Privately published by the author in 2013
Articles by Ron Flook:
Argentinian Knives of the Falklands Campaign. Guns, Weapons and Militaria, April 1984
The Fair Sword. BLADE November 1992
Origins of Double Edged Smatchet. Knife World August 1997
FR693 Commando Knife. Knife World December 1999
The Baldock Knife Spear. Knife World July 2002
Military and Other Knife Jottings. Knife World November 2002
Military and Other Knife Jottings II. Knife World January 2004
The Mystery of Bruce Hand and John Paisley. www.usmiltaryknives.com/flook. Febraury 2004
Presentation Bowie by Weiss of London. Antique Bowie Journal Fall 2005
Dirk Knives of Gilles and Uxbridge. Antique Bowie Journal No.1 2006
The British Military Gravity Knife. Knife World July 2008
John Weiss and Son and the 1851 Great Exhibition Knife. Knife World November 2008
London's Finest Edge- Historic Cutlers of the Capital. Classic Arms and Militaria Vol XI Issue 6 2008.
A Sheriff's Folding Bowie. Antique Bowie Journal Winter 2008 No.6
Dr. Lawder's Push Dagger. Antique Bowie Journal No.7 2009
Is it or Isn't it SOE. Knife World April 2009
English Knives with a touch of San Francisco and Scandinavia. Knife World June 2009
Knives of Robbins of Dudley. Knife World February 2010 (in conjunction with John Pidgeon)
Some Foreign F-S Knives. Knife World July 2010
Two Knives of Interest. Antique Bowie Journal Winter 2010 No.10
Some of my Favorite Knives. Knife World January 2011
Falyon of Edinburgh. Antique Bowie Journal Spring 2011 No. 13
Walter Thornhill and Co. Cutler to Royalty. Knife World September 2011.
John Weiss. Antique Bowie Journal Spring 2012 No.16
James Rodgers Folding Dirk. Antique Bowie Journal Summer 2012 No.17.
Makers of the SOE Knives Revealed. Knife World September 2012.
F-S Fighting Knife Myths Explored. Knfe World October 2014.
The Mystery of Bruce Hand and John Paisley Re-visited. Knife World February 2015.
On the Hunt ( A Weiss Bowie) Antique Bowie Journal 2015 No.1.
A Robbins Dudley at the Battle of the Somme. Knife World July 2015
Another Weiss Bowie. Antique Bowie Journal 2015 No, 4.
A Late Thornhill Gem (Just About an Antique) Antique Bowie Journal 2016 No.2
Researching Named F-S Knives. Knife Magazine July 2016 Vol 2. Number 7
William John Waterer London Sword Maker & Cutler. KNIFE Magazine August 2017
A George Butler Pre-Civil War Bowie. Antique Bowie Journal 2017 No. 3
Wilkinson Sword F-S Knives -The Post War Specials. KNIFE Magazine November 2017
Wilkinson Sword's Post WWII F-S Trademarks. KNIFE Magazine May 2018
The Canadian Engineering Training Centre Commando Knife. KNIFE Magazine June 2018
J. W. Petrie and his Knives. KNIFE Magazine August 2018
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