MILITARYANDANTIQUEKNIVES.CO.UK

Welcome to my website, dedicated to collectors of Military and Antique Knives.

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 ​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

     The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife 

         and other Commando Knives.

       ​Privately published by the author in 2013

Articles by Ron Flook:

The Fair Sword.  BLADE  November 1992

Origins of Double Edged Smatchet. Knife World August 1997

FR693 Commando Knife. Knife Wolrd 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