MILITARYANDANTIQUEKNIVES.CO.UK
KNIFE SALES
Note that in order to comply with UK law I will only sell knives to persons over 18. If you are a new customer or are otherwise unknown to me please do not be offended if I ask for proof of age.
As a collector myself I know that finances can at times be tight and we may not always be able to buy what we want. However I have had a couple of instances recently where I have gone to the trouble of getting postage and insurance quotes and the deal struck with payment promised. Only for the potential buyer to back out at the very last minute and in one instance I had in the meantime told a regular customer that the piece had sold. I am always happy to co-operate and work with serious buyers if for more expensive items a payment plan is in order.
It is also worth mentioning for overseas buyers (i.e. outside of the EU) that I will work with you in terms of customs forms and value. Items will always be sent by tracked a signed for, where it is available for your country. However note that insurance can be very expensive but if you choose not to take it or wish it at a low value it would be at your risk.
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Original 1942 dated 2nd Pattern F-S drawing.
I am lucky enough to own the original Wilkinson tracing drawing of the 2nd Pattern F-S produced in 1942. Some years ago I did a limited number of reprints of this drawing but since then it has been filed away. If there is sufficient interest I will look to redo the reprints at full size. The size being 23.5 inches by 33 inches. A copy of the drawing is shown below. Price including UK postage will be £22. Prices for overseas vary depending on USA, Australia, Europe. will get postage once I know your location.
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A very rare one of a kind Wilkinson Shakespear Knife blade with sheath. This style of Shakespear knife blade and its accompanying sheath is of a style never previously noted with Shakespear knives, and was shown in my London Knife Book. The blade is a flat "oval" shape and carries the etched panel of SHAKESPEAR KNIFE WILKINSON PALL MALL. The tang has flat section and a threaded top which is unlike that seen with other Shakespear knives. Also the sheath is a plain tan leather with belt flap. There is some staining to blade and a very slight 'ding' at the tip. The piece shows all the signs of never having been completely assembled with a grip, and the blade form and sheath are considered to be a unique examples. Blade length is 8 inches. Of note that a Shakespear Knife of standard form recently sold for in excess of $10000. Price of this unique piece is £750. More images available on request NOW £650
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Mid Victorian era folding lock back dirk by William Nicholson. 9.25 inches open, 5 inches closed with horn scales. Ricasso marked to W NICHOLSON PATENT along with VR crown. Mark is partial obscured as it overlaps the ricasso. Metal parts a dull with age and there is some side wobble and slight slackness in the locked position. You will also note that it does not appear to lock open in s straight line but this is a feature I have seen on several period lock back dirks.
£385 including UK postage, oversea extra. NOW £325
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Lock back folding dirk by James Rodgers. Written up in the Journal of the Antique Bowie Knife Association. Grips are polished bone. £650 including UK postage. Overseas postage extra. More images available on request. NOW £600
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tunning Folder by LUND. This piece is shown in my London Knife Book. In the open position it is 43cm in length. The Ivory grips are perfect. The back spring on the knife is very strong so watch your fingers! The blade has some dried wax on it that will clean and there are some areas of staining along the back edge. Annoyingly the knife was originally perfect but when I lent it to someone and they did not keep it in ideal conditions. The difference can be seen from the original London Knife Book image and how the knife is now. I am reluctantly parting with this piece but there is something I want more. Sales to UK and Europe comply with CITIES regulations as the ivory is pre 1947. £1250 including UK postage.
NOW £1000
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Very rare experimental escape and evasion/survival knife by Jospeh Rodgers. Not a lot is known about these knives but they seem to date from the early post WW2 period and come in two variations. I previously sold both my collection examples and this one represents only the 5th or 6th one I have ever seen. £450 including UK postage
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Late Victorian Bowie knife with blade marked to J BUCK 56 HOLBORN VIADUCT E.C. Joseph Mathew Buck was born in 1834 the son of Joseph Buck (1802 -1884), Joseph Buck being listed in the trade directories as a Tool Maker and being the son of Mathew Buck Saw maker.
In the 1861, 71 and 81 censuses Joseph Mathew is shown as Shopsman in Tool Makers. He took his fathers business in 1884 when Joseph senior died. The premises at 56 Holborn Viaduct appears to have been occupied circa 1881 as prior to that date the firm was at 124 Newgate St. In the 1891 he is listed as Saw, file and mechanical tool maker. He died in 1909 but the firm carried on at Holborn Viaduct until at least 1921, though the name of the firm continued on at other addresses until at least 1940.
The bowie in common with many London retailed knives was almost certainly made in Sheffield but with no indication as to who the maker was. The horn hilt is however unusual in shape and the lanyard ring appears to be original to the knife. This is an unusual feature and probably reflects use by a mounted military man. The sheath is also unusual in that it has an embossed pattern on the front and the reverse locket carries an horizontal bar rather than having a frog stud. The shetah mounts appear to have originally been plated but this has worn off. Blade is 9 inched, overall length 13.25 inches. Some sharpening marks to blade. More images on request. WAS £650 NOW £600
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The following new items for sale. Prices include UK postage overseas will be extra. Alos not given the COVID situation there maybe delays in getting to the Post Office so bear wiht me on that front.
Images for the knives will follow after the descriptions. Please contact me if you require any further images.
GRAB LOT OF 3 MISCELLANEOUS KNIVES:
Kitchen Knife by George Gill and Son Sheffield dated 1943 with broad arrow in custom made sheath presumably for use as a field knife. Some rust marks and stains.
Small sheath knife stamped OKAPI FOREIGN with leather sheath. OKAPI was sued by a numbers of firm last being used by Arthur Bohmer who ceased operation in 1971 though the company name was then bought out by a South African firm. This is certainly from the Bohmer factory. One small area of rust to blade and areas of paint lifted from grip.
Field/workshop made trench knife possibly Italian comes in cut down Italian bayonet sheath. Although somewhat crude the knife is quite well made with hard wood scales. Overall patina to metal and some edge knocks.
£45 for the 3 including UK postage.
RAF Flight Suit Knife. This is the early bowie blade version the later version had the curved blade. Made by George Ibberson. The Ibberson mark and the Air Ministry code numbers are very faint. With the metal sheath. £30
WW2 Private purchase fighting knife by Taylor Eye Witness. Stacked leather grip alloy pommel and brass guard. Blade has some staining. Brown leather sheath broken keeper strap. The knife is very unusual in that the grip is short compared with other examples being 0.75 inches shorter but was made that way. RESERVED
WW2 Private purchase fighting knife by BUCK & RYAN. Stacked leather grip alloy pommel and brass guard. Blade stained overall, sheath worn with some replacement rivets, keeper strap missing. Buck and Ryan were a London based retailer and pieces marked by them are rather scarce, only ever had two in many years of collecting. £185
WW2 Private purchase fighting knife by Southern and Richardson. Stacked leather grip brass pommel and guard. Blade overall patina , brown leather sheath unusual in that it has had an additional keeper strap added. Guard slightly bent and pommel piece a little loose. £165 SOLD
Post WW2 Wilkinson 3rd Pattern Nickel finish. Has the domed screw head pommel nut used on some Wilkinson post war knives. Complete with very nice condition sheath. £325 SOLD
Post WW2 Wilkinson 3rd Pattern Nickel finish. Has short Wilkinson trademark that lacks the Royal Appointment etching and domed screwed pommel nut. These are reputedly of the type procured as presentation pieces by the RM. Comes complete with original auction paperwork. With sheath. £325
Post WW2 All Black finish 3rd Pattern. Although not having a Wilkinson etch this piece is almost certainly a Wilkinson product having the slotted pommel nut they used during the post war period. It is however doubly unusual in that it just carries the FS Fighting Knife logo. Complete with sheath. £275
Post WW2 Wilkinson Knife. This is a highly unusual Wilkinson Knife and only the second one like it that I have seen. The smooth grip is made from some form of hard plastic type material, the crossguard is slightly thinner than that normally encountered. The bright blade has both the F-S Fighting Knife logo and the Wilkinson trademark of the type used on WW2 period and very early post war knives. No sheath. A real curiosity. £225 SOLD
Rare George Ibberson/ Swaine and Adeney Commando Knife. Made by George Ibberson and Co for the high class London gentlemen Outfitters Swaine and Adeney, Piccadilly these knives have a stag grip, brass guard and very well made leather sheath that is bespoke to these knives. These knives are easily datable as Swaine and Adeney amalgamated with Briggs in Feb 1943 thus any knives made after that date would have been marked Swaine Adeney Briggs and Son. Blade has some wear but marking are clear. This is the actual piece shown in my FS Fighting Knife book. Only for sale because I have been lucky enough to find a near mint example. £450
Named Tom Beasley Knife Stunning example of the 3 banner etch Tom Beasley knife complete with named (i.e. initials DFW) panel. Complete with correct sheath £925 SOLD