British Blades :: Custom Knife Making - Oriental, Historical & Militaria...

Wakasashi queries part 2

Captain — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:16:31 GMT

Here is the second offering from a friends late father in law

This appears to have a scabbard and handle of ray skin with a silver fitting
the Tsuba looks like a quality item not original though I think.
nice sharp signiture not that I can read it
The blade is clean but not in good polish
again all information would be appreciated to be passed onto him as no info came with either of these wakasashi's
many thanks for all your info in the past I hope I can be of help

One last little item

This is from the same source He was told that this was a sweetheart gift given to girlfriends by their men when they went off to war.
I have not seen these or heard of the practice
Old wives tale?
Kind regards
Captain

Anybody help me identify a sword-stick please?

x-trukker — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:22:03 GMT

Hi all,

I'm new to these pages, although I have posted in the New Members section to introduce myself.

I've got a sword-stick which I've been curious about for most of my life, and wondered if anybody here can help me with any information.

It belonged to my next-door neighbour when I was a young 'un - he used it to prop open his garage door!! When I was round there with my Mum or Dad he used to let me play with it, and I was always fascinated with it. Then, when I was 10, they moved away and he gave it to me because of my interest.

That was 50 years ago, and I've never done anything with it - it's still in the same (poor) condition as when it was given to me. I've posted some photos on Photobucket, which I hope are going to work for me since I'm unable to upload images to this forum.

Photo 1 shows the item with the blade in the scabbard, alongside a tape measure. The whole thing is covered in scratches and scars, and the part of the scabbard at the top is missing.

Photo 2 shows the blade alongside the scabbard; the blade has been bent at some time towards the tip.

Photo 3 shows the decoration on one side of the blade, and Photo 4 shows the decoration on the other side.

The decoration consists of a 3-toed dragon incised on one side, and an ethnic-looking pattern on the other. I gather from a Google search that 3-toed dragons are Japanese, so maybe that's a pointer to its origin? There's no maker's name anywhere on the blade or the cane part of it, although there is further decoration on the brass ferrule where the scabbard meets the handle of the walking stick, but it's too badly tarnished (or, if I wanted to sell it, 'patinated') to photograph well. The blade is very sharp, and considering that it's been untouched for so long, surprisingly rust-free.

Can anybody give me any clue as to its age and its origin, please?

http://s668.photobucket.com/albums/v...os/Sword-stick

Information on forged folding knife blades, spring etc.?

jameswood — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:14:24 GMT

Grace's talk on sheffield folders (mainly the springs)at the bush fire forge-in has made me want to find more about these knifes and more specifically, the techniques and tools used to make them
i think im correct in thinking that some of the blades and springs for the folding knives made in Sheffield were forged to shape. most of you know, i quite like and am fairly good at forging and i would much prefer to knife the blades this way than stock removal.
i have made up a jig to for out flat bars of (relativity) even thickness today which is yet to be tested, this is one step further towards forging folder blades but still a long way away from it.

the things i would really like to know are:

how closely are the blades forged to shape
how important it is to forge to the correct thickness, or was the some sort of jig to ground it afterwards?
were the bevels forged on or ground after?

Wakasashi queries

Captain — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:42:59 GMT

Well word has got out
After your help with various bits in my collection I would again appreciate your help
A good friend has inherited a small collection of swords from his late father in law. Most have been sold however he has kept a few japanese pieces.
2 of which I would like to put before you.

The first is what looks like a WW2 sword only that it is only 555mm from point to hand guard the handle being 190mm. the fittings all look WW2 except that the menuki are fish. and the habaki is worked

The blade is in fair order a few faults but has a beautyifull Hamon with a good level of polish

There are no markings on the tang

I would love to able to tell him more about this and the next one, I will post the other one over the next few days
many thanks again
Captain

Early Pattern Wilkinson Sword Survival Knives

Wildrover — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:56:01 GMT

We all know and love the Wilky Dartmoor and the Type D survival knives.

but..
Does anyone have any info and pics showing the earlier patterns ?
I Know there have been previous types, however my Googlefu appears to be weak and I'm having problems finding out more info.

Any help appreciated

Chris

info wanted on joseph rodgers style dirk

case — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:57:37 GMT

hi guys,
im having another go at an old style of dirk,like the n.z bush rangers used to carry back in the 1800s.this is my last attempt from a few years ago.

just wondering if any one knows of a link to some pictures of this type of thing.im struggling to find more examples of this style knife and or sheath.ive only got one piccie from a magazine to go off.ill post up a picture when im done too.
id dosnt need to be a rodgers one specifically,just the style.
thanks,casey

Military Folder Weekend Find "Q"

take-down — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:21:12 GMT

Hi all
Had a look at the local collectors fair on Saturday and found this folder
Different markings on it to anything else I have. The scales apear to be horn but square on the sides like a slab not rounded off
At first I thought that the can opener had the end broken off but now I'm not sure could any body answer that "Q"
The Makers Mark on the tin opener looks like it may have been miss struck & not all is visable The first Letter May be an A or H or R then again it could be M.J---*
Include 2 pictures of the markings on the spike
If any body could provide any futher infomation on this knife it would be great
Thanks all

Old Spanish folder

Gene Chapman — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:23:34 GMT

This reproduction of a old Spanish folder plus image of the old folder, on Ebay. What a great old knife.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160472130983

Help Please On Wostenholm Folder

take-down — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:23:03 GMT

I had a lot of views on my other post but proberly to much in the way of photos
so I'll ask 1 section at a time
A couple of Military Clasps
On the left a poor example. The one on the right could somebody please give me a period of manufacture

No 1 on the left I have had floating round for years
A bit of a disaster. Blade reshaped & somebody had a go at camo paint
Marked I*XL George
Wostenholm
Sheffied
England Oil the joint on the other side No other markings

No 2 On the right just picked up only has the makers mark no other marks
Marked George
Wostenholm
Sheffield
England

Thanks in advance
Cheers Graham

my viking blades

J.Christensen — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:23:55 GMT

hello there.
just want to show of my viking gear :)
the axe is not a viking age axe but a carpenters axe i know but it is hand forged and looks like a small headed bearded axe ;)
the knife and the seax is made by one mysterious smitd (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...k-viking-knife)
that i dont remember the name of:) the seax is one of the first blades he made and the knife is from last year :)
hope you like !

regards

Video of Japanese sword smith

watcher — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:42:43 GMT

Robin & I are just back from a trip to Japan where I was lucky enough to spend a day filming a wonderful sword smith; Yoshida Yasutaka. We were actually over there with a group of European carpenters working with a group of Japanese carpenters (more on my blog here) but we had a couple of blacksmiths with us and their Yoshida san was their blacksmith for the event. The smiths all went for a day at his workshop and I managed to get an invitation to go along and film.

Here's a few photos and a very rough-cut video of the trip... He lives in the hills not far from mount Fuji - the nearest big place in Enzan if you know the region. It is beautiful, but incredibly hot and humid at this time of year!

He has built a special tea house at the back of his house / workshop where we were given a ceremonial view of a sword he had made:

Then he we went for a play in the forge, starting with a bloom (this is a big show-off bit in the hands of Manfred the German blacksmith!)

And a picture of his forge set-up. It was so hot filming here that I could hardly hold the metal body of my video camera:

Finally some video - this is a very quick rough cut I did whilst over there - once I get over my jetlag I will make a longer and better version of this, there is so much brilliant material there!

The other blacksmith with us is knifemaker Gunther Lobach of ScorpioDesign by the way ... I saw his shapeshifter knives whilst in Japan and they are great!

Wostenholm & Others With "Q"s

take-down — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:12:58 GMT

Well after my first post & the fact I found this site and got Ron Flook's book I can't go to a show without ratting through the knives. I guess I'm done for
A few photos of knives I had & those I have just picked up

No 1 on the left I have had floating round for years
A bit of a disaster. Blade reshaped & somebody had a go at camo paint
Marked I*XL George
Wostenholm
Sheffied
England Oil the joint on the other side No other markings

No 2 On the right just picked up only has the makers mark no other marks
Marked George
Wostenholm
Sheffield
England

Another 2

No 3 Top Tip broken off and reshaped I would guess
Maker Johnson

No 4 Bottom
Maker Southern & Richardson

2 More

No 5 Top
No markings at all

No 6 Bottom
A.B.L. 1951 From reading on these forums It is a Belgum Copy

Any thoughts, information on these would be great please
The one that I have read alot about is Wostenholm but I am unable to date No 2
Thanks in advance
Cheers Graham

T. Turner -- all SS folding rigger -- Info?

Shepherd Jim — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:25:47 GMT

Hey All! I've just purchased this all SS rigger on eBay(US). It's not the usual - what I think of as the English "military contract" - knife. I don't have it in my hands yet put the tang apparently reads "T. Turner / Cutlers to His Majesty / Sheffield.

I have the sense that I've seen this pattern before, but of course,now that it matters, I can't remember where. Is anyone familiar with this.

Thanks! Jim, Bristol, Maine USA

Lots of pics! Authentic William Rodgers WWII knife?

The Virginian — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:53:05 GMT

Hello,

I'm new to this forum so I hope you find this post interesting and perhaps some of you can provide some opinions. It's a long one, so settle down for a good read... :)

At a recent local auction there was a sizeable collection of bayonets - some quite rare - hidden amongst which was a dagger with 5" blade. It was well made and had a good feel in the hand, so since bidding was low, I bought it. (The sheath has been well & truly mucked about. Looks like a 10 year old decided to carve some "American Indian" shapes into it with a soldering iron, then paint it. Perhaps I can source a better one.)

As you can see from the photos, it's a William Rodgers dagger of the type that was sometimes purchased in WWII as a personal "defense" knife. However, since they were made up til the 80's, I'm now intrigued as to hold old mine is. Could it be from the WWII era?

I think it may be an early one due to the materials used and the way each part of it appears hand-finished, rather than mass produced. In detail:

1. The pommel is nicely contoured and flows smoothly from the handle, yet it's not perfectly oval and doesn't seem machine-turned. Aluminium was used from the early 50's, but this is made from something else. It looks like pewter (is that feasible?). Finally, the brass hexagon surrounding the tang at the base is a perfect fit yet its shape is uneven. I've included a cheap 60's knife with aluminium pommel next to it to better highlight the differences.

2. The handle has the full set of 37 brass washers + spacers, is oval in section and narrows at both ends to give an excellent fit in the hand, whereas the others I have seen look to be a rounder, simpler shape with straighter edges and (sometimes) less spacers.

3. All of the others I have seen have a simple oval guard, made of brass on later ones. Mine is a completely different shape with pronounced quillons that have distinct filing marks on the back. I'm not sure what the metal is - it's not brass and is different to all the others on the knife.

4. The front edge of the ricasso is uneven and slightly off centre, while the blade shows surface scratches but no machining marks. It isn't shiny in the way that modern stainless is - it has a duller, "bluer" look to it - and seems to have remarkably little corrosion.

So there it is. Since I didn't pay much, at the very least I have an unusual knife and if it doesn't have historic value then I will probably clean it up. If it is a real handmade oldie however, then it stays as it is.

Opinions gratefully received....

Chinese Made, Japanese Katana

PapiGill — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:57:28 GMT

Hey,

I recently bought a Japanese Katana and the maker says it is a Tempered, Folded San Mai Steel blade. Although it is in the process of being delivered, I have some suspicions and this being my first sword I would like some help to find out if it really is what the sword maker claims it to be.

Here is the link: (there are pictures and descriptions on how it is made)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TemperedFolde...efaultDomain_0

Thank you for your time.