Wilkinson Sword have announced closure of their sword & knife making factory, the roots of this historic British company...
Quote:
FACTORY CLOSURE
Wilkinson Sword Ltd regrets that after very careful consideration of all alternative options the Company has made the difficult decision to announce that it intends to close its specialist sword-making division in Acton, West London. As a result of falling demand over many years, we have been left with no option but to consider ceasing production of the high quality specialist sword and knife products made by Wilkinson Sword at the end of September 2005. If you have any queries before this date please phone +44 208 749 1061 or for US Callers 1-866 THE SWORD (1-866 843 7967).
It's unknown at this time if or how the closure of the Acton factory will affect the manufacture of the popular Dartmoor survival knives, Fairbairn-Sykes commando knives or the Ray Mears branded Woodlore knife.
#1 Posted by Ratel10mm (2500 posts) at 09 Aug 2005 - 16:13
Oh no! I realise that there's a small market now for their products, but this really is sad news. :-(
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#2 Posted by fastbreak (342 posts) at 10 Aug 2005 - 05:21
I think that is very sad, the end of an era and a big problem for the specialist workers at the factory.
I suspect that some of the experts will set up as independent sword/knife smiths. At least I hope so.
Have fun
Mike
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#3 Posted by Martyn (19456 posts) at 10 Aug 2005 - 07:10
I think it's deeply sad also. An end of an era.
It's not just the loss of things like the Dartmoor knife and the Ray mears knife, but I think of more importance is the loss of the military swords they make. For the last 200 years, they have supplied swords to the household cavalry and regulation pattern swords to every other unit of the British Army, Navy and Air Force.
It's a loss of national and historical importance.
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#4 Posted by Tigger (641 posts) at 18 Sep 2006 - 18:17
Very sad indeed,There was a guy called Malcom Ordever who used to work there,he lent me one of their basket hilt claymores for my mates wedding,as he's a Scot and we were all in Kilts,we needed something to cut the cake with.
Tigger.
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#5 Posted by Chris - Smith (2 posts) at 05 Dec 2007 - 10:11
What a terrible shame. Not only do I have the RM/Wilkinson "Woodlore" knife, with which I have been very pleased (couldn't handle the waiting list for the Alan Wood original), but I also still have my Wilkinson RAF officers sword. A bit of Brirish history gone forever (not exactly a new story, unfortunately)
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Wilkinson Sword close their Acton factory
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