Belgian army knife....

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Yorkshire Andy
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Belgian army knife....

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

Got this having seen tanstaafl's pics and links...

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/british-ar ... oduct,1339

Is where mine came from it came in a resealable bag smothered in a rather tinacious grease so first off I dunked it in a jar of degreaser and uses a nylon brush to clean it up its almost spotless and like new.. Gave it a good oil after and gave it a sharpen (it was blunt)


Its got a sub 3" none locking blade.. A primitive tin opener bottle opener and a "Marline" spike ( used to unknot ropes) along with a strong hanging loop... And the end doubles as a large flat screw driver

Cost me about £12 posted. .


Image

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Certainly looks good for a 60 odd years old knife ... And feels very sturdy
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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Deeps
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Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:36 pm

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Deeps »

Yorkshire Andy wrote:Got this having seen tanstaafl's pics and links...

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/british-ar ... oduct,1339

Is where mine came from it came in a resealable bag smothered in a rather tinacious grease so first off I dunked it in a jar of degreaser and uses a nylon brush to clean it up its almost spotless and like new.. Gave it a good oil after and gave it a sharpen (it was blunt)


Its got a sub 3" none locking blade.. A primitive tin opener bottle opener and a "Marline" spike ( used to unknot ropes) along with a strong hanging loop... And the end doubles as a large flat screw driver

Cost me about £12 posted. .


Image

Image

Image

Certainly looks good for a 60 odd years old knife ... And feels very sturdy
Don't know about yours but they're not all 60 odd years old, I'm pretty sure they could be had from the 'ready use store' in Faslane a couple of years ago. I guess they weren't 'hot off the production line' but I don't think they were that old, it would probably be Bakelite for the grip if they were that old too. :lol: I'm sure I had one without the plastic grip a good while back too.
Yorkshire Andy
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

Ahh right was going by the 1951 on the can opener reading a few knife forums they seem to think its a production date..

The plastic doesn't feel like modern plastic but I know what you're saying. For something this substantial for the money I'm not complaining :)

Its not the lightest but for edc carry its not a menacing looking thing that said the spike is rather pointy
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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Deeps
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Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:36 pm

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Deeps »

Yorkshire Andy wrote:Ahh right was going by the 1951 on the can opener reading a few knife forums they seem to think its a production date..

The plastic doesn't feel like modern plastic but I know what you're saying. For something this substantial for the money I'm not complaining :)

Its not the lightest but for edc carry its not a menacing looking thing that said the spike is rather pointy
They're solid and decent, you're right, they are substantial, they lack the bells and whistles of newer knives. I've just been up and looked at one and I don't have any dates on it or even a 'pussers arrow' which I'm 99% sure the older ones had, maybe yours is 60 odd years old. :o Impressive.
Yorkshire Andy
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

The abl mark is relating to the Belgium army

See here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ure-heavy)

This guy seems to have a collection


Know one thing you don't get tool steel like old knives are made of.... I have a ww2 machete / kurrie (SPL) belonged to my mums uncle who was issued it as jungle survival kit via RAF and after some cleaning its as good as new and ace for splitting kindling :). (He told me that bit) my grandad kept it after he died. My gran wanted it handing in when plod had an amnesty on knives ... Dad 'took it for her' but it was way too good to bin and a bit of family history.. I've got a health respect for sharp things but in the timber trade modern tool steel is shite ;)
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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Hoipoloi
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Location: West Midlands

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Hoipoloi »

My father was a Royal Marine Commando in WWII and he had a very similar knife (although I don't remember a can opener blade) I have no idea if it was standard issue or not. The whereabouts and what happened to that knife remain a mystery.
My prepping consists of bugging out by bicycle so any comments are likely to be based on that scenario.
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tanstaafl
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Location: Hereford

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by tanstaafl »

Looks the same as mine ABL 1954 , Belgium army knife , the same as the Brit one , yep 60 odd years old and loads were still as new and issued up until fairly recently............ love mine, the marlin spike is very useful..... :D


Loads of info over on British Blades if you want to look..............http://www.britishblades.com/forums/forum.php
ForgeCorvus
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Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:32 pm

Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by ForgeCorvus »

For those of you who served in the 'Grey Funnel line', is this a Pusser's Dirk ?
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
Londonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
"All Things Strive" Gd Tak 'Gar
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Deeps
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Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by Deeps »

ForgeCorvus wrote:For those of you who served in the 'Grey Funnel line', is this a Pusser's Dirk ?
Yes mate, I knew them as Pussers dirks and as I posted earlier, they were still available from the stores from time to time up to a couple of years ago (and maybe still are, I'll ask a mate who's still in the mob).
ForgeCorvus
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Re: Belgian army knife....

Post by ForgeCorvus »

My Dad was Fleet Air Arm (Mum was a Wren, so you could say I'm a Navy brat... Apart for them both being out long before I came along) and I was thinking about a nostalgia present
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
Londonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
"All Things Strive" Gd Tak 'Gar