Glyno Posted 9 March , 2010 Share Posted 9 March , 2010 Hi folks Im pretty new to the forum and thought this item may be of interest. It has no maker marks that I can find. The leather folds back and then would have been strapped to the forearm with the strap and buckle. The punch/ knife blade is brass and locks either in the open or closed position. There are sharp steel nails on the knuckle duster edge. Ive attached some piccies. Can anyone please tell me its origins. I have more pictures but unable to upload more than one at a time. Thanks in anticipation......Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 9 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 9 March , 2010 Hi folks Im pretty new to the forum and thought this item may be of interest. It has no maker marks that I can find. The leather folds back and then would have been strapped to the forearm with the strap and buckle. The punch/ knife blade is brass and locks either in the open or closed position. There are sharp steel nails on the knuckle duster edge. Ive attached some piccies. Can anyone please tell me its origins. I have more pictures but unable to upload more than one at a time. Thanks in anticipation......Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 9 March , 2010 Share Posted 9 March , 2010 More the Kray gang than Great War. Have you checked the legality of possessing such an item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 9 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 9 March , 2010 More the Kray gang than Great War. Have you checked the legality of possessing such an item? Thanks Phil....... will let it run a while Legality.... dont really know, I will ask the local Guardia Civil chap next time he is around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted 9 March , 2010 Share Posted 9 March , 2010 I think it has potential to be anything you want it to be.... looks pretty old... wish I had one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 9 March , 2010 Share Posted 9 March , 2010 During the war there was a substantial mail order trade in such nasties most of which came from the USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 9 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 9 March , 2010 I think it has potential to be anything you want it to be.... looks pretty old... wish I had one! Thanks Chris.....ive seen a few trench / tunnellers gadgets over the years, mostly adapted items, but this one looks a genuine manufactured type. The leather is taught and obviously very old, it even has a leather stitched thumb pad on the butt of the blade. Its brass heavy and certainly a fearsome and deadly item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Brock Posted 11 March , 2010 Share Posted 11 March , 2010 During the war there was a substantial mail order trade in such nasties most of which came from the USA I don't know. The lads on your side of the pond were no slouches at "creative weaponry" either. Cases in point: The many, many variations on the Clements knuckle knife and the innovative firm of Robins of Dudley. I like this thing although it's taken some time to figure out. The blade appears to slide in and out, locking with a simple flat spring. The bit surrounding the knuckles is brass I assume. Is the blade meant to protrude from the thumb side of the hand or opposite - or can it go either way? I'm going to tinker with this idea a bit. I like this thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 11 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 11 March , 2010 I don't know. The lads on your side of the pond were no slouches at "creative weaponry" either. Cases in point: The many, many variations on the Clements knuckle knife and the innovative firm of Robins of Dudley. I like this thing although it's taken some time to figure out. The blade appears to slide in and out, locking with a simple flat spring. The bit surrounding the knuckles is brass I assume. Is the blade meant to protrude from the thumb side of the hand or opposite - or can it go either way? I'm going to tinker with this idea a bit. I like this thing. Hi Dan Thanks for commenting and your interest. Like you say the blade or sharpened brass punch does lock in or out with a flat spring. The whole thing is brass except the nail studs on the face and of course the leather. It is made for a right handed person only , the leather protects the back of the right hand. The blade is activated with the right thumb. Tried it on the left hand and it just does not feel right at all. May not show in the pics but the stitching on the leather is machine done and spot on ! it was manufactured in my opinion and all together well built.. If you need any more pics to help I could pm you. Thanks again for your interest....its baffling me too. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Brock Posted 13 March , 2010 Share Posted 13 March , 2010 Looking at this thing again... The leather bits appear to be lined with fabric. And, in the pics where it's almost folded, is that a Sam Brown button or somesuch I see, that the thin piece of leather would have engaged to hold it all together? Finally, I'm assuming that the strap has lost most of its length over the years. A very cool thing and, if I'm right about the fabric lining, certainly a manufactured item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 22 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2010 Had another look at the thing and how I missed it I dont know. Anyway it is stamped POWELL 18 on the inside of the grip.Maybe someone can help . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 28 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2010 Whats left of the lining on this thing seems to be a blue and green tartan pattern ! A bit wishy washy but its there none the less. Does that help at all. Still trying to find its origins if anyone can help please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob elliott Posted 29 March , 2010 Share Posted 29 March , 2010 Glyn, There is/was a 'Powell Knife and Gun Co' in Tucson Arizona. Not sure how old they are but wonder with the 1918 stamp if its an American item. Had a quick google and they have been around a long time, made specialist knives, like 'Bowies' so woudn't be unusual if they made trench knives. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 29 March , 2010 Share Posted 29 March , 2010 What a ghastly thing to get hit with. Looks "right" to me and WW1 is the sort of period when it would have been used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 30 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 30 March , 2010 Thanks Rob, Ive tried to look them up but to no avail. Could be its one of theirs I suppose. Anyway, bumping it back to the top in case anyone missed it. Would love to know where it came from.. Glyn, There is/was a 'Powell Knife and Gun Co' in Tucson Arizona. Not sure how old they are but wonder with the 1918 stamp if its an American item. Had a quick google and they have been around a long time, made specialist knives, like 'Bowies' so woudn't be unusual if they made trench knives. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 13 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 13 April , 2010 Bump.... IWM have allocated me a reference number for this beasty so will await their reply with any findings. Just bumping it back to the top for anyone who may have missed it. Looking forward to my trip from down here back up to the Somme next month, cant wait . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 28 November , 2010 Author Share Posted 28 November , 2010 IWM replied after some time, no doubt they are very busy. They havnt got anything like this and suggested the Leeds Armory may be able to help, so thats the next avenue. We will see what comes from there. Im still pretty much convinced its from the great war period. Bump.... IWM have allocated me a reference number for this beasty so will await their reply with any findings. Just bumping it back to the top for anyone who may have missed it. Looking forward to my trip from down here back up to the Somme next month, cant wait . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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