Pen Knife

[Urs]

Edward Wilfred Hussey killed in action, aged 22, at Ypres  16.08.1917, Lance Corporal in the Queens Westminster Regiment.

This knife has been passed to me for safe keeping by Edward's nephew and we are wondering if this might have been something he had in his possession during the war (there has been some discussion that it would not have been necessary to have a cork screw).

Many thanks for any thoughts you may have.

Ursula

[Dave66]

Hello Ursula,

it’s a private purchase piece, quite often these were presented to soldiers.

It is certainly of the period, I have an earlier one presented to a chap in the imperial yeomanry 1900 ish, with the same corkscrew and narrow style of can opener, so quite possible it was taken with him.

 

Dave.

[Urs]

15 minutes ago, Dave66 said:

Hello Ursula,

it’s a private purchase piece, quite often these were presented to soldiers.

It is certainly of the period, I have an earlier one presented to a chap in the imperial yeomanry 1900 ish, with the same corkscrew and narrow style of can opener, so quite possible it was taken with him.

 

Dave.

That all makes sense, many thanks for your help Dave.

Ursula

[Bob Davies]

An essential bit of equipment to have at ones disposal, button hook, blade, can opener, smaller blade and a spike for making holes in leather or whatever. No one has a cork screw when they need one, on leave or in the field! My Grandad had a similar one from this period. You may find a makers stamp on the blade near the pivot end. Possibly made in Sheffield? Regards, Bob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Urs]

21 hours ago, Bob Davies said:

An essential bit of equipment to have at ones disposal, button hook, blade, can opener, smaller blade and a spike for making holes in leather or whatever. No one has a cork screw when they need one, on leave or in the field! My Grandad had a similar one from this period. You may find a makers stamp on the blade near the pivot end. Possibly made in Sheffield? Regards, Bob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Bob Davies said:

Wow thanks Bob I hadn't even noticed the makers stamp! It's so dirty ( and small) that I can't make it out even with a magnifying glass but hopefully once it's cleaned up I will be a able to read the makers stamp.

I didn't understand what all the pieces were for so thank you for naming them. I remain puzzled by a couple of them...the short blade near the button hook in the image above ...that looks like a short razor blade? And if you can explain which is the can opener I'd be very grateful.

With thanks and all best wishes,

Ursula

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave66]

Hello Ursula,

The short blade by the button hook is merely a shorter version of the main blade, but it looks like the tip has been broken off.

The can opener is the odd shaped spear pointed wider blade with small lug, you’d pierce the edge of the can with the lug resting on the rim, and then use that as a fulcrum to work around, many of the Great War period knives I have collected show damage on the opposite end where Something heavy has been used to pierce the can.

Enlargement below of your photo showing can opener only.

 

As Bob has commented above and an essential bit of kit and more than likely Sheffield made,  but Above all a superb piece of family history.

 

Edit.... is there anything engraved on the reverse side of the knife?

 

Dave.

Edited 14 December , 2019 by Dave66

[Bob Davies]

Thanks Dave, that about explains it. We need a video on opening a tin with this type of opener. :-) Go easy with abrasives if you are going to clean it up Ursula. Use some fine emery paper say 600 grit. Anything coarser will not be good for it. The two plates either side, one has the engraved name on it are probably nickel  and so much softer than the steel of the blades etc. Wd 40 to ease up the joints will work.

Edited 16 December , 2019 by Bob Davies

[Urs]

Many thanks Bob and Dave. 

There's nothing printed on the reverse but I've managed to capture an image of the printed stamp on one of the blades - it seems to say 'made in Neath' but I haven't managed to decipher the  letters beneath that stamp yet.

Thanks for the advice on cleaning it...I will go carefully and  once it's cleaned the images hopefully will be easier to decipher...

All best wishes, 

Ursula

[tootrock]

The letter "D" lower right might be the last letter of "Sheffield" obscured by  the side plate. Possibly an "L" before it.

 

Edit. I can also see the letter "S" and part of an "H" lower left.

 

I can also decipher the letters N.E.V.A. in the photo. This was one of the trade marks of John Clarke & Sons, Harvest Lane, Sheffield. "CLARKE & SON" may be the indistinct lettering at the top.

Martin

Edited 16 December , 2019 by tootrock

[Bob Davies]

6 hours ago, tootrock said:

The letter "D" lower right might be the last letter of "Sheffield" obscured by  the side plate. Possibly an "L" before it.

 

Edit. I can also see the letter "S" and part of an "H" lower left.

 

I can also decipher the letters N.E.V.A. in the photo. This was one of the trade marks of John Clarke & Sons, Harvest Lane, Sheffield. "CLARKE & SON" may be the indistinct lettering at the top.

Martin

A great picture Ursula, thanks for posting it. Yes Martin I see that too, especially the Sheffield obscured! Do we know how food tins/cans used in WW1 differed from those used today?

 

[Urs]

On 16/12/2019 at 21:58, Bob Davies said:

A great picture Ursula, thanks for posting it. Yes Martin I see that too, especially the Sheffield obscured! Do we know how food tins/cans used in WW1 differed from those used today?

 

 

On 16/12/2019 at 15:05, tootrock said:

The letter "D" lower right might be the last letter of "Sheffield" obscured by  the side plate. Possibly an "L" before it.

 

Edit. I can also see the letter "S" and part of an "H" lower left.

 

I can also decipher the letters N.E.V.A. in the photo. This was one of the trade marks of John Clarke & Sons, Harvest Lane, Sheffield. "CLARKE & SON" may be the indistinct lettering at the top.

Martin

Many thanks Martin and Bob...I'll have to clean it up properly which will hopefully reveal all of the stamp.

All good wishes,

Ursula

[GWF1967]

On 16/12/2019 at 21:58, Bob Davies said:

! Do we know how food tins/cans used in WW1 differed from those used today?

 

A little bit - but not a lot!

 

[Bob Davies]

Thank you GWF1967. I suppose the type of tin opener on the pocket knife of Edward Wilfred Hussey was of its time and made to be part of the folding knife. (I have seen this type but fixed on a single wooden handle before) From memory having used one myself, many years ago, one gets the tin open and access to the contents whilst leaving a jaggy edge on the tin but the can is open! Probably a new sharp opener will will work better than a blunt one ;-) Regards, Bob.

[GWF1967]

6 minutes ago, Bob Davies said:

Thank you GWF1967. I suppose the type of tin opener on the pocket knife of Edward Wilfred Hussey was of its time and made to be part of the folding knife. (I have seen this type but fixed on a single wooden handle before) From memory having used one myself, many years ago, one gets the tin open and access to the contents whilst leaving a jaggy edge on the tin but the can is open! Probably a new sharp opener will will work better than a blunt one ;-) Regards, Bob.

I have one of these, which I've needed to use not so long ago. It leaves an equally "jaggy" edge.

[Bob Davies]

5 minutes ago, GWF1967 said:

I have one of these, which I've needed to use not so long ago. It leaves an equally "jaggy" edge.

I had forgotten this type, my Gran and mum had then when I was small, though not with the animal head! Very similar to the WW2 style pocket knife openers.

Edited 18 December , 2019 by Bob Davies
to add a bit