RGA Siege battery soldiers equipment - linesman/signallers wire cutters etc and great coat straps

[Dave66]

6 hours ago, 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA said:

Hi thanks for the reply. That makes it a bit hard to narrow down then. Was it normal for so many men to have the same number? This type was issued for signals work cutting and splicing cable having just a spike and blade, with no can opener. not sure if this was issued to all RE.

 

 

From what I understand, the lovely example you have is the 1901 boer war pattern of knife, with plain buffalo horn scales….these are often seen numbered like yours. This pattern was superseded by the 6353/1905, with tin opener and marlin spike, early ones had plain scales but very quickly became checkered horn, by the Great War, all had chequered scales…see pic below. 
 

http://www.australianmilitaryknives.com/claspprefed/claspboerwar.html

https://cask.info/clasp-knives-of-the-boer-war/

 

 

Dave.

Edited 9 September , 2023 by Dave66

[MrEd]

Can the FMP chaps be narrowed down to those with pre-great war service? I haven’t looked yet sorry

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

Thanks for the replies Dave and MrEd, did the clasp knife issued to signals in WW1 have the tin opener?.

[Dave66]

1 hour ago, 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA said:

Thanks for the replies Dave and MrEd, did the clasp knife issued to signals in WW1 have the tin opener?.

Haven’t seen one without the tin opener, but there were variants without the spike. The late Joe Sweeney lists the different variants etc in this thread here,

 

[MrEd]

I haven’t seen one without the tin opener either 

[GWF1967]

22 hours ago, MrEd said:

I haven’t seen one without the tin opener either 

2 from my collection. 
left has no tin opener, right has no marline spike. 

[MrEd]

1 hour ago, GWF1967 said:

2 from my collection. 
left has no tin opener, right has no marline spike. 

Excellent, I have seen one now! 

[Dave66]

Me too, so many thanks GWF, it’s the smaller ww2 version of clasp knife though….the larger 6353 version was made up until 1939.

Dave.

[Dave66]

On 10/09/2023 at 13:16, GWF1967 said:

2 from my collection. 
left has no tin opener, right has no marline spike. 

I was flicking through british and commomwealth military knives by Ron flook, and stumbled across the rarity without a can opener…very scarce…extract below.

[GWF1967]

17 minutes ago, Dave66 said:

I was flicking through british and commomwealth military knives by Ron flook, and stumbled across the rarity without a can opener…very scarce…extract below

Thanks Dave. 

[MrEd]

Yea thanks Dave. That’s interesting

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

Interesting it is called Linesman's knife giving it a specific use.

I cant access my signals manuals at the moment to check what the Issue clasp knife was stated for signals, if mentioned, maybe where I got the idea from as I mentioned.

or unless I am reading the above plate incorrectly belonging to another knife?

Edited 22 September , 2023 by 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA

[Dave66]

Sorry, should have cropped the pic, the linesman’s knife was another pattern underneath, but that knife had two blades and NO tin opener…..extract below from above book.

Dave.

Edited 22 September , 2023 by Dave66

[MrEd]

Came across this - not sure it’s a bayonet frog. Could this be some sort or wire cutter/plier frog?

jabez and cliff 1916 marked

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

Yes, it's Pliers' frog side cutting 8 inches is it yours?

Edited 3 October , 2023 by 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA

[MrEd]

44 minutes ago, 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA said:

Yes, it's Pliers' frog side cutting 8 inches is it yours?

Not mine no. I found the photo on a dealers site, I have a pair of pliers exactly kind that but dated 1944

Who would have worn this frog? Linemen and signallers? Or would it have been issued more widely than that ?
 

the frog is not very expensive, I may buy it for my collection 

Edited 3 October , 2023 by MrEd

[MrEd]

On 06/09/2023 at 15:56, 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA said:

The seller sent a photo 1904  dated looks like WYNNE & TIMMIN the same maker as mine.

Who is the seller? Would you be happy to PM me details?

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

Hi, keep your eye out for this type side cutting 8 inches with removable jaws Mk1V. this is the correct type for the frog the other I pictured is not the correct type for signals Linemen belt order. I can try and get his details he wanted 300 euros for some tools I don't think he wants to sell separately.

 

 

.

[battle of loos]

good morning,

here is my Royal Engineers Linesman's pliers :

1915 - R. Mather and Son Shoreham St

I search me too one frog for this pliers

michel

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

Hi, nice pliers the correct pliers are 8-inch side cutting MK 1V with removable Jaws.  Remember they did pliers for other uses besides signal work of the type you show above.

I would only say as in the WW1 signal manuals the Issue pliers are 8-inch side cutting MK 1V with removable Jaws

Mk1V. the jaws unscrew and are replaceable.

My 3 pairs of MK1V are WYNNE & TIMMIN.

The other pair with fixed jaws I show incorrectly in the frog are made by the British Pliers Company 1915, which I have seen in a few different sizes.

 

New Zealand Signals NZE with pliers and frogs and Dmk111 field telephones

Edited 4 October , 2023 by 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA

[MrEd]

1 hour ago, 6th Hauraki KIA KAHA said:

Hi, nice pliers the correct pliers are 8-inch side cutting MK 1V with removable Jaws.  Remember they did pliers for other uses besides signal work of the type you show above.

I would only say as in the WW1 signal manuals the Issue pliers are 8-inch side cutting MK 1V with removable Jaws

Mk1V. the jaws unscrew and are replaceable.

My 3 pairs of MK1V are WYNNE & TIMMIN.

The other pair with fixed jaws I show incorrectly in the frog are made by the British Pliers Company 1915, which I have seen in a few different sizes.

 

New Zealand Signals NZE with pliers and frogs and Dmk111 field telephones

That’s a super photo, thanks, do you know the other items on their belt?

[battle of loos]

Here is a field reel that seems to be the same that is worn by the man of the left :

If by any chance, you know the exact spacing between the 2 trays, I am a taker .

michel

[6th Hauraki KIA KAHA]

11 hours ago, MrEd said:

That’s a super photo, thanks, do you know the other items on their belt?

The equipment listed is a Belt plier with a frog Clasp Knife with a hanger.

After looking many times I think the item next to the pliers is a bunch of cable, insulation, or wire for binding the cables.

he has some other pouch on his right hip not sure what that is.

J.

 

[battle of loos]

Here are some remnants of the cable coming from the land :

from the same location as the reel

michel

[MrEd]

That’s a fascinating survivor thanks michel