BRITISH WWI WELSH KNIFE.

A fine example of the ultra rare Welsh knife. Designed in 1916 by the sculptor Felix Joubert and patented by himself as a new or improved Welsh knife. It was based on the ancient Welsh weapon. An unknown but limited number of Welsh knives were manufactured by the Wilkinson Sword Company, ordered by Lord Howard DeWalden. De Walden had the knives issued to the 9th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers with whom he was serving as a Major. Some of the blades bore the inscription ‘Dros Urddas Cymru, (FOR THE HONOUR OF WALES). The Battalion made use of the knife with which all machine gunners and bombers were equipped, every member of a raiding party was armed and in one raid on the Messines Ridge two days before the battle of Messines they were used with conspicuous success. Although there were limited numbers produced, with that limited number there are variations, there were variations without the motto on the blade as is our example, there were examples with different configurations of the scabbard construction. The example in the Imperial War Museum does not have a leather chape to the base of the scabbard but has a large leather patch at the top. Our example is a classic of others we have had over the past 50 years with the correct leather chape and its 1914 grained leather belt loop. The hilt is wrapped in string with a rope wrist restrainer passing through the steel pointed pommel top. The blade on this example is generally very good, there is some black spotting to the edges of the blade but generally the blade retains much original finish. Over the intervening 100 years the scabbard has shrunk a small degree, it is possible to get the knife in and out but it needs care and attention and the blade sits approximately 2cm clear of the scabbard, it will not enter the scabbard to its very full length.

Code: 88798