Posted 10 years ago
armsandswo…
(1 item)
what I do know ...
it is a mappin & webb pocket knife marked with their name ,an M and trustworthy ,i assume it is a private purchase officers knife c ww1 period.
The bits I have no clue about and would like some advice is showing in no 3 and 4 photos.
No 3 is a slide out compartment with [the red bits]percussion caps like the old toy cap guns .Number 4 shows a slide like a trigger which the caps fit into and when you flick the trigger on the side it will fire the caps .
The story I was told was that it is a small percussion pistol for escape and evasion ,I have to say I think it might ??be a device to make a noise to accustom a new horse in training to get used to gunshots ?
any ideas would be greatly appreciated
Never thought I would see a pocket knife the same, this in fact is a horsemans knife only produced for a small number of years by the mappin and Webb company as cutlery was their main productsion line, the same knife I have was bequeathed to me to look after by my wife's uncle, I researched the family tree to find that the owner of the knife was indeed a carmen, horseman, travelling back and for the Irish channel these knives are a hundred years old, and few and far between, it does surprise me to see your knife does not have a pull out tweezers and scissors I do have specific detail dates, to the production of the knifes, any one else own one please let me know to continue the thread honestwelsh
thank you for that information.have you any idea what the trigger mechanism is for on the last photo?you slide it back ,it has a very strong spring ,lock it back then when you release it it shoots forward under a lot of pressure .again on the last photo there is a tube on the end which it goes into with a hole in th eside and the end.Its that part that is causing some confusion some think it took a small percussion cap ,another suggestion is this was a sail makers knife and it was used to force a needle into leather .It is a very interesting item and certainly one I would love to settle the debate on as I still own it.Mappin and Webbs records do not go back that far.Maybe mine is a variation of yours ?with the "extra"parts added at a customers request for a specific job ?Hours spent on the internet has not provided any information on a similar one .
Thanks for your prompt reply, I understand clearly now the customised difference in gadgets on our knifes, intrigued to find out the use of the extras fitted, loud sound with horses I would have thought is a no no , I will stay in touch and try to confirm some possible uses, with respect, it might be a good idea to trace the Captains service in the forces to distinguish if it was land or sea horses or ships to narrow it down, if you would like me to do this send me all the details you have about him, best wishes Honestwelsh, ps we will find out,
Jut gone on the Swiss Army knife site to research some of the functions, my guess come possibility is that it's a window breaker spring under tension shot forward to engage with the pin on the end to smash the glass, what do you think, still like to find out about Mr Hill Honestwelsh
hi yes I would appreciate you doing some research on a capt A Hill,if you get the opportunity .No I don't think it would be to break glass ,maybe in the days of the car possibly ,but not 100 years ago ,but thanks for the suggestion's ,I still think it is something out of the ordinary