Previous Updates

Update 8 – December 24, 2023: Kevin Coleman, the author of the recently released and self-published book: “MILITARY CLASP KNIVES OF AUSTRALIA, BRITAIN, CANADA, AND INDIA  – SECOND BOER WAR TO THE PRESENT” has also written a research paper/monograph “History of the Barlow Knife“, and he has agreed that, in the first instance, it should be published here as a CASK Collector Note. As with all Collector Notes, Kevin has agreed that it be presented “in a format that can be regularly updated, elaborated, and corrected as additional information becomes available – via collaborations and contribution from fellow collectors and experts, so that in-reality there is no final version – it is in-fact a never-ending story“.

Update 7 – August 22, 2023: The Collector Note “BRITISH MILITARY CLASP KNIVES 1939 – 1945” has finally been completed and can be accessed by clicking on the “Collector Note” above. This now nicely sits in the series: “British Military Clasp Knives of the Boer War” and “British Military Clasp Knives 1905 – 1939”. A further Collector Note: “Clasp Knives of the Royal Navy” in now in preparation.
Update 6 – March 6, 2023: This second Edition of the “All-metal Champagne Pattern clasp knives and multi-blade variants” Collector Note, provides a comprehensive update of Edition 1, with an emphasis on clarification of the foundation narrative as elaborated in Section 3 “CONTEXT, and on the ramifications of that clarification that flow through the whole of the Collector Note.

Update 5 – Januari 24, 2023: the Collector Note “Antique Sheffield Pruning Knives – a collector’s handbook” is now finally online and can be accessed from the dropdown menu under the “Collector Notes” heading above. As always, any suggestions/contributions that fellow collectors may have that will improve the content of this Collector Note and thus expand the knowledge base will be most welcome. This Note was previously circulated to some collector colleagues and commentators in a hard-copy A4 format in May 2021, and again in June 2021, and has since been updated and reformatted to produce this first online edition.

News – July 12, 2022: I appreciate that this is old news: Ron Flook’s latest book “Knives & Daggers of the SOE”, went on sale in December 2021, it’s a nice A4 sized hardback with lots of new information. The bad news is that his website http://www.militaryandantiqueknives.co.uk/ indicates that he only has 9 copies left (as at June 2022) and that there will not be a second print, so if you want to purchase a copy you had better be quick.

Update 4 – August 13, 2022: the Collector Note “Champagne Pattern clasp knives and multi-blade variants” is now finally online and can be accessed from the dropdown menu under “Collector Notes” above. As always, any suggestions/contributions that fellow collectors may have that will improve the content of this Collector Note and thus expand the knowledge base will be most welcome.

Update 3 – July 26, 2022: the Collector Note “BRITISH MILITARY CLASP KNIVES 1905 – 1939” is now online and can be accessed from the dropdown menu under the Collector Notes header above. As always, any suggestions/contributions that fellow collectors may have that will improve the content of this Collector Note and thus expand the knowledge base will be most welcome.

Update 2 – July 26, 2022: a new link has been added to the “Links” section to provide access to the “Trademarks On Base-Metal Tableware” database.

Update 1- July 12, 2022: The Collector Note “CHAMPAGNE PATTERN CLASP KNIVES AND MULTI-BLADE VARIANTS” was completed in the necessary online format however my co-author and collaborator Paul Stamp has identified a range of new sources of information that need to be addressed – and where relevant incorporated into the draft Collector Note. It is anticipated that it will be available in February 2023 Watch this space!