View Full Version : Dartmoor Commando Knife
I was wondering if anyone has ever used the Wilkinson Sword Dartmoor "Commando" Survival Knife?
Wilkinson produced the Fairbyrne Sykes Knife, which was (apparently) world acclaimed. Out of curiousity, I'm wondering if the Dartmoor is up to the same standard in terms of features, applications, and durability?
Thanks,
Solid
Dartmoor Link (http://www.wilkinsonsword.com/knives/index.html)
Smokin Joe
02-23-2004, 19:38
Does that have a hollow handle?
NousDefionsDoc
02-23-2004, 19:58
Looks like it.
Solid, I've never used one of these, but I will never buy another 440C stainless blade on a big knife. I'm not good enough at sharpening a knife to get an edge on one and I usually end up breaking them for some reason.
I would be wary of hollow handles as well. There are not many that are strong enough to be good tools IMO. There are exceptions of course.
How much does it cost in dollars?
The Reaper
02-23-2004, 20:00
Originally posted by Smokin Joe
Does that have a hollow handle?
Web site says so.
Did you check it out?
TR
Smokin Joe
02-23-2004, 20:03
Originally posted by The Reaper
Web site says so.
Did you check it out?
TR
Yes, I was just double checking.
Solid I agree with NDD I wouldn't trust my survival to a hollow handled knife.
NousDefionsDoc
02-23-2004, 20:21
Oh Joe, there are a couple I would, but not a massed produced one from Wilkinson Sword. The old Randall's (Model18?) I think its Chris Reeve that makes some that are bomb proof. There are some out there.
Smokin Joe
02-23-2004, 20:25
I would have to see one. I have yet to see a hollow handled knife that could handle vigorious chopping. I don't doubt you NDD I just haven't seen one yet. Then again I haven't held a Chris Reeves or Bill Harsey knife either.
edit: b/c I can't spell or proof read
The Reaper
02-23-2004, 20:35
Chris Reeve's hollow handled knives are from one piece of steel. There is no "joint" or weak area.
From his web site:
"Each knife is made from a solid billet of A2 tool steel. The stock removal method results in two distinct advantages--the strength/weight ratio is exceptional and there is no handle/blade join. This means that there is no area where the blade and handle could come apart--a weakness in the design of other hollow handle knives. "
http://www.chrisreeve.com/onepiece.htm
Gentlemen, thank you for the replies. I wondered about the hollow handle, because I used a micro axe once for wood chopping and managed to break it within four or five strokes. The blade interested me because, as I said before, Wilkinson Sword has a special history, as do the British Commando regiments.
Solid
PS: The Chris Reeves website requests that knifes returned for maintenance are 'returned in sheath'... :D
Purely out of curiousity, is the Fairbyrne-Sykes knife as great as it's chalked up to being?
Thanks,
Solid
The Reaper
02-24-2004, 15:53
Originally posted by Solid
Purely out of curiousity, is the Fairbyrne-Sykes knife as great as it's chalked up to being?
Thanks,
Solid
It is a light dagger made for stabbing, sort of a silent sentry elimination weapon, and has some serious weaknesses, even when used for its intended purpose.
TR
Thanks for the information.
Bill Harsey
02-26-2004, 19:10
The Fairbairn Sykes did an important job in it's day. This knife was designed to be carried taking up as little space as possible and was often carried carefully concealed. It's job was simply to kill. After much honorable combat use in WWII a few problems became noticable (and documented). First problem was the handle, made on a lathe. The user could not rely on the perfectly round handle shape to orient the edge after dark and many sentrys had the flat of the blade rubbed across their throat. This did not have the result desired by the knife user. Another problem that came up was when the user held the knife in a fencing grip (thumb behind guard instead of wrapped around handle like hammer grip) and pushed it into something real hard, thumbnils got broken over backwards. This was because the guard was straight. Again, please let me state, lot's of these knives got made in a hurry in the war effort and turning handles on a lathe was a fast way to get lot's of work done. Britian was in a desperate situation back then and didn't have time to refine the design until the end of the war. Because of the above stated problems, documented from combat action reports, with the very honorable Fairbairn Sykes knife was redesigned by Fairbairn and Applegate towards the end of the war. The war ended before production began on the new design.
Bill Harsey
02-26-2004, 19:14
again, sorry about mispelling and incorrect use of a word or two. That submit button doesn't let me preview the text for very long. Bill
The Reaper
02-26-2004, 19:22
Originally posted by Bill Harsey
again, sorry about mispelling and incorrect use of a word or two. That submit button doesn't let me preview the text for very long. Bill
Bill:
We will brook no grammar Nazis picking on you here.
You are a knife designer and maker with a rare talent, not an English teacher.
That also makes you more interesting to talk to, BTW.
Yee-Haw, now let's go shoot at something!
Your Redneck Bubba-
TR
P.S.-You catch a mistake or want to make a change, that is what the edit button on the left is for. You do it quickly enough, the post doesn't even show that it was edited.
Bill Harsey
02-26-2004, 19:33
Sir Reaper, Thankyou. Setting up targets now. Bill
Mr Harsey,
Thank you for the elaboration.
Solid
Gentlemen,
I had a chance to fondle one of of these Dartmoors at this past SHOT show. Initial impression, fairly heavy for its size. The blade tang assembly is one piece, with a cut-out inside the tang to retain a small plastic tube - over this tang/capsule assembly slips on a thermoplastic rubber handle - retained by a thread screw cap. It does have a certain Hollywood CDI factor... I was really more interested in the brunette behind the counter display than I was in the blade :)
the sheath was made of a similar material as the handle with plastic reinforcement.
I tend to be biased against most hollow handled survival knives as they are typically two pieces mechanical joined, which leaves open to the opportunity for failure. This desing is not a two piece, however I would not choose it.
Overall impression - interesting design, too ungainly for daily use, there are better choices - Striders and Chris Reeve come to mind.
Or if you are really hardcore, theres the Pilots survival knife :-)
EGG
My boss just got one of these knives and I had a chance to take a look at it. The blade is quite thick, but it didn't feel Blade Heavy to me. It actually balanced quite well for my taste. That being said, I just don't care for this style of knife, too big for my taste, but too small for a machete.