Being less common tools than they used to, I as someone who has spent a bit of time using them, would like to point out to those who haven't used them much, that the marlin spike is a general purpose and incredibly useful "pokey thing". Yes it's very useful in tying and untying knots, especially in the natural fibre laid/twisted ropes of the time, which get stiffer as they absorb water. It's also good for splicing (finishing off an end or joining two ropes permanently). These jobs don't make it sailor-specific -- rope was used for an awful lot of things in WW2 that we would use bungees, webbing, braided cord or other specific material today. Ropes were for securing the flap on the back of the lorry. They were used for hauling vehicles and lifting weighty things. They held tarpaulins and tents down. Commandos and Paras were issued "toggle ropes" for crossing obstacles. All these purposes called for a marlin spike very often, especially after a dousing. Marlin spikes have a myriad of other purposes too. You can poke holes in a piece of webbing or canvas with them. You can use it like a small podger to align holes in a piece of machinery you're assembling. You can mark wood/metal/stone with them. You can start a hole for a screw or a drill. You can tighten or loosen D-shackles. In a pinch I suppose you can dig with it. Don't think I'd like to put it near a horse's hoof though, despite what some people claim -- too pointy. The blade is very solid and a good compromise for a variety of jobs. The sheepsfoot shape does tend to preclude deliberate or accidental "puncturing" but beyond that I find it to be a very useful utility knife design that lends itself to surprisingly precise work. It's also easier to sharpen than curved or pointed shapes, and as you do so the point tends to move less dramatically than, say, the spear point of a typical Swiss Army knife. The can openers are all dog toffee (though better than nowt), bottle openers work, and the screwdriver is a handy addition -- especially for prying stuff open when you've been in the cold rain and your nails are gone soft. They also work for adjusting many rifle sights. These classic clasp knives are made to this day and are excellent all-round utility tools for working or general camping/hiking/outdoors stuff. I've carried various of them for years. Got me out of a lot of scrapes and helped me get my work done faster/neater/safer.
I carried one in the 70's and 80's as a Parachute Rigger. Very handy device for it's intended purpose of undoing knots. I wish I still had my old knife. 0:29
Actually, the purpose is to use to separate strands of twisted ropes easier for splicing as previously ^ ^ ^ posted. Yes, it can be useful for undoing knots
You failed to mention the screwdriver on each of your knives, my understanding is that the sheepsfoot blade was to protect the user from accidentally stabbing them self’s when working on a moving ship. both of those knives are really designed for sailors with the marlin spike used for rope work. The blade was designed to beat through and cut larger rope.
All honor and respect to the "lowly" jackknife in all its forms. That versatile and unassuming instrument has got me out of more scrapes than I can count.
I have two of those army-style clasp knives that I bought new in the 1980's (can you still buy them?). I have used one of them quite a lot over the years, including the can-opener and marlin-spike (for rope work). I kept the second one mainly as a spare but you can still hardly tell them apart, except that one is a little grubbier. Maybe the can-opener was strengthened after ww2, because I've had no problems with it, and I've used mine for cutting other sheet metal items as well as tin-cans. The marlin-spike has also been used several times for opening doors or lockers etc when their handles have been missing! I also have an original ww2 Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife that I inherited, but to be fair, I haven't personally used that one so much. :) (PS. I just found some new versions of these for sale online for around £50, made in Sheffield UK).
0:50 I have an Italian post war copy, probably intentionally based on the British one since they copied a lot of their equipment post war. Don’t know the prices or availability now, but they were decent years ago when I got it
75 years old now, as kids in MANCHESTER,we all had JACK KNIVES,at school at home in the wood ,we thought the spike was for taking stones from horses hoof .🇬🇧
Finding the early original versions of these folders is getting far more difficult in the last 10 years. I'm a Yank who lived in England and still spend a fair amount of time there. After acquiring 2 of the older folders, it was amazing how strong the springs still are and the edge retention on the blade is nothing less than stunning. An old gentleman and former Navy man said the can openers were called a sail ripper. If properly sharpened, they worked for opening a tin of food and also cut canvas materials. Thanks again for an excellent video.
Hi Tommy What do you think of the new version entirely in stainless steel? For defensive use, is it as robust as the old one? Congratulations for the channel, greetings from Italy
My grandad reckoned the version with the spike was navy and the one without was army, he was issued the latter. I have my keys on the army knife and i carry the navy version almost all the time, On the very end theres what grandad said was a ultra short flatblade screw driver. Until i read Fairbairns All In Fighting i didnt know what my grandad meant when he said that bit was good for a matchbox hook.
That style of blade on the jack knife is a sheepfoot blade. Also, let's address that the Fairbairn - Sykes dagger had so much documented failure during WWII that Fairbairn-Applegate created an improved design that corrected all of the failure issues of the Fairbairn-Sykes design.
