Robbins of Dudley Fighting Knife

Product Description: This Robbins of Dudley Fighting Knife is a very nice example of one of the patterns of fighting knives manufactured by the English firm Robbins of Dudley, during the First World War. The double-edged blade is made of steel, and shows slight age and wear. The handle is made of cast aluminum, with a cylindrical grip and “knuckle duster” style guard. The “Robbins Dudley” maker mark is neatly stamped on the handle. The handle shows only slight wear, and is clean, with scattered small marks. This desirable WWI fighting knife is complete with the seldom-seen original scabbard. This rare scabbard is made of brown leather, with a single brass stud. The leather shows expected slight darkening as well as light wear, but is complete, with all of the original stitching intact. There is no mark on the scabbard.This hard-to-find knife displays very well, and remains in excellent condition.

Historical Description: During the first World War, “trench knives” became a fixture for combatants on both sides. These weapons were developed for the reality of hand to hand, close quarters combat that was a grisly part of trench fighting. The first knives were field expedient products using improvised designs, fabricated by unit workshops or by the soldiers themselves. The French began mass production of trench knives early on, and these designs proved influential; the US military would later introduce various models based on the French designs. Germans created their own sturdy cut-and-thrust knives, in designs which remained in use through the end of WWII. Commonwealth troops used a number of different types, including several different standardized varieties. The designs of WWI trench knives were extremely numerous and varied, and ranged from commercial type Bowie knives to simple weapons made from the stakes used to hang barbed wire. Push daggers and stilleto-type knives also saw use. Fighting knives were used alongside other types of “quiet” and melee weapons including clubs and hatchets. WWI trench knives are avidly collected today for their historical value.

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