British Eye Witness Fighting Knife

[lanners55]

Blade and scabbard markings (made in Sheeffield Eng.)

[lanners55]

I'd be very grateful for any further information on this fighting knife. The blade is 170 mm in length, bears the image of an eye over "Witness" and is made by Taylor of Sheffield England.

[seebee1]

Not strictly speaking a "fighting" Knife, it is a civilian sheath knife that could be bought privately by someone in the services. Regards, Clive.

[dragnet]

Not strictly speaking a "fighting" Knife, it is a civilian sheath knife that could be bought privately by someone in the services. Regards, Clive.

[byterock]

I agree 'Fighting Knife' would be a stretch.

Taylor Witness is the name of the company which still exists.

I always love these 'Sheffield' Leather hilt knives, seems they do not make them anymore in this quality

My guess it is of resent production likely from one of the other firms they absorbed in the 50s and 60s


If it is 50 or 60s production it might have a WWII connection as many knives of that era use 'Steal' from scraped war ships.

Seems it is a later copy to the WWII era Knife made by 'Southern & Richardson' The original WWII era knives would only be marked 'Sheffield' near the hilt latter 'collector' types would have the name on the blade.

[Dave Alexander]

Serving in the RAC '59 - '71 quite a few of us carried this exact same knife for utility purposes. During Winter manouevres in Europe we wore mid-calf leather lace-up boots and these knives fitted perfectly into the top of them. They were quite inexpensive, somewhere around 10/-.

[seebee1]

It is possible that the manufacturer is still in business, established in 1838. Their address in the late 1970's was Taylor's Eye-Witness Limited, Milton Street, Sheffield, S3 7WJ, England. You may be able to get more information from them and the date of manufacture. Regards, Clive.