MOD issue dirk v India copy

[OC Richard]

I thought it might be helpful, or at least interesting, to post photos of the widely and cheaply available Indian-made copy of the traditional British military pipers' dirk with an original MOD issue pipers' dirk.

Indian-made above, British-made below:







British-made left, Indian-made right.

Strange that the MOD issue dirk made in the 1980s bears the Kings' Crown.



British-made above, Indian-made below:





Closeup of the marks on the British-made dirk's blade:



The MOD dirk has a NATO stock number, broad arrow, diamond-H maker's mark, and 1986.

Here is information about the maker:

F. E. and J. R. Hopkinson Limited. Cutlery and Tool Manufacturers. Trimils Works, London Road, Sheffield

(recently listed at Scotland Road, Sheffield)

This site gives markings found on British bayonets; scroll down to see the diamond-H

http://oldmilitarymarkings.com/brit_...ml#markings-gb

I found this information online:

J.Adams Ltd (Sheffield Knives) is a family business which has been making knives for six generations. They are also the parent company for three other long established brands F.E. and J.R. Hopkinson Ltd, established 14 June 1944; John Nowill and Sons Ltd, whose corporate name was granted by the Cutlers Company of Hallamshire on 27 April 1700 and Austin McGillivray and Co. They make hunting knives, throwing knives, bowie knives, commando knives, pocket knives, military knives, British Army pocket knives, Scottish knives, Scottish dirks, seamen’s knives, folding knives, clasp knives, safety knives, scrapers, crowbars, wrecking bars, punches, wedges, cold chisels, chandlers tools, rubber workers tools, painter’s knives, palette knives, kitchen knives, cook’s knives, butcher’s knives, trade knives, and scissors. They state on their website “we guarantee that all our knives are Sheffield made”.

Here is one of these MOD issue pipers' dirks being worn by a piper of The Black Watch c1980