A RARE WORLD WAR I MACHINE GUNNERS WELSH KNIFE OF THE 9TH BATTALION, ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS,

A RARE WORLD WAR I MACHINE GUNNER'S 'WELSH KNIFE' OF THE 9TH BATTALION, ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS, CIRCA 1917-18 entirely of steel, or regulation type, with broad leaf-shaped blade, stepped folding circular guard locking into the forte, plain tang with a portion of cord binding, sharpened pommel, and original canvas-covered leather scabbard with belt loop, 59.8 cm Provenance Herbert George Davis (1883-1967), who was in service with the Howard de Walden family before and after World War I. Thence by descent. Allegedly based on an ancient Welsh weapon (later proved not to be the case), the "Welsh Knife" was designed by the sculptor and armourer Felix Joubert in 1916. A limited number were made by the Wilkinson Sword Company at the behest of Lord Howard de Walden who commanded the Battalion between September and December 1917. A memorandum of 27 January 1920 in the Imperial War Museum states "9th Batt'n. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This battalion made use of a knife with which all machine gunners and bombers were always equipped. Every member of a raiding party was so armed and in one raid on the Messines Ridge two days before the battle of Messines they were used with conspicuous success. They were provided by Lord Howard de Walden and were a replica of a weapon used by Ancient Welsh tribes. They were double-edged, but were intended more for bayonetting than cutting."