You can search for a name or select an equipment type to explore.
The BC41 knife is known to be issued to the British Commandoes and appears in the SOE manual of equipment with lots of examples turning up in Norway with a history of being Norweigein Resistance.
The BC remains a mystery but some sources quote it as meaning Bliss Casters or Birmingham Casters with 41 being the date. It is made of cast iron.
Designed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes who had developed a prototype similar to this while serving with the Shanghai Military Police. They worked with Wilkinson Sword of London on the design in November 1940 and initial orders were placed by Captain Leslie Wood RE for the newly formed Commandoes, Auxiliary Units and SOE
The image shows a brass handled wire garrotte from early war. Formerly the property of ex SOE operator.
Flexible 24” wire with heavy brass handles which have government broad arrow acceptance mark which could pre-date SOE as their kit was generally unmarked.
Previous owners Dennis Neene and Richard Ashley.
Auxiliers would have made use of various procured hunting and fighting knives weather from their own collections or by private purchase.
Types could vary. Pictured is a brass knuckleduster with four finger holes. They were smooth knuckles and had a bar which rests against the palm.
Another is a BC41 knuckle duster. The BC remains a mystery but some sources quote it as meaning Bliss Casters or Birmingham Casters with 41 being the date. It is made of cast iron.
Be aware Knuckledusters marked BC42 (in emulation of the BC 41 Knuckleduster-knife) are a known pattern of fake.
Size 18cm x 12cm
Rubber truncheons were issued to the Patrols formed before 10 Sept 1942 at the scale of 3 per Patrol. Patrols formed after this date were not issued with them but various ones were procured and utilized by the Auxiliers
The rubber truncheon that were issued to Auxiliary Unit Patrols were was made of hard rubber. They came from War Department stores and they were previously used for riot control.
Various wooden truncheons were also used. The wooden bulb ended truncheon shown is marked with LDV so dating it between May and August of 1940.