VISUAL SUMMARY OF THE FULL SET OF KNOWN EXAMPLES
The following is a depiction of my contrarian history of the evolution of OSS/SOE Escape knife based on the currently available evidence – as I interpret it. All knives are in the Author’s collection unless stated otherwise. It would be greatly appreciated if any collector with suitable photos of the missing items 2 and 3 could provide them to me for inclusion in this schedule.
| 1 |  |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
Original “Flat latch” version– dated c.1900 to c.1902 Queen Victoria stamp Examples noted have the blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang of the can opener stamped “RODGERS CUTLERS TO HER MAJESTY”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo, as is the reverse side of the tin opener |
| 2 |
NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Visually identical to the above |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
Original “Flat latch” version– dated c.1902 to c.1905 (assumed date, no details available) King Edward VII stamp Examples noted all have the blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang of the can opener stamped “E[crown]R RODGERS CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo, as is the reverse side of the tin opener
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| 3 |
NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Visually identical to knife 4 following |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
First variant– assume dated circa 1905 – circa 1911. King Edward VII stamp Examples noted all have the blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang of the can opener stamped E[crown]R RODGERS CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo, as is the reverse side of the tin opener. |
| 4 |  |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
First variant– assume dated circa 1911 – circa 1914. King George V stamp Examples noted all have the blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang of the can opener stamped G[crown]R RODGERS CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo, as is the reverse side of the tin opener.
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| 5 |  |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
Second variant– assume dated circa 1914 – circa 1930. King George V stamp Examples noted all have the blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang of the can opener stamped G[crown]R RODGERS CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo, as is the reverse side of the tin opener.
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| 6 |  |
Joseph Rodgers “Military Knife P.1633.”
“Sawblade” knife. Assume dated circa 1930s. No reference to a Monarch but assumed to be during the reign of King George V (died 1936). Examples noted all have the main blade stamped JOSEPH “RODGERS & SONS” and the tang stamped “No. 6 NORFOLK ST SHEFFIELD ENGLAND”. One side of the wire-cutter head is stamped with the Rodgers logo. |
| 7 |  |
Joseph Rodgers & Sons
OSS/SOE Escape Knife –(known officially as the “ALL-PURPOSE” KNIFE), circa 1942 – 1945. Unmarked (“sterile”) although some examples such as this one have been noted with the letter M “stamped at the bottom of the inside arm of the wire cutter”. |
| 8 | 
SOURCE: Internet search |
Joseph Rodgers & Sons
“ALL-PURPOSE” KNIFE – post-WW2 version Identical to above, apart from the main blade which appears to be uncoated metallic on some examples and blued on others, assume dated 1952. The blade is stamped ““G crown R” together with the text “JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY SHEFFIELD *+” |
| 9 |  |
Joseph Rodgers ‘multitool knife’, assume circa 1950s – 1960s.
Version A The cutting blade is stamped “JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS” and the tang is stamped with the Rodgers logo on the mark side and “SHEFFIELD ENGLAND” on the pile side. The relevance of this knife in the OSS/SOE escape knife narrative is still a matter of conjecture. |
| 10 | 
SOURCE: photo courtesy of Ron Flook |
Joseph Rodgers ‘multitool knife’, assume circa 1950s – 1960s.
Version B The cutting blade is stamped “JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS” and the tang is stamped with the Rodgers logo on the mark side and “SHEFFIELD ENGLAND” on the pile side. Note that the tin/bottle opener blade is a wartime version whereas Version A is post-war. The relevance of this knife in the OSS/SOE escape knife narrative is still a matter of conjecture.
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