Antique Girl Guides Belt with Full Utility Set Including a William Rodgers Combined Bowie Knife and Throwing Axe Set - 1920’s

Here on offer is a now antique Girl Guides belt with full utility set including a rare William Rodgers combined bowie knife and throwing axe set from the early 1920’s.

The early period Girl Guides belt and clasp buckle was made by John Leckie & Co. Ltd of Walsall and the reverse of the buckle has the maker’s name and an RD No. 698969, which dates to 1923/4.

What I love about this belt is the fact it still retains its full set of utility tools and accessories and is in untouched condition!

Now working from the belt buckle left to right, it has the following accessories.

A metal clasp stamped with “The Kestrel” trade mark and Spring Hook, Pat. 28677426.

It has a GUIDE KNIFE attached which has a 2.25” folding steel blade and a 2.25” marlin spike. There is no makers name on the knife, but it is in excellent condition.

Next is a leather pouch/purse with a brass stud flap fixing. On the lower section it is embossed with the Girl Guides crest/logo, which is now had to make out.

Then we have the seldom seen William Rodgers combined bowie knife and throwing axe set with its original leather knife sheath and axe head cover, that are fixed together.

I am told that this “set” was favoured and often carried by British commandos during operations in WW2.

The bowie knife has a 5” blade that is stamped on the ricasso:

WILLIAM
RODGERS
SHEFFIELD
ENGLAND

The blade is in great condition, but has some age staining, but retains a good cutting edge and is undamaged.

It has a brass oval crossguard and fits snugly to the grip plates, that are made of a wood effect/textured Bakelite material, secured to the knife tang by two large copper rivets.

The whole knife measures 9” (22.8cm) long

The axe has a 2.5” cutting blade and a wire cutting “V”. The main metal body has a 'Parkarised' finish and is fitted with the same textured grip as the knife. The axe measures 9.75” (24.8cm) long and the axe head is 10” (10.2cm) wide.

It is also stamped with the maker’s details, being:

WILLIAM
RODGERS
SHEFFIELD
ENGLAND


The last accessory on the belt is “THE ACME” Girl Guides brass whistle inset with a compass, that is fitted to another “Kestrel” spring hook.

The whistle is in excellent condition and the small compass works and just has a tiny chip to the edge of the glass cover.

A rare opportunity to find such a “utility belt” in this complete with a scarce William Rodgers knife and axe set.

End to end, the belt measures 34.6” (88cm) and itself is in good condition with some light age-related surface cracking to the finish.

With all the accessories it weighs a heavy 840g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51377