FS 2nd pattern, B2 ???

**Lenny Warren** · 12-15-2013, 10:32 PM

Hi guys,

I've been offered this 2nd pattern F-S, acceptance marked /|\ B2

Any thoughts on it, he's wanting £175 for it, best pics I have....

**Chopperman** · 12-15-2013, 10:46 PM

Hi,
I am not an expert on these but something about
the blade seams off. Maybe the tip was broken and
the blade reshaped. Also, perhaps it's the lighting
in the picture but I would expect to see the "V" grind
on the blade at the cross guard on a #2-B2.

Like i said, I'm a rookie with these so hopefully you will
get more opinions.

**Lenny Warren** · 12-15-2013, 11:11 PM

by Chopperman

Hi,
I am not an expert on these but something about
the blade seams off. Maybe the tip was broken and
the blade reshaped. Also, perhaps it's the lighting
in the picture but I would expect to see the "V" grind
on the blade at the cross guard on a #2-B2.

Like i said, I'm a rookie with these so hopefully you will
get more opinions.

You often see broken re-ground tips on F-S's from the ones I've seen in the past. I'm sure an old veteran told me that the tip was brittle and tended to break. V grind? You mean the Crows's Foot? It's there, you can see it on the crossguard.

**Chopperman** · 12-15-2013, 11:58 PM

I agree, tipped blades are fairly common. I've
got one of my own.

The "V" I am refuring to is the shape of the grinding
of the blade at the cross guard. i don't know the
proper term for what I am trying to describe.

**Lenny Warren** · 12-16-2013, 12:07 AM

Gotcha, the V ground on the ricasso. I'd always thought that ground was from a hand ground blade, the absence of it pointed to a machine ground blade? Did any 2nd patterns have no v ground????

**Lenny Warren** · 12-16-2013, 12:10 AM

The other thing I didn't like was the elastic isn't sewn to the leather on the top surface... Of course that could have been replaced. I'm wondering if it's a 3rd pattern blade with a 2nd pattern handle? Would this have happened around the changeover, old handles used with new blades?

**Chopperman** · 12-16-2013, 12:20 AM

by Lenny Warren

I'm wondering if it's a 3rd pattern blade with a 2nd pattern handle? Would this have happened around the changeover, old handles used with new blades?

That was my question as well. I would think that a
#2 B2 would have a hand ground blade. My first
thought when I saw your picture was that the blade
had been replaced. Hopefully someone with a bit
more experience will join the discussion.

**rbminis** · 12-16-2013, 01:04 AM

Hello Lenny,
Here is a good reference site for Wilkinson FS knives.
Home
Ralph.

**Lenny Warren** · 12-16-2013, 01:48 AM

Thanks for that, been on all the sites searching. I'll have a look at this "in the flesh"

**Lenny Warren** · 12-16-2013, 07:30 PM

Well, saw this today and it DOES have a V ground on the ricasso. It was just the bad photography from my picker.... Haggled a deal for this one, with x2 modern MOD issue F-S's, J. Nowill with Broad arrow markings, an MOD survival knife and a new KA-BAR USMC knife in it's box. More than happy with the x5 of them, the four modern ones will be traded on.

Turns out they all belonged to an old guy who was a Para. Apparently he joined up in the '60s so not sure if the 2nd pattern F-S was still in service. It's had a long service life by the looks of it... Pics to follow.