THE PRINCE OF WALES’ SHAKESPEAR KNIFE
SINCE mankind’s earliest days the humble knife has been a constant companion to the hunter, be it as a simple tool for bushcraft or skinning, as a weapon for self-defence or even as a status symbol for the elite. Few would dispute that the knife is an essential piece of hunting equipment. So it is not surprising that many sportsmen sought to perfect and personalise their hunting knives, a practice common in the 19th century when the British Empire and big-game hunting were at their height.
One of the more evocative and alluring hunting knives of this period is the Wilkinson-shakespear Knife. Produced by cutler and gunmaker Wilkinson & Son of Pall Mall, London, it was based upon a design conceived by Colonel Henry John Childe Shakespear (1814-84), a British officer serving with the 25th Bengal Native Infantry and later the Nagpur Irregular Horse, as well being a renowned hunter of big game.
In his book, The Wild Sports of India (1860), he describes the knife in some detail: “Each of us is armed with a Shikar or hunting knife, the sheath of which fits into the breast of the shooting coat. Thus the knife is ready to hand, and can be used in a moment – this moment is time sufficient to save or lose a life. My hunting knives are some 7in long and 1½in broad in the blade, partly double-edged, fluted, coming to a keen point and kept as sharp as possible. There is a spring in the sheath; when required for use, this spring is pressed open with the little finger, at the same time that the hilt is grasped. It requires no buckle, or other fastening; the steel button in the side of the sheath fitting into the buttonhole in the pocket of the hunting-coat.”
Wilkinson & Son would go on to produce five variants of what it called the Shakespear Knife, each with a different sized blade. When the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, made his first visit to India over the winter of 1875-76, a sum of around £100,000 was provided with which to purchase gifts for presentation by the Prince to local dignitaries. Amongst these gifts was a small batch of Shakespear knives, one of which was recorded, rather enigmatically, as being presented by the Prince to, “a man who brought dancers from beyond the hills”. The Royal Armouries is fortunate to own one of these knives, currently on display in our Self-defence Gallery.
Unfortunately, the Shakespear knife was single-purposed, designed specifically for the kill rather than as a multipurpose utility knife. This somewhat limited its appeal when compared to the utilitarian Bowie knife, which would remain preeminent. Furthermore, Wilkinson & Son was the manufacturer of high-quality, bespoke pieces and never sought to match the Sheffield cutlers (who produced the majority of Bowie knives, even for the American market) in terms of output. Perhaps this is why Colonel Shakespear never achieved the fame and recognition of the iconic Jim Bowie. The Prince of Wales Shakespear Knife is on display in the Self-defence Gallery at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, the national museum of arms and armour. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm and entry is free. For details, visit: www.royalarmouries.org