'Death's Head' Middle East Commando knife, 1940 (c)

Steel blade with cast brass grip with finger rings and protrusions on the exterior of the knuckle grip. The grip is stamped 'Lieut. Col. E. J. Kinvig' on one side and 'Sudan and Eritrea 1940-41' on the other.

This variation of a 'knuckle knife' is nicknamed 'Death's Head' because of the skull shape formed by its open work grip. This type of knife was probably locally produced in Egypt, and the design is believed to have been copied from a knife in the Cairo Police Museum. They are believed to have been used by Commando units active in the Middle East and East Africa in the early stages of World War Two (1939-1945). The date range stamped on this knife supports this theory.

Lieutenant Colonel E J Kinvig is believed to have served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Engineers and the 1st Airborne Division.