The knife in the Ranger logo?

[JoBa]

I'm new to this board, so I ask that you please bear with me for wondering about this.

For the record, I am not a Ranger, nor a combat vet.. I am a Recondo.... for whatever that's worth.

Anyway, on the top of the forum opening page is the Ranger logo, a set of wings, a scull, a beret, and a knife. The knife is pointing up, rather than down. There was a member of the small dojo I belonged to that had been a commando in the South African Army, who had his patch sewn into his gee, it was a down pointing knife. I asked him about it and he explained that just about all elite units that used a knife in their logo had it point down to signify death from the sky.

So that makes me curious, what is the significance of the up pointing knife?

-JoBa

[hobbit]

Actually, I think Peter Neves designed that logo. Pete was web host here until he passed away a couple of years ago. The dagger pointing up instead of down was probably a consideration of aesthetics rather than symbolism.

[Jim]

Actually, I think Peter Neves designed that logo. Pete was web host here until he passed away a couple of years ago. The dagger pointing up instead of down was probably a consideration of aesthetics rather than symbolism.

I think you are right.

[Jim]

The sword in the MAC-V patch us vertical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_A ... d,_Vietnam

[Slowpoke]

The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando is vertical just about anywhere it's used by US Army Rangers....it's vertical at the Ranger Memorial too.

[KW Driver]

And the Brits use it tip up as far as I know.

We have it as a tie to the WWII Rangers training and fighting early in the war with the Brit commandos.

[Jim]

And if you really want, and have the money, there is a retired CWO who has that design as a pin in either black or tan beret.

[CloakAndDagger]

While I obviously can't speak for the designer of the logo (may he rest in peace), in military heraldry, an up-turned dagger represents self-sacrifice.

[JoBa]

While I obviously can't speak for the designer of the logo (may he rest in peace), in military heraldry, an up-turned dagger represents self-sacrifice.

So far, I'm voting for this as a plausible reason, however, I'm siding with Patton, let the bad guys do the sacrificing.

-JoBa

[IEDmagnet]

By no means am I calling them elite, but the last Sigact for the SADF was the airborne op against the PLAN at Cassinga in the 70's.

[RangerX]

Last I checked, the South African Army aren't in and didn't write the book on elite military units, they are not even a footnote. The last time they did anything significant was when the Zulus beat the Brits two centuries ago.

Go post an intro you....