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Letter Opener

A polished brass letter opener shaped like a saber and engraved with place names.

Collection of Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta, C-10636

copper, 31.8 x 4.7 x 0.3 cm , First World War

Inscribed on back: A.B. Mackenzie, 696532. 3rd Cdn. Fd. Amb., France Empress Alberta Canada

This letter opener belonged to Alexander Burry MacKenzie who was a 36-year-old farmer from Empress, Alberta when he enlisted in March 1916. The copper used to make this knife is from the driving band of an artillery shell. Copper was a popular material for making trench art souvenirs because it is relatively soft and malleable.