Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knives.

[Jack's Son]

+1, a very informative thread indeed.

Here is my daughter Alex's commando knife from her collection -

And here is a Marine Corps Raider stiletto from my collection -Tim

Tim,

Thanks for posting your stiletto, as well as Alex's. She has a fine Vietnam example, I wish I had one in my collection!

[gunbarrel]

JS...what are the two small leather tabs on the scabbards for? I assume to attach them to something...but what? :think:

The British commandos worked in plain cloths, or "quiet" field gear, and did not always have belts from which to attach the scabbard. The doctrine of the commandos was stealth and surprise, thus the tabs were sewn onto the scabbard so the knife could be concealed by sewing it in clothing, pack, or blanket, always at the ready, yet unseen.

 

This photo of a Canadian commando illustrates what JS is saying. I have many pictures of British & Canadian commandos with F-S knives, but I will try to post only those that show U.S. soldiers, unless I need to illustrate a point like on here. Moderator, if I'm out of line, please, delete the post and accept my apologies.

 

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

It looks like this guy in Normandy has some explaining to do (like, where did you get the insignia?)

 

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

General Frederick and General Keys with General Clark as they approach Rome. Note the V-42.

 

[gunbarrel]

OSS Version.

 

Notice the Rubber residue around the handle of the knife. That is what is left of the "O-Ring" that held the knife in the scabbard.

 

 

Here is a picture of an o-ring in place.

 

[king802]

FS knives were also issued to British Paratroopers. They were usually sewn into the back of the Dennison smock. I've been told two stories from Arnhem veterans - first involved a sniper who saw a captured paratrooper being led away by two Germans, the sniper dropped the German to the rear and the captured paratrooper pulled a FS from the back of his smock and finished the guy in front.

The second involved a large group of paratroopers who had been captured, the SS officer in charge said they had 5 minutes to dispose of any fighting knives (Hitlers famous Commando order). Anyone carrying one threw it into a ditch.

I have one in my collection given to me by a Glider pilot who served at Arnhem.

 

Rich

[gunbarrel]

Rich,

 

Thanks for the very interesting information. Here is a photo of a British paratrooper with his FS knife.

 

[gunbarrel]

Close-up...

 

[Jack's Son]

I have read that the "England" stamp was applied to surplus knives after the war, in order for the knives to be sold in the US. While this sounds reasonable, I can't not for the life of me find a reputable source to confirm this.

[gunbarrel]

I have read that the "England" stamp was applied to surplus knives after the war, in order for the knives to be sold in the US. While this sounds reasonable, I can't not for the life of me find a reputable source to confirm this.

 

JS,

 

It's been the law since the early 1900's. All imported products not made in the U.S. have to indicate country of origin on them.

[dskjl]

WOW!

What a great thread and what a wonderful collection. Lots to go through and lots to lust after. Thank you for and informative and entertaining thread.

I am going to review my crappy little collection now and slit my throat.

[Jack's Son]

I am going to review my crappy little collection now and slit my throat.

Are you going to use a F-S Dagger?? :pinch:

[dskjl]

Are you going to use a F-S Dagger?? :pinch:

Good call :thumbsup:

[fabnatcyr]

HELLO

 

MY DAGGER OSS

 

two control points on the blade, as were hardened and reprobate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(oss – B2- perlé- grosse tete -3 modele – rainuré aluminum )

[Jack's Son]

Fabnatcyr,

Thank you for contributing to the thread! Perhaps you can post a close-up of each knife, so we can examine them more closely?

[fabnatcyr]

Fabnatcyr,

Thank you for contributing to the thread! Perhaps you can post a close-up of each knife, so we can examine them more closely?

Hello all

 

Here are a dagger English ww 2 models big head said.

Its uniqueness is due to the size of the knob (19 mm instead of 15)

We can see the difference with the classical two B2

The manufacturer is not known because there is no labeling

[fabnatcyr]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Here is a model with aluminum handle

I know that person did even certainty on the origin (Civil /. For canada. / USMC for?)

[fabnatcyr]

Hello all

Here is my copy of dagger "BEADED AND RIBBED" (beaded French)

It has: / I \ with the number 12 on the handle and put on the guard england

(In the book of fontevielle he speaks of one or the other, but all is not in the books)

But the rarity of the coin is that I have seen very little

[fabnatcyr]

 

 

dagger b2 this piece scored 38 / I \

[fabnatcyr]

 

This piece of my collection did not always yielded its secret.

It was found during World War II on a German corpse in the Loire.

This material also owned radio stations (which have unfortunately not been preserved n)

My research and expert opinions confirm what many English ww2.

In the region of its discovery there was resistance and the commando Jeremy (and others) to Jedburgh jumped into this area.

It is true that they jumped into German held.

For against all these members seem to be back.

(The play has been dropped or given or taken by a true German)

It seems to be manufactured with a bayonet blade English resized.

A rod was brewed, which is well studied is that this weakness is protected by a pin assembly directly between the blade and the handle through the thickness of the guard (and no rotation can take place)

It has 2 punches of marine anchor reaches No I do not speak

[fabnatcyr]

 

 

hello

English model dagger 3

 

 

j hope that you will

was soon