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Fighting knives
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 5:23 pm
by LST
A few of my prized possessions. The small Camillus was issued to my Dad in 1957, the larger one he picked up in Vietnam in 1971. The dagger was given to him by an Army buddy in France in 1959, who said it was a Darby's Rangers issued British Commando dagger. Whether that part is true or not I don't know.
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:11 pm
by C-WADE7
Nice group of knives and good story, it makes them all the more special. Hopefully someone will have some info on the little dagger.
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:45 pm
by LST
The dagger, or stiletto is a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, they were issued to British Commandos & SAS during WWII. There's a good bit of information about them online. I'm still in the market for a period correct vintage leather sheath for it if anyone has one, or knows a source to find one.
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:51 pm
by Corn Creek Cutlery
Very nice knives LST, and with the family history, that makes them a treasure!
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:20 am
by Rockingkj
LST wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:45 pm
The dagger, or stiletto is a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, they were issued to British Commandos & SAS during WWII. There's a good bit of information about them online. I'm still in the market for a period correct vintage leather sheath for it if anyone has one, or knows a source to find one.
How is your Fairbairn marked?
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:24 am
by LST
Rockingkj wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:20 am
LST wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:45 pm
The dagger, or stiletto is a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, they were issued to British Commandos & SAS during WWII. There's a good bit of information about them online. I'm still in the market for a period correct vintage leather sheath for it if anyone has one, or knows a source to find one.
How is your Fairbairn marked?
It's marked, England, on the guard. That's the only markings on it.
https://i.imgur.com/3x5u0jd.jpg
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:25 pm
by ken98k
It seems that I recently read an article stating that the Brits had only recently discontinued making the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife for issue.
I found this site dedicated to the fighting knife.
https://www.fairbairnsykesfightingknives.com/
Re: Fighting knives
Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:44 pm
by ken98k
According to this video, the knives were made in the thousands and most were never issued. After the war they were stamped "England" for export.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNBaE9ifm54
