British WW2 COMMANDO WILKINSON 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN-SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE RARE
The British commandos were formed to conduct daring "hit and run" raids along the coast of Occupied Europe, harassing German garrisons and installations from the North Cape in Norway to the French channel ports. A special fighting knife was developed for their needs, designed by the legendary Captain W. Fairbairn, a former Shanghai police chief with a multitude of experience and expertise in hand to hand combat. The "Fairbairn-Sykes" fighting knife, as it came to be known, was perfectly balanced, and ideal for cutting, thrusting, and slashing at close quarters.
Some US Army Rangers also used the Fairbairn-Sykes, especially early in the war. This British WW2 COMMANDO WILKINSON 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN-SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE is in good condition, with a small chip to the blade tip, another small chip in the lower right blade edge, moderate sharpening and grinding to both blade edges, some scratching at each side of the blade, some scattered scratching, finish abrading, and patina to the guard, some scattered darkening to the handle, some patina to the pommel "nut", and with some overall age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage.
Most interestingly, it features a 6 13/16" double edge dagger blade (with a flat ground triangular section at each side of the ricasso) that retains approximately 65% of the original blued finish, sports the classic knurled brass handle, which distinguishes the 2nd pattern F-S knife, and carries the letter "B" (the first letter of the familiar "B2" maker's code exclusively used by the legendary Wilkinson Sword) stamped at the underside of the guard, along with the traditional British "broad arrow" acceptance mark and "ENGLAND country of origin stamp. It boasts a thick steel guard and a ball finial pommel, and is complete with a period replacement WW2 Custom Brown Leather Scabbard in good condition, with some overall darkening and age wear evident (ALL pictured).
Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it bears elegant brownish cotton stitching down the right side, exhibits an intact folded over and sewn "rough out" brown leather belt loop, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original British WW2 COMMANDO WILKINSON 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN-SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE. We have shown a photo of a British Commando in WW2 with a similar Fairbairn-Sykes clenched in his teeth.
GOVERNMENT at the left front. The item "British WW2 COMMANDO WILKINSON 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN-SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE RARE" is in sale since Wednesday, January 1, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\Great Britain\Edged Weapons". The seller is "abramsantiques" and is located in Claremont, California.
This item can be shipped to United States.