wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

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peter44
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Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:11 pm
Location: Beside the seaside

wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by peter44 »

Image hi guys heres a wm rodgers repro fairbairn sykes commando fighting knife . wm rogers and a few other companies manufactured these during ww2 . they wanted a knife that was like a brush in an artists hand ; it does feel like that when you hold it , but i think having a full metal handle was a mistake as it would become slippery when wet . i think they based it on in indian design that had a wooden handle . the sheath has tabs that you could sew to clothing, a brass tip on the end stops you from injury as the point and both sides of the blade are razor sharp.
Guns for show, knives for a pro!
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catavengercaptain
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Re: wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by catavengercaptain »

Nice looking dagger. What do you think about the Applegate Fairbairn do you think it is an improvement? It has a plastic handle not metal.
peter44
Posts: 938
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:11 pm
Location: Beside the seaside

Re: wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by peter44 »

catavengercaptain wrote:Nice looking dagger. What do you think about the Applegate Fairbairn do you think it is an improvement? It has a plastic handle not metal.
hi captain i think the applegate handle is better designed as the handle is not metal, but the blade looks too wide for a dagger . i prefer the v42 devils brigade in the looks department, very functional looking.
Guns for show, knives for a pro!
gravknife
Posts: 1499
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Re: wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by gravknife »

Peter this looks like a private purchase officers blade,many were privately bought by officers in ww2,does it have any age or is it brand new?
I read some were purposely left bright to strike fear into opponents and gain a psychological edge,these daggers were deadly in the right hands but the knurled roped and beaded grip better,less roll in the hand.
Take care mate,Ian
gravknife
Posts: 1499
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Re: wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by gravknife »

Peter
The fairbairn Sykes dagger was made by the Chinese.
Whilst stationed there as a Police officer in Hong Kong, fairbairn came up against many gang members who carried a smaller fatter version of the original fs 1st pattern knife.The grip on this gang knife was diamond knurled,hence the 1st pattern grip.
When collaborating with Sykes for a special forces dagger that would sever a spine and pass through the ribs without breaking also sharp on both edges for ease of use at night.,and inflicting lethal cuts in a knife fight,,they came up with the 1st patt,. Knife by Wilkinson sword.
There are many grip variations roped,diamond,ribbedand beaded and the concentric ring pattern that is on your knife .There were fatter gripped versions also that feel better when using. (Fatboys)
I believe the rings were slippery when using and many were field filed flat on either side,and the tips chisel pointed as it often broke off when left needle sharp on bone contact.
Look for marine ones with rope tied around the grip ,these are brilliant in hand,and look great in collections.
The best of the bunch is the 1st pattern with the FS etch ,and wilkinson legend.
Imho the best fighting knife ever created ,in the hands of those taught how to use it,American troops never liked it and complained when the tip snapped off when opening tins,but saw its might in the hands of English special forces,the oss had the" pancake flipper" version.
Always look for A v under the handguard ,it denotes A hand ground blade opposed to the machine grind,and they are usually better ,B2 crowsfoot on the guard and 9,4 on the moulded grips are good indicators of military ww2 issue.
A brief history of them mate :),there's a lot of variations but they all follow the initial 1st pattern,and that's the one everybody wants.
Look after yourself mate
Regards
Ian
gravknife
Posts: 1499
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Re: wm rodgers fairbairn sykes

Post by gravknife »

gravknife wrote:Peter
The fairbairn Sykes dagger was made by the Chinese.
Whilst stationed there as a Police officer in Hong Kong, fairbairn came up against many gang members who carried a smaller fatter version of the original fs 1st pattern knife.The grip on this gang knife was diamond knurled,hence the 1st pattern grip.
When collaborating with Sykes for a special forces dagger that would sever a spine and pass through the ribs without breaking also sharp on both edges for ease of use at night.,and inflicting lethal cuts in a knife fight,,they came up with the 1st patt,. Knife by Wilkinson sword.
There are many grip variations roped,diamond,ribbedand beaded and the concentric ring pattern that is on your knife .There were fatter gripped versions also that feel better when using. (Fatboys)
I believe the rings were slippery when using and many were field filed flat on either side,and the tips chisel pointed as it often broke off when left needle sharp on bone contact.
Look for marine ones with rope tied around the grip ,these are brilliant in hand,and look great in collections.
The best of the bunch is the 1st pattern with the FS etch ,and wilkinson legend.
Imho the best fighting knife ever created ,in the hands of those taught how to use it,American troops never liked it and complained when the tip snapped off when opening tins,but saw its might in the hands of English special forces,the oss had the" pancake flipper" version.
Always look for A v under the handguard ,it denotes A hand ground blade opposed to the machine grind,and they are usually better ,B2 crowsfoot on the guard and 9,4 on the moulded grips are good indicators of military ww2 issue.
A brief history of them mate :),there's a lot of variations but they all follow the initial 1st pattern,and that's the one everybody wants.
Look after yourself mate
Regards
Ian
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