BRITISH COMMANDO DAGGER

Dagger Sheffield Fairbairn Sykes Dagger. An overview.

This dagger is currently manufactured by the British Sheffield full copy of the famous dagger Fairbairn-Sykes commando daggers since World War II, who was armed with the British special forces. A little history.

Pictures clickable idea of creating forces commandos belongs Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke, who shortly after the ignominious defeat of the British at Dunkirk was able to convince the British government to create special units capable with minimal support and based only on their own strength to carry out surprise attacks on certain objects.

Instructors of these special units were former police officers William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes, acquired experience of martial arts in the busy streets of Shanghai - the South Chinese port city, a former colony of the British Empire. Philosophy that they inspired commando was simple: "Kill or be killed!" ("Kill or get killed!").

First knives, which entered service just created commando unit, were not suitable for use in the operations of these units: VS41 knife was a knife-knuckles manufactured according to the model of the First World War, and the knife RBD - just a hunting knife. In November 1940, Fairbairn and Sykes began to cooperate with the firm "Wilkinson". They managed to interest the company boss John Wilkinson-Latham his idea of ​​creating a new combat knife. Already in January 1941 began the production of the dagger, named for its creators (abbreviated - dagger "FS"). During the war, in addition to the company "Wilkinson" such weapons in various versions were made, and other firms.
 

Dagger "FS" and served as a model for American special units. Like a dagger, used by members of the secret American Office of Strategic Services (Office for Stratedic Services, OSS), and developed by Lieutenant Colonel Sheyem stiletto for an amphibious assault (Marine Raider Stiletto) issued its origin. Shay has been trained in the British special units in Scotland, where he was and came up with the idea for this knife ...

But back to the most Sheffield Fairbairn Sykes Dagger .

The total length of the knife - 29.5 cm
Diamond in the section 17.8 cm long blade made ​​of carbon steel. On the blade coated black shiny coat. 

  

Blade thickness - 5 mm, width - 22 mm 

  

metal handle, comfortable, but very slippery, despite the corrugation. Garda regular and straight. Applied on the handle brand, I do not know whether it is of Sheffield, but the origin of the knife (point of purchase) said that this knife. 

  

fully leather scabbard with brass rivets and metal tip. Adapted to be worn on a belt.
 

  

At the upper end of the sheath sewn usual wide elastic, which enables you to lock the blade and prevents its loss in the stowed position.



admirable ingenuity Messrs William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes. While different types of MOLLE attachment systems have not yet come up, but these gentlemen were well aware that the sheath with a knife may need to be clipped anywhere, not just at the waist. In consequence of that on the sheath and appeared here such "wings" with a pre-punched holes.

With their help, the sheath is very simple sewn with thick thread anywhere clothing or equipment. If necessary sparyvalis and sewn in a new place and at the end of a story, too, about the British, which told the English captain, giving the memory this one shown in the pictures "bumbonchik" of red and white feathers

  


 

The historical accuracy does not apply, but still ... In ancient ancient times, these feathers, which they wore on their headdress were completely white. But they do not share the fact that the French, met them at what that river and defeated their army, the ratio was in favor of the French, which is 1: 5.

Generally the blood was so much that the river water turned red ... To commemorate this victory remained for centuries, all survivors dipped their white "bumbonchiki" halfway into the river. That's so far and they have become red-white.