Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife

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Diagram of F&S Fighting Knife, taken from FMFRP 12-80,Kill or Be Killed, by Rex Applegate, who worked extensively with Fairbairn.

F&S Fighting Knife

The Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife is a stiletto-style dagger developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes during World War II with a foil-like handle and a keen, double-edged blade. Modeled on contemporary Shanghai street daggers, it was primarily intended for use by British troops, particularly Commando forces. Manufactured by the Wilkinson Sword Company in England, among others, there were minor variations in pommel and grip, of interest now mainly to collectors. Because of its sleek lines and popular association with the OSS, Marine Raiders and other units, it is often reproduced even today.

British Major Fairbairn, who had been chief of police in Shanghai before the Japanese capture of the city, taught the Fairbairn method of assault and murder. His course was not restricted to Camp X but later given at OSS camps in the United States. All of us who were taught by Major Fairbairn soon realized that he had an honest dislike for anything that smacked of decency in fighting. ^{[citation needed]}

Unlike the Marine Ka-Bar, which was designed for use in combat and as a utility tool, the F&S fighting knife was almost brittle^{[citation needed]}, and slender enough to slip between ribs. The vase-like handle lent it a very precise grip, and the sharp, double-edged blade was integral to its design. Fairbairn explains the rationale for the knife in his 1942 book Get Tough!

In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die.

The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife, is highly recommended as possessing the requisite qualities. This knife and similar types have found wide favour among experts.

There are many positions in which the knife can be carried. Selection of this position depends upon individual preference based on length of arm, thickness of body, etc. The following considerations, however, should always be borne in mind. A quick draw (an essential in knife fighting) can not be accomplished unless the sheath is firmly secured to the clothing or equipment. More over, speed on the draw can be accomplished only by constant daily practice. The author favors a concealed position, using the left hand, for in close-quarters fighting, the element of surprise is the chief ingredient of success.

[edit] Design

The Fairbairn-Sykes was produced in several patterns, yet all are based on a dagger design and constructed of carbon steel. First pattern knives have a 7.5 inch blade with a flat area, or ricasso, at the top of the blade, under the S-shaped cross guard. Pattern two knives have a 7 inch blade, 2 inch wide cross guard, knurled pattern grip, rounded ball, and may be stamped "ENGLAND" on the handle side of the cross piece. Third pattern knives also have a 7 inch blade, but the handle was redesigned to include a ring grip. Third pattern knives may be stamped "WILLIAM RODGERS SHEFFIELD ENGLAND", "BROAD ARROW", or simply "ENGLAND".

Fairbairn was also credited with design of the smatchet, a weapon similar in many ways to the Ghurka kukri. General Robert T. Frederick of the First Special Service Force is credited with a similar weapon, the V-42 combat knife, itself a derivation of the F-S design. The V-42 was manufactured by the Case company during this period and is distinguished mainly by its markings and the presence of a small, scored indentation for the wielder's thumb, to aid in orienting the knife for thrusting.

The Fairbairn-Sykes is the preferred hand-to-hand combat weapon of the British Special Air Service (SAS), where it has earned a rightly fearsome reputation for its ability to quickly and precisely eliminate the enemy. It is also sometimes awarded as a ceremonial weapon to distinguished Royal Marines and Paras retiring from service.