Three Indian Commando Knives

By Olof Janson

Special honour should be given to Roy Shadbolt for supporting me with this article.

updated 2008-10-05

 

 

Classic Indian made F-S knife

Standard Third Pattern

Local made Second Pattern

 

Classic Indian made F-S knife

 

The first knife is the classic (Indian made) F-S knife, complete with its original scabbard and frog.

There are no reports of any examples of this pattern having ordinance markings of any kind. This example is no different, possibly suggesting that these knives did not go through the Ishapore Arsenal, perhaps going straight to airborne or commando units.

The knife has an interesting brass variant grip with numerous rows of knurling.

 

Classic Indian made F-S knife

 

 

On the India examples molten metal was poured into the grip via the pommel.

Scabbard throats were fitted properly to match with the blades as can be seen here on a different scabbard belonging to a similar knife.

 

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Third Pattern British Commando knife.

Third Pattern British Commando knife most likely from Wilkinson Sword Co

 

The Second knife is the standard Third Pattern F-S British Commando type, marked with the Ishapore inspection mark of " I"

 

I have noted that all I stamped third patterns have the ‘V’ grind of the hand ground blades, that are higher quality and less common than the machine ground blades one encounters, with few exceptions I feel that most of these are of Wilkinson manufacture as all the examples I have encountered are identical to Wilkinson marked knives.

This example is over-stamped with ‘ENGLAND’ indicating it was sold as surplus to the US following WWII.

 

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Local made Fairbairn Sykes model - Second Pattern

 

Local made Second Pattern

 

This example is of the Second Pattern type but obviously made in India. I believe it is very rare.

 

I have encountered a few of these and all have variation in their manufacture, I feel it is likely that they were made by local artisans to fill the shortfall in knives arriving from England. This particular knife and scabbard are very well made, having a hand ground blade (as one would expect being ‘hand made’) and is a good copy of the traditional Second pattern, all be it differing in detail.

The scabbard is more traditional like a hunting knife scabbard.

Molten metal was poured into the grip via the pommel. Traces of the metal can be seen forming a seal around the grip against the guard.

 

 

It carries the " I" stamp (but NO ENGLAND stamp).

The Broad Arrow and I stamp is NOT Ishapor but the acceptance mark of the India Stores Department, who  prewar marked the good Arrow and ISD.
During the war any stores for India were marked I

 

 

 

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Left to right:

Classic Indian made F-S knife

Standard Third Pattern

Local made, Second Pattern

Classic Indian made F-S knife

Standard Third Pattern

Local made, Second Pattern

 

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Forming of Commandos
The Shanghai fighting knives
 

There are three basic modells of the F-S fighting knife.
1st Pattern F-S Fighting knife
2nd Pattern F-S Fighting knife
2nd Pattern F-S Fighting Private Purchase knife
2nd Pattern F-S Fighting w/o Wilkinson trademark.
like B2, Fat Man, Reverse Knurling
3rd Pattern F-S Fighting knife
Beaded & Ringed - Roped & Ringed

Steel hilt and Different hilts
Wood handles.

OSS - Stiletto w.'Pancake Flapper' and
US Marine Raider Stiletto

Three Indian F-S Commando Knives

Odd knives
Sheaths
Marks
UK Commando knives; Postwar production

 

The Stalingrad Sword made by Wilkinson Sword.

 

 

I want to give special acknowledgement to these gentlemen,
who helped me in writing this article:

  • Robert Wilkinson Latham,

  • Mike Silvey in USA,

  • Tom Parker in Canada,

  • Roy Shadbolt in USA.

 

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References:
Robert Wilkinson Latham His own web site
Alan W. Locken Commando 1940 - 1945
Robert A. Burlein Allied Military Fightingknives
Ron Flook British and Commonwealth military knives.
Fredrick J. Stephens Fighting Knives
Frank Trzaska The O.S.S. Stiletto - Knife World February 1998.
Frank Trzaska The Raider Stiletto - Knife World July 1997
Kelly Yeaton The First Commando Knives.
John Nowhill & son Sheffield
Michigan knives  
Dr. William Windrum  The earliest commando knivesAllan W. Locken – Commando 1940 - 1945.

 

 

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