Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife.

Commando knife with hilt of wood.
 

 

 

 

Text and pictures by
 Olof Janson unless otherwise stated

 

 

 

From left to right: Standard Pattern 3; Thin wood-hilted; Fat wood-hilted Commando knife

updated 2009-11-04

 

Wood-hilted Commando knife with thin grip.

 

Wooden Grip Commando knife

 

This knife resembles the Pattern three very much except for the hilt which is made out of wood instead of an alloy.

Much has been written regarding the Wooden Hilt F-S Knife, but little is regarded as pure fact.

Some believe that they were made up from surplus wartime blades matted to a wood handle for Post-War surplus sales.  Dr. William Windrum believes they were made for tropical climates where the hands would become slippery.

Many collectors believe that these knives might have been commercially sold.

 

 

Robert Wilkinson Latham proves by showing a picture from the Imperial War Museum that they also have been used by the crews of airplanes.

The picture shows a RAF (right) and a Canadian pilot (behind) debriefing after sorties of enemy lines just after D-day 1944. The Wooden hilted knife is clearly visible hanging on the Mae West of the pilot.

From Robert Wilkinson Latham’s illustrative article in Guns Weapons & Militaria about 'The Wooden Grip Commando knives'.

Special thanks to Robert Wilkinson Latham

 

Robert Wilkinson Latham has also verified this in interviews with war time pilots. The pilots did not value these knives to much nor did they consider them as Commando knives. These knives were delivered in cardboard boxes. A pilot remembers that he went to a cardboard box in the corner of ‘ops’ room and just picked it up.

These knives come with a large variety of hilt variations. Despite these hilt variations the one common feature found on these knives is a parallel-sided cross-guard.

There are normally no markings and there are no reports of acceptance stamps.
This might be the reason for the inferior quality. They were not subject to Governmental inspections.
Maybe the main purpose was to have a cheap light knife made of cheap steel for survival purpose only.

 

Wood-hilted Commando knife with a fat grip.

 

Wooden grip Commando knife with fat grip. Note the pommel nut is made of a washer.

 

It has a completely different type of grip and it has scabbard that resembles that of a hunting knife. The pommel nut is made of a disk which is recessed in the pommel. This is a common way for French constructors to do (like The Avenger of 1870). Many of these knives were used by the French legion and even produced in France after the war.

I believe this is the reason why many think that all of them after produced after WW2. The construction is however influenced from France.

There was an article published in the Cartouches 1974. It was written by a Maurice Chauvet who served in the Intelligence section of No 4 commando during WW2. He presents a picture of this knife and say:

"No. 1V wood handle dagger, British made circa 1941 – 43. Very popular among Canadian troops and large purchases have been made by Canadian units. Steel blade, light metal cross guard, handles of light or dark wood. The tongue penetrates the handle and it is screwed with a copper locking disc. Scabbard is very rough, sewn and riveted." (from Knife World Nov 1998)

The balance is quite different from the original Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting knife. The knives don’t have much in common except for the shape of the blade.

These knives are rather rare.

 

 

Square Ebony hilted Commando knife.

Commando knife with a unusual square hilt of ebony.
There are several reports of this type.

This knife is reported in Ron Flook's book plate 159.

 

Another Commando knife

with a unusual square hilt of ebony.

 

Courtesy of van Ratingen

 

 

 

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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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