A Mysterious Wilkinson Fighting Knife
by Ron Flook
The history of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (F-S knife) and its links to the Wilkinson Sword Co. is now well known and it is clear that Wilkinsons was able to provide the customer with what they wanted in terms of customized features such as blade etchings. But some of their other knives remain something of an enigma with little or nothing being known about their background or history. What follows is one of these situations.
I touched upon the subject of these knives in an article that appeared in the November 2019 edition of KNIFE Magazine, entitled “Myths, Legends, and Falsehoods”. I’d now like to delve a little deeper into the knives themselves and their story and background. It is definitely a case of what we think we know from previously published statements may not be the truth.
This article appears in the December 2021 issue of KNIFE Magazine. Premium Online Members can read the whole thing by clicking the blue button below.