The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife and Other Commando Knives by Ron Flook

Description

(book subtitle) Fakes and Frauds, Personalities, World War 2 Contracts, Wilkinson Sword Company, F-S Knives and associated variants, Inspection Marks, F-S Knives of Other Nations, and Other Commando Unit Knives

A brand-new, definitive text on the Fairbairn-Sykes and related commando knives from the author of British & Commonwealth Military Knives.

The F-S Fighting Knife grew from the demands of World War Two and became, and remains so today, an iconic symbol of Commandos and Special Forces around the world. Its name also links it to two legendary men W.E.Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes. However, much of the history of the knife has been blighted by myths, legends and fakes, along with an apparent lack of historical documentation. The research that has gone into this book does however reveal for the first time the World War Two contract records as detailed by the Ministry of Supply and provides proof from the records of Wilkinson Sword that the most mythical 3-inch crossguard 1st Pattern F-S knife did exist. The book also gives details of inspection marks found on F-S knives and those responsible for such inspection and provides illustrations of many of the variants of the knife that can be found. Chapters on fakes, the F-S knives of other nations, and other types of knife used by the Commandos of World War Two are also included.

This book will push all of the other F-S books to the back of your shelf in short order.

Softcover, 264 pp.