William Fairbairn was once referred to as “the most dangerous man in the world.” Long before WWII, Fairbairn was honing his hand to hand combat skills as a member of the International Police on the violent streets of Shanghai, China. During his 20 years in Shanghai, Fairbairn was said to have engaged in hundreds of fights. He bore the scars of the encounters all over his body. During that time in Shanghai, you either learned how to fight in a fast and devastating way or you ended up dead or cripple for life.
Fairbairn met Eric Sykes, a small arms expert in Shanghai and the two soon became partners. Both Fairbairn and Sykes were small arms and tactics instructors of some note and highly respected. So much so that with the outbreak of WWII, both Fairbairn and Sykes were recruited by the British Special Operations Executive and they taught close quarters combat to British commandos. Fairbairn’s seminal writing “All In Fighting” is a must read for any student of martial arts and hand to hand combat.
That duty led Fairbairn and Sykes to work together to develop a specially designed commando dagger or fighting knife. The result was the famous Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife which has also been referred to as the British Commando Knife or Dagger and it was released in 1940.
The original F-S knife had a 7-inch double-sided blade with a fine, needle sharp point. There was a small crossguard and handle was approximately 5 inches with steel pommel. Overall length for the F-S knife was 11.5 inches. The first models were all steel. The Wilkinson Sword company was the primary manufacturer for the knives issued to British commandos.
By the close of WWII, the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife silhouette had become famous. The official Soldier of Fortune icon included a red beret over two F-S commando daggers. The F-S knife also became a badge of honor for commando groups worldwide. Special Operation and Commando groups from Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA were once issued these knives.
Over the decades, numerous knife makers and designers borrowed heavily and liberally from the original Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. Some of these designs include the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife, the Gerber Mk II popularized during the Vietnam War, and the modern “Bellum Daga” (translated: War Dagger). That model is a Fox Knives take on the original F-S design.
Inglis Fairbairn Sykes Knife
Naturally, WWII-era FS commando knives are highly sought after collector’s items with price tags to match. Even the post-WWII Fairbairn and Sykes replicas are generally priced in the upper $200 to $300 range, sometimes more. The folks at Military Armament Corp own the “Inglis” brand, famous for P-35 Hi-Power pistols. MAC, fortuitously, decided to produce a replica FS knife under the Inglis brand name and to offer it at a very fair price. The Inglis Hi-Power and the FS knife go together like peas and carrots.
The Inglis Fairbairn-Sykes Knife features the signature double-edged, tapered blade, ideal for thrusting attacks and precise cutting. The dagger’s needle-sharp point and flat-ground edges are designed for swift, lethal strikes and optimal penetration, staying true to the original knife’s combat-ready design.
A durable blade construction is made from 440A stainless-steel, the blade offers exceptional edge retention, strength, and durability. The steel is treated to resist corrosion, ensuring the knife stays sharp and ready for action, whether for tactical use or display. Blade finish: Black Titanium Plating. Blade hardness is 55-57 HRc. The cutting edge is 20 degrees.
The handle is made from a durable, textured synthetic material, providing a firm, non-slip grip even in intense conditions. The distinctive ""D""-shaped guard protects the user's hand from slippage and offers a secure, comfortable hold for controlled, precise maneuvers.
As you’d expect, the knife comes with a high-quality, genuine leather sheath, designed for safe storage and quick access. The sheath includes a convenient belt loop for easy carry, allowing you to keep the knife within reach at all times.
The MSRP is $99.99, however, at press time, if you go directly to the FS Knife on the Military Armament website, they are running a significant sale. Get them while they’re hot.
– Paul Markel, Shooting News Weekly