Cobra and Boot knife: Fairbairn

Use of the W.E Fairbairn Cobra Knife and SOE boot / lapel knife
NOTE: weapons are dangerous. Some types may be illegal to own or carry where you live around the world. These videos are primarily designed to provide a historical flavour of how things may have worked, or were taught / used. The onus is always on you to know the law and the repercussions as it applies to you. Train safely and responsibly.
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WW2 Combatives, Gutterfighting, W.E Fairbairn material, Bartitsu, Boxing, HEMA, RSBD and much more!

[@inregionecaecorum]

That spike is still carried by a certain section of the community you do not want to meet on the wrong side of the street, they call it a "screwdriver"

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

True that!

[@junichiroyamashita]

I have known the Cobra from a while,but i have never seen someone talk about it. I wonder the different ways it can be used. Good for another video. It definely feels more similar to a scythe than a kukri,like a simplified european sickle.

[@ferdonandebull]

I have a delta dart which is very lite and since it is a cylinder plastic isn’t a problem in metal detectors .

[@rikkic7000]

Fascinating and scary all at the same time

[@jasonmartin1668]

That cobra looks like a Filipino Gunting much more than a khurkri

[@SuperOtter13]

Been curious about that knife design. Great presentation thank you for sharing it with us. Cheers

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Cheers fella, always love to share a bit of history

[@ivymike2691]

I know everyone is saying kukri, but it would be interesting to see some of the sickle techniques for Paulas Hector Mair applied to that cobra.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

That is a very good idea. I'll hit up my HEMA buddies

[@bryanbauer9423]

Those lapel knives look a lot like a streamlined version of a rondel dagger which was a stabbing weapon common in medieval europe.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Very nice! Love a bit of rondel and ringen

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:20 - Boot knife 0:45 - Spike variant 1:30 - Anatomy 2:45 - Stabs 5:55 - Cobra knife 7:25 - Drawing 8:10 - Ripping at close range 9:05 - Boxing & cobra combos 9:30 - Guided thrusts 9:45 - Snap strikes 10:25 - Angles of attack 10:55 - Pommel 11:50 - Conclusion

[@slc308]

There is a video of Rhodesian Bush fighting where they used the cobra.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

OOh really? Have a link?

[@slc308]

@@TommyMooreww2combatives kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDWZYdrnJenZ9E Watch the whole thing but it's at 1:16

[@jamesnekechuk7830]

I thought that was a cobra! I just asked that question on that video.

[@glennevitt5250]

Thank you for this information 😎

[@mryan2010]

Very nice showcasing the Cobra. Dan is no doubt pleased with your tutorial. It is much more useful than I gave it credit for.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Cheers mate I hope so

[@canadafree2087]

The first one was used as a Sleeve Dagger by SOE. Page 18 in the catalogue book by H. Keith Melton. I got to see some of the real tools behind glass at Casa Loma in Toronto. I've never seen the second knife but that design is not uncommon in the Philippines, but maybe his inspiration was more from Arab countries. Nasty blade indeed.

[@shawkorror]

Hong Kong policing, as i recal.

[@Carlmuscleman67]

Are the OSS daggers made to order Tommy do you have a contact

[@broadminded7774]

So, Fairbairn with the "Cobra" has reinvented the Sica basically!

[@richcook2305]

Nice, just got my own (bob) .your book(s) are next! Great advice on charlie Bronson book thank you. N.Y.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Cheers fella, enjoy!

[@designated_hitter_EGA]

Tommy, looks like you've been in a scraping with Lee recently? That Cobra is quite wicked isn't it.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Have indeed, he’s a lovely bloke

[@d.c.917]

Nice sweater!

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Thank you!

[@d.c.917]

@@TommyMooreww2combatives where did you buy your Cobra?

[@jonathanjeffer]

I think that Fairbairn was a knife nerd. The cobra looks a lot like an agricultural implement. It looks like something you would use for cutting cane. It looks a bit like a sickle. The curvature makes it look like a drawing cup would be awkward with the edge on the inside.

[@defensivetacticssystems8167]

THe draw cut would be easy with this blade as it is drawn from a cross draw with a calvary saber style draw.. this type of draw has been used in the southeast asian and japanese arts for centuries with no problem. the main thing is having the distance to clear the sheath. that is the purpose of the push off or the pommel hit on the draw.. would be something similar to throwing an upper cut from the side it was carried on with the hand as Tommy indicates on the downward hand strikes

[@slc308]

Also count in the sharpened back edge because that's how it was designed. You draw out and hit with the back of the blade.

[@JM-yy9td]

Is it possible to buy this type of boot knives? I don't remember seeing these for sale any where.

[@Moreteavicar1485]

Interesting video. Where would I be able to order a similar knife?

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Facebook 'Rising Crane Blades' he makes all manner of affordable commissioned

[@Moreteavicar1485]

Thanks I’ll have a look.

[@slc308]

Where did you get the cobra?

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Had a smith make it fella

[@ВладимирКоневод]

Fairbairn's cobra is very similar to Romfea

[@jasonmccarthy-f7]

The Cobra looks very much like a Thai rice sickle, rice knife - it would only have been used for harvesting a thin stalked, grass type plant - not cane / bamboo / wood, etc as there’s no weight to the blade. Great ‘weapon of chance’ if you’re ambushed by bandits while out working in your fields, but I am surprised Fairbairn would have selected that consciously, to ‘take into battle’, given the variety of other purpose made short sword type edged that would have been available :)

[@billyjohnson2495]

The Cobra looks Philippino.

[@RVM451]

Much like a slimline Kukri.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Or scythe :)

[@vyderka]

It's not unlike a karambit, just add a ring :) I personally have a love-hate relationship with karambit, yours approach to it is simple, intuitive and clearly effective.

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Cheers mate thank you!

[@websurfer352]

The cobra resembles the Filipino ginunting short sword but with a more curved blade than the ginunting!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3XQiKebZdBpoZY kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ3Ie4SIj8epfbs

[@TommyMooreww2combatives]

Does indeed buddy, very similar!