Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife - Blade of the Commandos

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Developed specifically for use by the British Commandos during WWII, the Fairbairn-Sykes is one of the most legendary fighting knives in military history, and still used by special forces around the world to this day. In this video, we examine the development of this iconic weapon and its many variations.
SOURCES:
www.sheffieldcollectableknive...
www.fsknife.com/articles-1
www.fsknife.com/the-wilkinson...
www.fsknife.com/collectingthe...
www.fsknife.com/fakesfraudsfa...
www.fsknife.com/the-wilkinson...
www.fsknife.com/the-wilkinson...
www.fsknife.com/the-wilkinson...
www.fsknife.com/the-third-pat...
www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar...
www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar...

[@OnTheRiver66]

For those who are concerned they are not sharp, at that time in history, and going back when I was younger, knives were usually not sharp from the manufacturer and you sharpened them when you received them. This was the same during WWll. You sharpened your blade when you received it. I have one of these knives and while the point was needle sharp, I had to sharpen the edges. Not a problem with those experienced in sharpening knives. If you like knives and don’t know how to sharpen them then you need to learn how. It is not rocket science.

[@FIREBRAND38]

Kind of like using contractions beyond "don't" when writing, no doubt.

[@jakeharris9075]

Sharpening knives is definitely rock-it science

[@additudeobx]

My Dad had a relic WWII US bayonet and became irately pissed at me when I "Sharpened" it for him.... I was a young Cub Scout learning about sharpening knives and I thought I was doing something great for my dad by sharpening his knife.... I remember my mom had to calm him down. It was decades before I understood why he got so jacked.

[@killer1963daddy]

They are pokey

[@joejones9520]

they angle so steeply tho that it's really hard to get them very sharp and even if razor sharp will never cut well, theyre mainly for stabbing and would need to be hollow ground to be effective as a knife.

[@alexcarter8807]

I remember these being pretty cheap for sale in "Soldier Of Fortune" magazine in the 1980s. Not so many people cared about them then, and I guess they were available surplus. There was a lot of neat stuff you could get in the 80s for a lot less money than now.

[@454FatJack]

I got one,, Fake copy😢 , sent it back

[@fedecano7362]

Love it, you went all out with the Commando costume!

[@wormyboot]

The uniform and face paint make the presentation better.

[@iqcops]

😂🎉

[@jimsvideos7201]

Well done Gilles. I admire the absolute dedication to function in this design.

[@morenauer]

I don't call it the hilt, I call it "the grabby bit". Don't even worry about it, Gilles.

[@colorupro]

I love the commitment with the grease paint and wool coat in this video, bravo!

[@avgjoepublic3810]

2nd

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

I thought I had heard a lot about this dagger, but you provided a lot of new interesting information and drawings.

[@jsnsk101]

i enjoy the extra effort you put in with the wardrobe and makeup in this

[@oconnorsean12]

I love the reference to Forgeten weapons. You and Ian should collaborate! My 20 something year old kids love your channel, they are fascinated by early technology that lead to today's world!

[@bjornkeizers]

Huh, fascinating. I was like 'Wilkinson? Like the razors?' Turns out Wilkinson Sword actually did make swords - up until 2005 according to Wikipedia. I never even knew they did anything besides shaving products... It's amazing the weird things you learn on KZbin :D

[@mattwilliams3456]

I’ve carried a Gerber Applegate Fairbairn combat folder for over 20 years, but I would love to have a Fairbairn Sykes just for the historical legacy.

[@joejones9520]

ebay always has tons

[@mattwilliams3456]

My ebay issue is lack of trust. With firearms I'm experienced enough to know what pictures to ask for and what to really look for on a historical item before I buy online, but I just don't have that knowledge on blades and am wary of fakes. When I decide to buy one it will likely be from a dealer or collector I know.@@joejones9520

[@JTEllis]

This is one of the more informative and interesting videos I've seen on the Fairbairn-Sykes aka British Commando knife. Thanks for presenting it, good work.

[@Priapos93]

I recently bought a new FS knife made in Sheffield from KnifeCenter. I hadn't counted the rings on the handle, but it's twenty-seven. It seems real enough to me, despite its modernity.

[@alancranford3398]

The FS Commando is so widely distributed that I have a couple of them in my reference collection. Back in 1975 when I was in Marine Corps boot camp, THE knife for Marines was the KaBar and that knife would make a fine Our Own Devices video--if you can get one in Canada. I was told that the KaBar was a popular Yukon hunting knife. The purpose of unarmed combat training is to turn a teenager into a lethal weapon--"armed" is mindset. A knife makes lethal action more certain and much easier than bare hands. It would be interesting to compare the rabbit and the cat mindsets for survival on the battlefield--is it better to hide and flee or to hide and fight? Kind of hard to establish because of survivor bias. My first rule of knife fighting is DON'T. When I break Rule Number One, then the second rule is "CHEAT!" I have a reference collection of knives and a collection of books on how to use those knives, including reprints of the Fairbairn system. When my National Guard Signal Company deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom II my platoon sergeant let me have four hours to train the platoon in knife work--it wasn't fighting because the other guy wasn't supposed to be given any chance. When the knife came out, it was a desperate situation (we were not issued bayonets so "FIX BAYONETS' was not an option) and I taught the Guardsmen to distract and trick their way to surviving that close encounter. The next year I was back in America, and it was time to renew my concealed carry permit. The instructor was a retired deputy sheriff--he handed me a rubber knife for something called a Tueller Drill. I palmed the rubber knife as described in a book by a student of Fairbairn, LtCol Rex Applegate, told the class that I was going to move at half speed, strike at one quarter power, and stay off "red targets" (body areas that when struck by police batons can inflict death or permanent impairment), and then told the gun-armed student to fire as soon as he had justification--and the instructor halted the exercise to have me explain what I was doing with each step. Then on to the drill--the gun-armed defender made the mistake of bringing a gun to a knife fight. We switched roles and when he charged, I put a chair between us as I pretended to empty the gun into the knife-armed attacker. Knowing both knife and pistol helped in that training exercise. Fortunately, I have not tested my skills in the real world, only in training. I have obeyed my first rule of knife-fighting: DON'T. www.guns.com/news/tueller-drill

[@jackx4311]

@alancranford3398 - "When my National Guard Signal Company deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom II my platoon sergeant let me have four hours to train the platoon in knife work; *it wasn't fighting because the other guy wasn't supposed to be given any chance."* Exactly! And that's precisely why the FS Knife was made the way it was.

[@jagmarc]

While breaking Rule #1 --> Rule #2 = CHEAT. That makes full sense to me, and I'm in no way military-trained in anything.

[@WyvernYT]

The Ka-Bar has the advantage of being a handy utility knife for the times when you're not in danger of breaking Rule One.

[@alancranford3398]

@@WyvernYTI fully agree with your Ka-Bar advantage. A multi-tool (Leatherman, Gerber, Victorinox) is handier than the Ka-Bar and more flexible but is an inferior weapon when breaking Rule One. Thanks for bringing up that the FS is for punching holes in humans and the Ka-Bar was designed from the onset as a general-purpose outdoorsman's knife.

[@barrybarnes96]

lol

[@TeamGreenBurrito]

Loving these concise history briefings. Look forward to this channel blossoming!

[@jyoung9181]

I really enjoy watching your videos. Such attention to detail, so well explained. Thank you.

[@thatsthewayitgoes9]

Great channel. Great information. Excellent pace and technical accuracy. Thank you, like the variety of topics

[@quirkygreece]

Another excellent and extremely informative video, thank you.

[@jackx4311]

As always, a fascinating and informative video from Gilles - many thanks!

[@m4a1saiko29]

your explanation is so clear and the video is informative, sincerely hope your channel can grab more attention

[@davebeedon3424]

There is interesting history behind all sorts of objects that exist. Thanks for this fine example.

[@TMS5100]

The Fairbairn-Sykes is used in Paul's shieldfighting practice scenes in the 1984 Dune movie.

[@r.fusterman1660]

Comprehensive as usual, Sir Gilles. And more than usually entertaining, given the charming evocation of Scary Waldo as a Halloween costume.

[@Tealice1]

"If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that a six inch blade never loses reception."

[@alexlail7481]

I don't know if it is as advertised, however I have one of the USA OSS versions... I bought it in the early 2000's from a very reputable knife store. The story is that Case 'found' a couple barrels of knife blade blanks and parts that were put in storage at the end of WWII once there contract was canceled. So they used 'real' WWII parts they had and they made any missing or short parts to the original Specs and sold them with a commemorative blade etching and the story on the box.... don't know if that's true but it's a very nice knife regardless.

[@RichardHinds-qs2mi]

Dude that’s the best video I’ve ever seen on the fs knife. Good work!

[@antonschollum3128]

This was goldern, thank you brother👍

[@mikeohagan2206]

good show. that is a beautiful knife. i like your fairbairn spectacles.

[@keithagn]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@Yodie208]

I carried a Gerber Mark II when I was in the military. I sold it to a dude in my platoon for $20.00 when I left the service as it really has no civillian use. Who knew at the time it would be worth several hundred dollars today as a collectors item.

[@evillabrador1]

I did the same with a Gerber BMF in 1990. They go for a small fortune now.

[@PsychoLama2023]

I did the same damn thing

[@derpythespy]

my god... i want one of these knives

[@adamchurvis1]

I have one of the originals, which my uncle gave me when I was 17.

[@MrSabram07]

Great video

[@giljeep]

merci pour cette vidéo passionnante, a bientôt.

[@SuperLaplander]

Thank you sir, lots of good info!

[@aapex1]

GREAT CHANNEL! Thanx

[@voidwalker5784]

One of the most beautiful knives ever produced. The holy grail of dagger

[@joeypinterrockandroll3961]

you are the only "history" channel about WW2 that knows about the Special Servace Force. great, i just subbed.

[@rayflinn9580]

Informative and entertaining

[@demos113]

Nice work.

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

Fascinating ! 😎👍

[@TheChipmunk2008]

Addendum, i notice your sub count has jumped... WELL DESERVED

[@standubaj8989]

I happen to have the exact knife,got it years ago at a flea mkt.

[@old_guard2431]

I see from my queue that, famous as it is, this knife is in fact a “Forgotten Weapon”.

[@Shinzon23]

I have one of these sitting in a display case on my desk... Not sure exactly when it was made but the markings show J nowill and sons.

[@someguy5444]

You should do a video on the Ka Bar, it's an excellent knife with some crazy history. Also they should have kept the snap button retainer on the commando knife as elastic gets too loose very quickly and leather just isn't that expensive.

[@jackx4311]

I suspect that the leather and snap button were replaced due to cost - both materials and labour. When you're making *2 million* of a given item, in war-time production conditions, even saving a few pennies per item adds up.

[@somethingelse4878]

What a interesting channel

[@AppliedCryogenics]

I wonder how many WWII casualties might be attributed to these daggers.

[@alfastur6833]

Without the bowtie it was difficult to me to recognize Gilles. Only his voice helped.

[@lukehorning3404]

😂 I love that we never know what you are going to be wearing You are one crazy and classy guy Keep up the great videos I really enjoy the ones knives or different weapons 👍

[@diamonddigs6206]

I have a second pattern from my great grandfather. He was some sort of ordinance officer. So the only reason he could have had one was for souvenir purposes. A very cool souvenir.

[@jimc4731]

I wasn't going to watch this, but I did and found it very interesting! JIM ❤😂😅😂

[@spot1401]

Just to add - in old German sword fighting books, the term "Gehiltz" is used for the handle, a word obviously derived from "Holz" (German for 'wood'). Long story short - hilt used to be non-metal parts of the sword, including handle, cross guard, pommel,.....

[@tommeakin1732]

I'm not 100% on the etymology, but from what I've read, the reconstructed proto-Germanic that English "hilt" comes from, is "heltą", which just means "hilt, handle" - and is the same root that Old Norse hjalt, Old High German helza, Old Saxon helta all come from. It's not clear from what I've read, but it looks like there may be a link to English "holt" (a small piece of woodland or a woody hill) which is cognate with German "holz" - both from proto-Germanic "hultą"

[@spot1401]

@@tommeakin1732 hm... interesting. Possibly I am wrong then. :/

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

Don't sweat the minutiae of terminology. If you know which is the grabby bit and which is the stabby bit, you're golden.

[@wacojones8062]

I have a stack of books by the two very nice gentleman knife consultants. I also have many F-S Commando Knives One Applegate Fairburn nasty and a whole bunch of razor edge Gerber combat knives plus various pointy things to stick on Rifles. I buy based on usage not blade history. I have help finish off many wounded game animals using various Gerber blades. Finger and thumb grip on a Gerber Mark 1 straight into an antelope's heart dead in a half second as I hit the pacemaker muscle at the top as intended.

[@vvt7825]

I am quite sure that none involved in this ever heard of, or saw, a model 1918 U.S. trench knife, or any of the Celtic dirks or daggers either.

[@kevinwhitehead6076]

Suggestion for future video ,Bowie knife.

[@christopherskipp1525]

Well, this is an upbeat subject.

[@Kyoto_Ed]

Fairbairn called the Shanghai docks the most dangerous waterfront area in the world. In total the Ministry of Defense ordered 250,000 of the F S knife during the war

[@anonymousbosch9265]

I found this video to find the best method to sharpen mine without damaging the grind and finish

[@farklestaxbaum4945]

I watched this video then coincidentally got one from a pawn shop a few days later. Seems to be a pretty standard post war version but well worth $40

[@rexbarron4873]

@10.25....not quite correct. The first 5000 knives were made from the 1888 pattern Lee-Metford bayonets which Wilkinson had in storage hence the riccaso disappearing. The early knives were not so much hand made as hand shortened from 12 inches to 6-7 inches hence their subtle differences which disappeared with the mass production later.

[@memo_mauserlorettini5979]

Excellent, Perfect!!!) You , Sir just push me to get filmed my WW1, trench "buttchers"- axes, shovels and bayonet- made ,trench knifes and other instruments!) My Respects 👍🤝🤙

[@jeffposey3762]

It also inspired the Gerber Mk 2 of Vietnam special forces fame.

[@charlessalmond7076]

There's guys that still carried these more recently in the middle east.

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

there is a lot more info available on the history of the Gerber MkII now. It was devised by a US Army Colonel. After Vietnam it was redesigned and remarketed to be a 'survival' knife due to the backlash against war in the USA at the time. Those in the know sent their neutered post Vietnam MkII's off to knifemakers to get the wasp waist blade profile restored. The early MkII's also had a 5 degree cant to the blade to make it better for stuff. This was also deleted on the later pc versions of the MkII. So you may observe the early MkII resembled the Caucasus dagger or even a Roman gladius. You'd be correct. The original designer wanted to go for the mini gladius concept. The Caucasus dagger as far as I know came after the Gladius, or maybe was developed concurrently. Not sure on the origins of the Caucasus dagger for sure though. If I needed a serious blade, personally would rather have a good original M7 bayonet, I would absolutely reject the condemned Nella C7 bayonets which were designed by silly people. Any of the US made M7 bayonets made in say the Vietnam era or into the 1980's are good. The M7 was designed for utility use as well as use as a sturdy weapon. They were designed and made to a specification. The m7 can withstand more force, punishment, and abuse than a mkII, or FS knife. Do research though.

[@ViktoriousDead]

These knives were also issued to US Rangers who were originally stood up in Europe

[@JCWren]

Did you re-upload this? I watched this about an hour and a half ago, but now says it's been up for 8 minutes.

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Yes; I had to correct a few issues people brought up.

[@jfu5222]

​@@CanadianMacGyverI respect your integrity. Thank you for the opportunity to give you two thumbs up on the same video.

[@ataricom]

​@@jfu5222integrity and speed!

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@CanadianMacGyverEven though I was actually looking for them, I could barely detect your edits. Well done, well done indeed!🙂🫡

[@gary16217]

Thanks. Now I know what that little "1" on the blade of mine means.

[@Dadshistory]

I have an FS 2nd pattern marked B-2 on the cross guard. Does anyone know what this signifies? No other markings.

[@holmesjustholmes9412]

Correct to the hilt

[@0venchip]

I own a first and second pattern knife. Both genuine.

[@jamesalexander7540]

My Grand Father was in Argyle & Southerland Highlanders. He ran a hospital.

[@colinblick8946]

I’ve a commando knife which has the number 3 on it…. I was given it while in the army in the late 60’s…… so I assume it’s genuine…. Scabbards long gone but the knife needs refurbing 😎👌🏽

[@philgiglio7922]

Churchill referred to the raids as 'butcher and bolt'

[@haroldellis9721]

I machined a brass handle for my 3rd pattern.

[@additudeobx]

In brief, the saying here in America, "Getting Shanghaied", came from references to the lawlessness of Shanghai China and the related lawlessness activities, mostly around kidnaping of individuals in US Western Ports of Seattle, etc. That was an interesting time of US History as well. People today, have no clue what life was like back then.

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

Nikolai Hel can vouch for the lawlessness of interbellum Shanghai! I examined a modern Rogers and Sons F&S knife and I can say there is zero hand fitting of the crossguard to the hilt. Precise handfitting of the crossguard contributes to the overall strength of the knife. No quick buck vendor of modern knockoffs realizes the importance of this, nor do they seem to care. If you want a real F&S pick a custom knifemaker, fork over the cash, and wait for your knife to arrive.

[@MrPh30]

And Applegate updated it with the Applegate Fairbarn

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Never heard ricasso pronounced like that xD Good video tho

[@ericktamberg670]

The "true" first pattern F-S has a 3-inch, S-shaped, crossguard. Very few were made. So the second version (2-inch S-shaped crossguard) is erroneously known as "first pattern".

[@w.reidripley1968]

RICK asso??? Something wrong with penultimate syllable stress?

[@mikeadler434]

👍👍

[@timucintarakc2281]

daym. now i need to buy a stiletto.

[@whitephosphorus15]

Why the reupload?

[@DSlyde]

Looks like he's dubbed part of the audio at least to fix some minor mistakes. E.g. at 2:50 the previous one said "Tiger is shooting at you" and now it's charge etc.

[@kmcgovern2012]

Ri-Cas'-oh

[@jacob.tudragens]

Looks like an Arkansas toothpick!

[@c.b.giornesto4581]

most famous knife in western world history.

[@Inflorescensse]

I bought one at an army navy when I was 11. Was stolen when I moved after college.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

I forgive you, and the word handle is more sensible. Gilles, may i ask, since your recent 'what is with my name'... are you a true canadian bilingual person or are you just really good at English

[@poubelle_blanche]

I have one of these it drips danger.

[@SchwarzeBananen]

I wonder, were the Germans aware of the knife, and was it maybe a sought after prize?

[@akahenke]

I found one of those in my basement unfortunately it had a brooken tip so I threw it away.

[@kifferseal]

Noooo! Next time send it to me please !

[@charlesdada6434]

I wonder: how many enemy soldiers were killed by combat knives in WW2, vs how many allies got killed trying to bring a knife to a bayonet fight?

[@jackx4311]

@charlesdada6434 - I suggest you look at the pictures and diagrams shown in this video. The primary role of the FS was *NOT* in hand to hand fighting, as should be obvious from its similarity to the Italian stiletto; it was designed for assassination - sneaking up behind an enemy sentry, and stabbing him in the back or cutting his throat before he could sound the alarm. The number of enemy soldiers killed with these knives is utterly irrelevant. What mattered was *where* those enemy troops were, and *what they were doing.* If killing only three sentries enabled a commando raid to be carried out with maximum success and minimum loss to our own men, that was a damn sight more important and strategically valuable than killing 100 infantry of the line. Go and watch the video again, and this time, LISTEN.

[@chillmonkey6782]

A handle is a handle is a handle. I say eff all that hilt sh!5

[@aaronyork3995]

What is a “pork Sword”?

[@user-xt9kl1vm3z]

I think it's a reference to a Penis!

[@5isalivegaming72]

Rofl Im glad im not the only one who likes to wear my nerd glasses while doing/ looking manly 😂

[@jasholden9741]

Pall Mall is pronounced Pell Mell.

[@nilo70]

Ree-Coss- O

[@timoteiafanasie4894]

I bet a lot of hunters killed tigers with their knives. 😂😂😂 But, anyway, after 4 minutes we just got the names of the forfathers of that "best" knife in the world. Thank you.

[@badcallsign4204]

I would love to see the camera brought up a bit, maybe six inches to a foot, the background clutter removed and a bigger, simple table to better feature the object related to the subject.

[@dougerrohmer]

Nah, he's doing good as he is.

[@cocotoni1977]

Re-up with less firearm wielding tigers and with F&S taking shorter route from Shanghai 😂