The Fighting Knives of the Devil’s Brigade

The First Special Service Force (aka "The Devil's Brigade") was a forefather of many of the elite military groups we know today. These fearless commandos of World War II were a joint force of Canadian and American soldiers, and their incredible military actions are the stuff of legend.
Their fighting knife of choice? The V-42 dagger: a slim, light dangerous tool designed for thrusting, slashing, and sliding between the ribs. Manufactured by Case in small numbers, even fewer survive today, making the examples in this video as rare as they are historically amazing.
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[@kbjerke]

In WWII, my Dad carried a Fairbairn Sykes made by Wilkinson Sword... Sadly, he lost it in combat, but THANK GOD, he survived and made it back to Canada!! Tribute to the Canadian Second Anti Tank Regiment!!

[@dfrigg]

Thank you for producing this video. My father was in the Devils Brigade during WWII. I have many stories from him, and this video just adds to the memory. Thank you again.

[@USAPatriot001]

You gotta tell me some of those

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Who was he? My uncle was 3-3

[@kaiser98berlin]

Finally, a proper introduction to the inventor and cold killing machines of William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes. You did them justice!

[@ebor8402]

And wrong information

[@robertdeen8741]

I had a lady friend older than myself. She was born in Shanghai. Her father served on the Shanghai Police Force with Fairbairn. I think 007 was based on Fairbairn. Flemming did meet Fairbairn at Camp X during WW2. Sykes said "a knife should be used with the same delicacy an artist uses his paintbrush". You have to like that. Many thanks sir. I could go on but will just relate one more thing. I bought a Sykes Fairbairn in Vancouver for $40 because they were all a little rust. Was made by Knowls and Son, Sheffield, est 1700. I thought wow. Theyve been making knives for over 300 years. It's hard to find a firm that old in Canada, except maybe the HBC. Thanks again.

[@sierradenali3270]

My uncle was in the Devil's Brigade. KIA'd at Anzio, Feb. 18/44.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Who was he?

[@sierradenali3270]

@@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS Sgt. George Robinson, 6-2.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

@@sierradenali3270 I had an Uncle and three relatives in the Brigade..Uncle was Sgt. Eugene Pelletier3-3..actually lost his dogtags in the Mossolini Cansl in Anzio

[@chlebowg]

Case made another run of V-42s for the 5th SFGA after GW1 in 91/92'. I got mine during that run. However, I carried an EK M3 fighting knife into Iraq. Another excellent fighting knife.

[@gullreefclub]

The Devils Brigade (FF1) did not land on D-Day they took part in the Aleutian’s campaign, Italy, and Anzio

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

FSSF

[@chrischiampo7647]

Amazing Joel Excellent Presentation 😎👍🏼 😮😲😮😀👍🏼

[@staguar]

Hopefully whomever wins these will make them available to a museum

[@trapper-paul]

Joel does a great job.. so does Kevin.. I always love watching these videos. I learn something every time.

[@joeguzman3558]

100% the most beautiful knifes

[@actually_a_circle]

My great uncle is mentioned in a book called the Devils Bodyguard which is about Duff Matson a SSF member and friend of Gen. Frederick.

[@CHaas-bn3xi]

You are so knowledgeable and tell an amazing story. I love watching these videos

[@mmooney6860]

very good job thank you from Canada

[@Former615]

Great video

[@chiefslief1886]

Wow beautiful pieces! They are hollow grind..right?

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Beautiful knifes 👏🏻😉

[@markjones336]

Loved my commando knife I had when I was 9!

[@lefunnyN1]

very cool

[@williamlalonde6426]

Simply badass

[@ebor8402]

Fairbairn and Sykes had nothing to do with MI6. They were commissioned into the British Army, on the General Service List.

[@TMS5100]

Fairbairn/Sykes knife is seen in the Dune movie (1984) during shield practice.

[@chaoticnipples3405]

I need one... gonna make my own if I cant get my hands on one

[@oldeays5085]

That's the best version of that knife!

[@rm8874]

Wasnt fairbairns style also known as "Defendu"? Seen some books on Fairbairn fighting titles that.

[@ThirdoptionJCSU]

If they would have at that time a Cold steel Taipan in cpm 3v it would be the best combat dagger for sure.

[@sonnygunz9207]

Now that's a book I'd read.

[@paulclarke267]

its great to hear the history of thi weapon thank you

[@Smi564]

Just bought one

[@joshawageorge2122]

Question are most of those blades made in Sheffield England there are older blades such as a walbro kampa

[@bunk95]

He hasnt been to the Baths, VG, BVI, has he? How do you killin there?

[@thefinalimperialist5394]

The way he talk he can stand on the street and sell any knife for that matter :)

[@rudivomschauerberg6344]

is there also german or japanese or russian knifes to get here ?

[@willcatch]

What's your best price if I take all 5?

[@jec020468]

I think that falls under the heading of "If you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it." :o)

[@tractorfeed7602]

So, why did the Marines choose a big blocky knife like the K-Bar over these fighting knives?

[@ebor8402]

So they could be used as a utility knife, which is what they would have been used for most of the time. Originally they were issued 1918 pattern trench knives, which were not suited to anything other than stabbing people, so the KABAR was introduced.

[@pyrogothica3906]

It's ironic that the 50 dollar reproductions offered today are more accurate reproductions than those currently made by case.

[@RexApplegate]

I inspected one of the new Case builds recently at the outlet in Missouri. The ricasso lines and flat ground blade were dead wrong, the cross guard leather way too thin, but otherwise pretty good, and unlike the Chinese versions the sheath seemed to be to spec. The only good replicas were made about 40 years ago by continental precision out of Chicago. For the money, the only new one I'd suggest is the Hanwei's.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Forcemen who used it say it is same..ones I knew..

[@stkvictor9404]

Next video fairbain sykes knifes

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

More tha a century? It's 2024 now...

[@noodles8638]

Beautiful knives, but put me in combat during WW2, I want the F&S MK3 sewn into my trousers, everywhere I go! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 Respect to all the men who fought and died in WW1 & WW2, on all sides.R.I.P.

[@SanitysVoid]

Looked for replicas, they were made but now all out of stock.

[@waynesmallwood6027]

Case wasn't the only manufacturer of he V42.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Yes they were...not till after other companies made replicas...Frederick made deal with Case

[@barryhamilton7845]

H-D-G Glasgow, make the modern fighting knives and are top quality.Testimonials and patrons will tell you all you need to know.Check them out.HDG GLASGOW🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@smacdsmaccers]

restomp the groin

[@Militarycollector]

I thought 200 of them went to the USS Omaha and was sunk never to be retrieved…

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

No only 75 knives made it to the navy docks

[@edgarsmittenheighnjenkson9226]

Did the Canadian commandos say "soorry" after stabbing their victims?

[@praetorxian]

Yes.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

Confirmed by numerous 1st-hand sources.

[@Iowarail]

Ouch...

[@ronaldvanbeekveld8398]

No the canadians didn't

[@rollanddesjardins8392]

No they whispered it

[@lib556]

FSSF was never called the 'Devil's Brigade'. This fake nick name was created for somewhat dubious 'history' book released in 1966. The phoney name was perpetuated by the 1968 film which based itself on the book. The FSSF was known simply as 'the Force' and its members were known as 'forcemen' or 'the North Americans'. In a captured German diary in Anzio, they were referred to as 'those black devils' due to their penchant for night patrols with blackened faces. However, the name 'The Devil's Brigade' was NEVER used until the publication of the book in 1966.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Yes, they were called the Devols Brigade..where you get your info..mine comes from My Uncle who served in the 3-3. Sgt E. Pelletier..plus am am a member of the Association. Had 3 other relatives served in THE DEVILS BRIGADE

[@lib556]

@@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS No history of the Force, as the FSSF was known, ever mentions that make believe nickname prior to the questionable Robert Adelemen book of 1966. I have discussed same with actual veterans of the Force. Did your uncle tell you this before or after 1966 or the subsequent film made in 1968 which imbedded the made-up name in the minds of millions? I have spoken to many older vets who just accept a label as applied decades post-war and go along with the crowd. Also, it is a fact that many WW2 vets don't share much of their experiences with people who did not share the same as those (often relatives) have no 'yardstick' of understanding those experiences. Consequently, I've seen many vets 'dumb down' what they are saying for their 'audience' - even to the point of incorporating terminology they wouldn't have used at the time in an attempt to bridge the comprehension gap. Another possible source of confusion comes from the German diary captured at Anzio in which the author bemoans the Force's night patrols in blackened faces. He states, "those black devils are all around us..." As a result, the Forcemen were also sometimes referred to as 'black devils' (not to be confused with the nickname of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles - the little black devils). The 'black devils' name was never expanded to 'the Devils Brigade'. If you can cite one historical example of the name being used prior to 1966, I'll gladly read it. I don't think you'll find it. That name was invented for the name of that 1966 book then used as the title of the 1968 film. The FSSF wasn't even a 'brigade'.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

@@lib556 pkay again..I knew alot of Forcemen..Again my Uncle was 3-3 Sgt Eugene Pelletier...again they told me they used the term Devils Brigade after being called Black Devils...that is TRUE HISTORY..right from their mouths to my ears. Think what you want..go against real men that served in FSSF.

[@danzigrulze5211]

Now we know where Master Ken got his signature finishing move, "Always restomp the groin."

[@maverick3576]

The changing camera angles are annoying

[@DGE123]

you are not supposed to eat the knives lol

[@mountainadventures7346]

I feel like the stiletto or Arkansas toothpick style knife is an awesome assassin knife. Not a fighting knife. In other words? Your opponent never knew he was in a knife fight. I think the Bowie knife is a much better fighting knife. Two men enter and one leaves.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Yeah..think not

[@mountainadventures7346]

@@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS And that is why? A Bowie knife is longer for better reach. It is heavier to block strikes. What’s not to like? Ultimately this arms race turns into a sword fight. Bowie vs Gladius. Gladius. Gladius vs Katana. Katana. Katana vs Langeschwert. Langeschwert. The only reason your not packing a sword in modern combat? Is because it’s a secondary weapon. The gun is primary. Albeit when the Bowie rose to prominence the gun was a flintlock. Which is why it resembled a small sword in some examples. A stiletto is a modern reinvention when guns are repeating and reliable. It’s a great tool for dispatching sentries. It’s small and light and don’t get in the way of your kit. Awesome. But completely outgunned in a fair fight with a bigger knife.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

@@mountainadventures7346 not good in stealthy situations..the bowie it just big..cumbersome. ..weight alone is not practical..plus V42 has skull crusher..it works well. I heard stories first hand from Forcemen. Even guys who liked your site called Bowie..they loved the V42 for its versatility. I myself choose that knife and even the new spartan blade. Yeah, I would take that over the over sized bowie. Big does not mean better. Killing with the V42 was like butter..

[@mountainadventures7346]

@@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS Your making my point for me…. Stealth has no bearing on a good fighting knife. Its super important in assassination. If you go into a ring with a worthy opponent armed with basically a short sword? Your at a extreme disadvantage. Your probably not coming out. A Bowie knife is a dueling knife. Bred for fighting knife to knife. A stiletto in the teeth of a commando is bred to dispatch unsuspecting enemy in the middle of the night. Completely different job descriptions.

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

@@mountainadventures7346 bowie is crap..simple in knife fight..I take V42 over bowie any day..concealment..maneuvability. lighter..durable..perfect killing weapon..bowie hard to concealment..gets heavier as you use it...ect..I made my point..not yours..I used V42 and similiar types..like stated spartan blades makes good knives..that are like the V42..operators choose those over bigger heavier knives..wonder why? Oh because it makes sense..logically bowie is good for making one feel bigger is better not true..V42 is great for blocking..solid steel..that longer aspect..doesn't make it better..harder in tight areas. Like to see that skull crusher on a bowie..oh it doesn't have one...interesting..nice double edge as well..wait it doesn't have that either..mmm..

[@johnmutton799]

It does not take a genius to design a dagger like this. History is full of them, from all through history. Yet they always mention F&S as developing this style of knives. This kind of dagger was used in countries all over the world. Trying to make out that they invented this kind of knife is absurd. This is just a selling pitch to make you pay more for them. A knife made today is no different to on made then. It is still just a knife. Nothing more.

[@theant9821]

Before the F S knife if there were only bayonets and similar etc. In service in military across the world, any other knife like this predating the fs wasn't military issue, anywhere. The FS knife wasn't the first of its kind ever, but it was the first that was mass produced. And was carefully designed to kill with no comprises unlike every other military issue knife before it. You going to say its absurd that audi had the first 4wd rally car, there are older 4wd cars like the landrover etc. Not much of a quattro is it.

[@redgreen6436]

Do some reading dumbass

[@FIORGOBASAUDEAMUS]

Okay their..