The Old and the Bold: Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

Alan Lee, formerly of The Parachute Regiment, discusses the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. This weapon was worn on the leg by British airborne soldiers during the North-West Europe campaign (1944-45) and was keenly sought after by members of other units.
'The Old and the Bold' is just one of the community projects being run by the National Army Museum as part of its 'Building for the Future' redevelopment project.
Find out more at www.nam.ac.uk/microsites/futur...

[@ModernBarbarian187]

I'm so glad they're preserving these stories for history. So many of these individuals have passed away already. Most did their part and returned to home and family and never spoke of what they did. Many modest about their heroics.

[@schizoidboy]

Reminds me of what George Orwell said about hand to hand combat. He fought in the Spanish Civil War and he claimed he only had one incident where there was hand to hand combat to which he wrote "Believe me once is enough."

[@andro7862]

Yeah, these knives are more symbols of commando pride than weapons in standard use. My grandfather spoke that most of the time they just shot in the general direction of where they thought the Germans were and reminded eachother to stay low.

[@christophdunkel5733]

I agree

[@funkyalfonso]

@me Me What is your problem?

[@edgery]

@me Me Run along now child

[@edgery]

@me Me zzzzz

[@SteveAubrey1762]

True humility from a true hero! I love old folks, they are such a treasure. MiF

[@crufflerdoug]

You know right away that this guy was the real deal.

[@mohammadshah3496]

He has my respect!

[@lukerobinson9646]

Legend!..."Thank God... it never happened to me"..... Meanwhile "Yer put it in behind the Jugular, press it in! Punch it forward"

[@tango-bravo]

Not sure who to believe or who to respect more…I’ve seen both videos myself

[@Th0ughtf0rce]

@@tango-bravo both.

[@robertlehnert4148]

You were advised to see the sheath on the INSIDE of your trouser leg, for concealed carry. Look at the footage of Fairbairn himself demonstrating the use, and he makes it appear like magic. No ready stance, just draw and use.

[@DeimosPC]

Link?

[@robertlehnert4148]

@@DeimosPC At the beginning, the tea and crumpet scene, Fairbairn is taking his time as he actually retrieves his dagger.from his LEFT uniform trouser pocket, but it's still smooth despite the sitting position. Later on right about 6:55 he does it FAST from his right pocket. Through numerous sources, at Camp X, Fairbairn would often interview single candidates, just talking in general about his method, including that there was nothing of sportsmanship or fairness involved. As the interview concluded, Fairbairn would shake the candidate's right hand, using that as an opportunity to wrist-wrench the candidate around so Fairbairn could place his left pocket dagger's point against the candidate's kidney. What was just mere talk about ruthless "gutter fighting" was made very real... See 10:19 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pISYh4h6gZtlpMU

[@AnythingOfEvery]

What a great man

[@waywardhero1177]

There is this other video of another veteran who talked more prodigiously on how to use the knife and how to properly slit a throat, he talked like it was the same as starting mower.

[@Jams848484]

Are you talking about this guy? kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3WqeX6vd5iHlbc

[@slatibaadfast]

This gentleman was a member of the paras, the other gentleman you refer to was a member of the commando forces and his training was a lot different. They both had a job to do and thankfully, they came home. To them, their returned comrades and to those that didn't come home. Thank you.

[@BBE22OOOWH]

PUNCH THROUGH, AND RIP OUT THE LOT

[@tonynapoli5549]

A true man, he spoke the truth no fancy hero chat, well done sir Respect ✊ 👍👌🇬🇧

[@stevendern2543]

I like that he kept it sheathed.

[@random-man3421]

Thank You Sir!!

[@sirupate]

The MOD versions made now are very poor quality, hats off to Alan Lee for his service to our country, he seems like a top bloke

[@bobhinton1924]

The leather tabs on the sheath are for sewing to the leg of your battledress trousers.

[@Grime443]

Thank you.

[@jamespalmer9396]

A association and a "ceremony" greatest respect Brother 🙌

[@michaelwotton5070]

Legend and respect!

[@rodfransham2907]

History preserved. Thank you .

[@mikeohagan2206]

we should always be grateful to the older generation whose sacrifices gave us our freedom. never forget them even when they are gone.

[@laterdudesaint]

salute

[@benwilliams5236]

What a sweet old man. You'd never guess he was a trained killer.

[@gammonsandwich1756]

Of his generation mate. No fuss, just do the job. Proper men, probably the last.

[@alexs5744]

Me personally I don’t see him as a trained killer, I see him as a person trained to protect his family and country from evil.

[@scottleft3672]

I get the point....?

[@oliverallen5324]

There are two kinds of people in the world: pretenders, and real dudes. This is a real dude.

[@romanchomenko2912]

Real fighting knives were oil quenched to lose metallic sheen for camouflage.

[@jamesmc6825]

Don't the Royal Marines use that knife now?

[@sambeech6771]

+British Ball try to avoid hand to hand combat 😂😂😂

[@sambeech6771]

+British Ball doesn't mean there not thought it

[@teleplayer605]

These days they have multipurpose knives that can be used as daggers, bayonets, wire cutters etc.

[@sambeech6771]

JaMes I can confirm they do still carry the FS knife and they are still taught hand to hand combat at great length.

[@11apples100]

I don't know if they are on issue (I doubt it) but I've seen some being carried by Marine/Para/SF types. I can never tell who's who these days.

[@stephen9869]

Let's see a Call of Duty armchair warrior talk 'facts' with these guys.....

Sven Keller my father was an original member of the First Special Service Force. He was a remarkable human being. He also was a stone cold killer.

[@Grayman58]

Young men were much tougher and more mature back then I cant imagine a boy of today aged maybe 19 or 20 running up the beach in france Normandy

[@theant9821]

That would mature them quite rapidly if they had to do it today. Its been too long since the people of this country hav had to defend the country and its people. Freedom is taken for granted these days, and freedom has only ever been earned. There aren't many lads and lasses left who actually earnt it though, they're the ones who appreciate its value.

[@waynus2021]

you mean mincing up the beach complaining about the state of their topknots and finger nails??

[@theant9821]

@@waynus2021 they'd get a rude awakening but it would wake them up to how lucky they were beforehand i reckon.

[@skywardsoul1178]

@@theant9821 Sadly we've taken it so much for granted we've had it eroded constantly by our own government. Lot of similarities to pre war Germany at this point. Makes me sad when our parents and grandparents fought so valiantly and died to protect that freedom, and yet again we forgot our history and are repeating mistakes that were corrected by the blood of millions.

[@xusmico187]

Giving a professional tool to a grunt. been better to have given them a GP knife.

[@maximus512]

Gave the knife away for cigarettes... ????? Rule number one for any soldier: "Never give away your weapons!!!!"

[@LUC66631]

At least make video with somebody who really use one of those and not some smuck who prob. never saw action and was a cook 🙄🙄🤦‍♂🤦‍♂