Fairbairn Sykes ID Now With Photos

I did my research and it appears I have found a 3rd pattern knife manufactured during WWII for $150.

It only has two markings that I can find. A 4 mold marking on the handle and ENGLAND stamped on the cross guard.

No broad arrow. I read that this might make it one of 167,000 exported to the USA after the war as a payment toward wartime support.

So, is this all correct and would it be worth the $150 if in otherwise decent shape? I can probably get it for $135 with their discount. It does not have a sheath. The no broad arrow is bugging me a bit. They say the molds were destroyed after the war so a post war knife would not have the number.

I have had this example for a very long time, not being knowledgeable about these, I was told it is a third pattern and original. Many fakes were manufactured starting with Spain and so forth into Asia over the years. I have the scabbard.Attachment 122846Attachment 122847Attachment 122848

it is stamped ENGLAND

I went back up, here are some pics. My price would be $135. Seems to be an OK price, not great but not horrible. It does not appear to be a Wilkenson. It still has the mold marks. The hand guard seems to be the thick type. The blade, guard and handle are all very tight, no movement. Stratches on the blade and light rust in spots on the edge. It has clamp marks and the No 4 mold stamp. Only other marks is the ENGLAND. Assuming it is machine ground. No scabbard. I'm just looking for an example to have that is a genuine WWII knife. This has no acceptance marks so I assume that means it was never issued. If it's a decent price, I'll get it, just don't want to take a bath on it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../XmQDdRF-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../vjIWGnh-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../C1RetBF-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../s0YGvwB-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../nu9OrKb-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../oLTTWTk-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../lpKGJxE-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../tlu9fee-1.jpg

Man you guys are tough for advice today. I think I'm going to purchase it tomorrow morning if it's still there. I have concluded it's the real deal and the price is within my budget for one of these. I couldn't find my old thread asking about these yesterday but did find it today and between it and two other older threads, I'm confident this is a real WWII piece, part of the 167,000 imported after the war as reparations.

If I'm wrong or you suspect I'm wrong, please let me know ASAP as I'll be heading out around 10:00 tomorrow.

Here's a site that we looked at earlier during one of these discussions...maybe it'll help. Unless you've already looked at it. Rarest of Them All - The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knives

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Here's a site that we looked at earlier during one of these discussions...maybe it'll help. Unless you've already looked at it. Rarest of Them All - The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knives

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Yes, I checked thst out. For as collectible as these things are and the high prices they get , the public information on them really sucks. With 167,000 of these sent to the US, you would think there would be a better explanation on this batch at least. I get that there are hundreds of different manufacturers and many individual one offs of the first two patterns but the third? It’s frustrating.

As I said befoe, I am far from an expert on these Fairbairn Sykes knifes but notice the rings on your handle don't match up.

Like the handle was cast in two separate parts, I checked my knifle (second posting) and the handle is one piece and the rings
are perfect. Also the stamp ENGLAND is very faint.

You probably have a Wilkenson knife. These were not made in two pieces, but they were made in two-piece molds. Most manufacturers didn't take the extra step to polish out the mold line, Wilkenson did.

I think that the post war makers normally stamped their name on the cross piece or they have on the 3rd pattern examples that I have, in my collection. In any case at that price I wouldn't worry too much, when you compare it to the price of a good reproduction F/S knife. If there is no acceptance mark/broad arrow it could indicate "private purchase".

Not sure if you have seen this site, but its a pretty good place for info

Home.

Check out the section on the 3rd pattern knifes first, as there’s a lot of info on there.

With his newer site here:

https://www.fsknife.com/

Looks very similar to my 3rd pattern (apart from the mis alignment of the moulded rings as noted,

Some other thoughts, apologies if going over old ground:

I understood the marking England was on all knifes exported from the UK to the US post war as a payback for debts owed, so mostly likely not issued before being sent over - some info towards the bottom of this page

https://www.fsknife.com/the-third-pattern-fs


Mould 4 indicates WW2 production

No “triangle” just forward of the hilt indicates a machine ground blade, so again late ww2 production.

There’s a review of a book by Ron Flook thats considered the bible on the subject -its probably worth getting if you can pick it up cheap enough

BOOK REVIEW,FAIRBAIRN SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE AND OTHER COMMANDO KNIVES,RON FLOOK ,PUB 2013 - YouTube

Hope that helps

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

These were not made in two pieces, but they were made in two-piece molds.

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They have to be cast in 2 piece moulds otherwise there would be no means of extracting the cast handle from the mould once the cast alloy handle had cooled down. Unlike "sand casting" where the mould is used only once and then "broken away" from the object that has been cast, in "die-casting" the mould is reused multiple times.

There is nothing wrong with the quality of the handle casting seen in the pics because casting is not a precision process. If precision is required for a cast part then it is machined or if the finish is important then finishing processes are carried out, such as, grinding, sanding and polishing.

Having collected these, very specifically, for 35 years I would buy that knife right there for $135.
That's a WW2 manufactured 3rd Pattern FS Fighting Knife (late war hence the moulds not lining up as the moulds wore out) all day long.
I can't speak for Ron Flook but he's a close collecting friend of 35 years and I'd bet my 1st Pattern FS's he'd agree with me.
Hope that helps.

Attachment 124118

Like these...
Wolverhampton Die Casting Ltd to the mould-number ‘4’, but not necessarily making the knife which is likley Nowill or Rogers but unlikely Wilkinson.

My very good friend and ex-Pat Roy Shadbolt has some wonderful online articles dedicated to FS's.
His website here:
https://www.fsknife.com/the-third-pattern-fs

Go to the articles section and you may find the treasure you are seeking.....

That is a nice page I hadn't seen before. Thank you.

Roy Shadbolt is considered the resident expert on these knifes he assayed my F/S as a 3rd pattern late war production, look him up send him pics and he replies fairly quickly.
Link to his web site ~ https://www.fsknife.com/