Fairbairn Sykes ID Now With Photos

[Aragorn243]

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.

Information

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[RCS]

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.

it is stamped ENGLAND

[Aragorn243]

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.

[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

[Aragorn243]

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

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.

[RCS]

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.

[Flying10uk]

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

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.

[Flying10uk]

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".