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WWII British Sykes Fighting Knife -
During World War II, in 1940, the British Commandos were formed following Winston Churchill's call for "specially trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast." The Commandos were selected from volunteers among existing servicemen and went on to spawn a number of other specialist units including the Long Range Desert Group, the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service and the Small Scale Raiding Force of the Special Operations Executive.
The nature of the work performed by these elite forces required a specialized type of fighting knife. The
item featured on this page is the result of analyzing the needs of this type of combat. The
British Sykes Fairbanks fighting knife. The sleek and elegant design made it a
legend during WWII and beyond. Of double edge blade and issued with a leather scabbard. These knives
were used by the British Special forces. Production continued for export purposes after the war. Several
styles have been produced. From the very simple to the quite ornate.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for military fighting knives.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out
clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my fighting knife worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the knives is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the edge weapons in the collector's market is illustrated.
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The scabbard is of leather construction with an elongated brass tip. Four leather tabs protrude from the
main body. These gave the user the ability to attach the knife to a surface in different manners. In some instances the user could sew the tabs to a surface such as the inside section of a briefcase or table,
allowing ease of concealment whike enhancing accessibility.
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