This site is dedicated primarily to exploring the history of the iconic Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (commonly known as the British Commando knife), the many variants of that weapon, and the brave men and women who trained with it, carried it, and whose valor made it famous.

Below: Here is a spray of original WW-II First Pattern Fairbairn Sykes. All made by Wilkinson Sword Co., you can see the differences in the hand ground blades and even the curvature of the "S" guards.

Illustrated below is a thick bladed war-time third pattern knife. While many were critical of third pattern knives, those with the heavy blades were, and still are, excellent fighting knives.

So we have added another tired, but still combat worthy, Fairbairn-Sykes to our collection. Based on the soldier's medals, it is one which deserved a good home. Below: Here are some photos that accompanied the weary SAS First Pattern dagger.

On this page are knives/daggers custom handmade by individual makers in a Fairbairn-Sykes style. The people listed here are primarily makers we are acquainted with and whom we have obviously bought knives from.

Fairbairn and Sykes began instructing at Lochailort in 1940 along with many other distinguished names such as Lord Lovat, Brig. Mike Calvert, Colonel Spencer Chapman, Major Peter Kemp, the Stirling brothers, and so many more.

In this section we will take a look at many of the "variations on a theme", so to speak, of the British Commando knife. Some of them are obviously semi-mass produced while others will be one-offs, or of very limited production.

This photo contrasts the austere ruggedness and simplicity of the Ek with the elegant but delicate looking Fairbairn-Sykes first pattern knife. The Ek would be a superior cutting weapon, where the Fairbairn might have a slight advantage in a thrust.

"In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. An entirely unarmed man has no certain defense against it, and, further, merely the sudden flashing of a knife is frequently enough to strike fear into your opponent, causing him to lose confidence and surrender.

The British Fairbairn Sykes fulfills that task-specific mission as well today as it did 70 years ago. The sub-categories of this, and other, sections will familiarize you with many of the styles of "commando knives" used throughout WW-II, the small detailed differences, and derivatives of the original knives that are in use today.