Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife
F-S fighting knife – ring grip pattern
Type	Dagger
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1941–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	World War II-present
Production history
Designer	William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes
Designed	1941
Manufacturer	Wilkinson Sword Ltd
Produced	1941
Specifications
Length	11.5 inches (29 cm)
Blade length	7 inches (18 cm)
Blade type	Dagger
Hilt type	Metal
Scabbard/sheath	Metal
Head type	Metal
type	Metal

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police in China.

The F-S fighting knife was made famous during World War II when issued to British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, the SAS and many other units, especially for the Normandy landings in June 1944. With its acutely tapered, sharply pointed blade, the F-S fighting knife is frequently described as a stiletto, a weapon optimised for thrusting, although the F-S knife is capable of being used to inflict slash cuts upon an opponent when its cutting edges are sharpened according to specification. The Wilkinson Sword Company made the knife with minor pommel and grip design variations.

The F-S knife is strongly associated with the British commandos and the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and Marine Raiders (who based their issued knife on the Fairbairn-Sykes), among other special forces / clandestine / raiding units. It features in the insignia of the British Royal Marines, the Belgian Commandos, the Dutch Commando Corps, founded in the UK during World War II, the Australian 1st Commando Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment, and the United States Army Rangers, both founded with the help of the British Commandos. Large numbers of Fairbairn Sykes knives of varying types, including some with wooden grips, were used by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division that landed on Juno Beach on "D" Day and by the men of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion who jumped and fought on the same day. A solid gold F-S fighting knife is part of the commandos' memorial at Westminster Abbey.