BACKGROUND: The Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife came about through the need for a good fighting knife for the newly formed commando units. W. E. Fairbairn, E. A. Sykes and Robert Wilkinson Latham of the Wilkinson Sword Company, had a meeting in November of 1940 at which W. E. Fairbairn and E. A. Sykes described the knife they wanted and preliminary sketches were drawn up and the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife was created. There were three major patterns of the knife produced.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A third pattern Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife with a 17cm stiletto style blade with high central spine. The blade in excellent condition. The cast blackened brass handle has twenty-seven concentric rings. The number "4" is stamped to the bottom of the grip. The knife has a straight 5cm wide cross guard with "England" marking. A small "broad arrow" with an 8 can also be seen on the bottom portion of the grip, above the cross guard. The brown leather scabbard has a, round tipped, riveted on, blackened brass fitting to the bottom and raised, stitched spine to reverse. Sewn to the spine is a leather tab that were used for stitching the sheath to clothing. Rivetted to the top of the scabbard is a leather tab with slashes for leg straps and the elastic retaining strap for the knife. Of Note: It was common, after the war, when surplus knives were exported out of the United Kingdom for sale, the country of origin was stamped on either the cross guard or scabbard.