Genuine Authentic Second Pattern J Nowill & Sons Fairbairn-sykes Black Commando Knife Sheffield England

Excellent. Heavy, with a point that feels like one could probably pound it through a sheet of steel. To all of those moaning about the edges…TheF-S isn’t some new “EDC” blade to have lying around. It’s not designed for slashing, or cutting your Philly cheesesteak sandwich. It’s an assassins stabbing weapon, a murder tool, for ambushing the unsuspecting. It’s shaped to stab. Straight up under the chin. Straight down to attack the subclavian. Straight through heavy clothing to the heart from the front, and the kidney or the base of the skull from the rear. Some OSS and SAS folks ground down one side of the handle to prevent it turning when covered with blood. Sharpen the edges if you want. They’re pretty steeply beveled, and it’s really a waste of time.

The F-S knife is a fascinating piece of WWII history. It evokes the actions of the brave warriors of the SOE, OSS, and other Allied commandos. In later years it served the CIA. While an imperfect design, (the later Applegate Fairbairn perfected the concept) it was and is a highly lethal, specialized tool.The Nowill & Sons version is the real deal. Not a cheap Pakistani junk copy, this is honest, machined steel, crafted to high standards. It is still issued to UK Special Operations forces. It has recently been used in combat in Afghanistan, to predictable effect.Lee is committed to excellent customer service. My order was delayed, first by the British postal service, and subsequently by Federal Express, which unfortunately these days is no longer either Federal nor Express. Lee went to considerable expense and trouble to make things right. He communicated most effectively along the way. A+This knife is an exceptional product and an honest value. You get what you pay for and then some. If you want a genuine F-S fighting knife, this is the one. Accept no lesser incarnation.

If you’re a collector, this is the FS you’ve been looking for. Construction is as solid as these get, fit and finish is genuine. Customer service and speed of delivery was stellar, and the shop owner shipped it sharp at my request, doing a better job on the edge than a more expensive version I once bought. The handle is nicely knurled and pleasantly absent the off-kilter casting seams of lesser versions. It is very solid in the hand with a nice balance.Things to know: You guys, this is a genuine issue, munitions-grade Fairbairn-Sykes. It’s an old-school tool of war, designed for regular carry and with a singular purpose. If you’re looking for a high-end safe queen custom blade, this ain’t it. Fit and finish are exactly appropriate for mil-spec. And yes, even though Fairbairn advocates cuts to the hand, arm, leg, and neck, the edge geometry has never allowed for excellence in anything but going straight in. Even “the best” of this design doesn’t slice tomatoes worth a damn.Some folks have complained about the sheaths. Again, it’s genuine, and as good an example of one as you’ll find. Very workable if you understand the features.But if you understand and appreciate these blades for what they are, this is the one to get.

This dagger is a genuine, modern (not an antique but created in precisely the same way) creation of the Fairbairn-Sykes blade. It's a dagger, not a knife - so don't expect to use it as a regular knife.Well crafted & looks and feels great. Strongly recommend for anyone who is considering owning a piece of history but is looking for a new one, instead of hunting down an old one.I've had multiple versions of this dagger before, but you can tell this one is by far the most accurate and easily worth the price. This version is the most accurate, balanced, and possesses the highest quality.If you're in the United States, customs can prove to be interesting, but the seller is incredibly great at working with you to ensure the item arrives.

The lack of an edge was actually quite disconcerting. I mention this because it usually doesn't happen to me. Not that I expect anyone to foolishly incur legal liability or can't find a honing stone, far from it. I mean that I feel a moral obligation to put a razor's edge on it because such a weapon should never be without an edge. It feels sacred. Certainly letting an edge dull is decadent. It is beautiful in its simplicity. I happened upon a W. E. Fairbairn quote about stabbing the Enemy (from behind) in the kidney as the left hand covers his mouth and throws him off balance which ends with the admonishment that subsequently cutting the throat is unnecessary because shock is immediate and thought: Isn't that quasi-esoteric with the right-hand path and the left-hand path; But also of B. H. Lidell-Hart's indirect approach and the whole tenor of the inter-war military reformers (Germans and others) with its emphasis on Schwerpuncts--centers of gravity and psychological effects.

This is a genuine replica of the actual knife used in combat by British forces, made by craftsmen by hand in Sheffield UK. The owner of the company Lee was happy to sharpen it upon my request, and with a few passes of a leather strop plus some LP to protect against rust it is now razor sharp on both edges. There was an issue during shipping from the UK to the US where they wouldn’t let the knife onto the FedEx plane (thank you Her Majesty’s government for keeping us all safe) but Lee quickly re-shipped it with no problems at all. I have no doubts that this blade will last a lifetime even with daily hard combat use, but for me it has already earned a coveted place in my collection. I also love the grip, it is patterned with an aggressive grippy stippling which feels very solid.

Showed up on time as they said it would when they said it would. Looks great.