Olof Janson unless otherwise stated
text and pictures by O.Janson unless specified.
| Text and pictures by
Olof Janson unless otherwise stated |
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updated 2010-06-01
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Beaded and ringed with scabbard. (own collection) |
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Beaded and Ribbed or beads and ridges model |
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At that time other companies started to produce F-S fighting knives also. In the autumn of 1942, the Rodgers firm also produced what may be the finest of all the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes knives: the Beads and Ridges model or Beaded & Ringed. It is named so by collectors for its distinctive grip pattern of rings of tiny beads, spaced with sections of rings. The handle was cast in pure brass. The blades are delicate and uniform, and the weapon, though light, is perfectly balanced. They are all black or nickel finish knives. These knives are rare. According to both Fredrick Stephens and Leroy Thompson the Beaded and Ringed Commando knife was a commercial variant for private purchase. This is not altogether correct. There are some rare cases of this type which were officially issued with the Broad arrow.
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Beaded and ringed with six beaded rings. It is very rare to find a knife with six rings. (own collection) |
Roped & Ribbed.
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Roped and ribbed with its scabbard
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| Roped and Ribbed |
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By the end of the war a variation was produced of the Roped and ringed or Ribbed and Roped. It has a longer hilt than other knives of this type. This variation is considered by collectors to be even more rare than the beaded and ringed. According to Allan Locken not much is known about these knives, only that they were available during the war. Even the pictures are rare and information found in most knife publications witness about how rare they are. Here is however one of those knives which belonged to Mike Silvey which has the Broad arrow with the number 2 acceptance stamp. |
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Here you can see details of the grips of the two knives above: Left - "Beaded and Ringed" Right "Roped and Ringed". Note the Beaded and ringed knife has the old type of blade with a small wedge. Both types can be found with acceptance markings which can be seen here.
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Beaded & Ringed together with Roped & Ringed were considered private purchase
knives. |
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Two different grips of Roped & Ringed. Top 9 rings of Rope (own collection) Left
10 rings of Rope
Note the different pommels The parallel type of cross guard is clearly seen here. |
| Specifikations for Beaded/Roped and Ringed | ||
| Length over all | 11.6" - 13.1" | 295 - 332 mm |
| Length of blade | 6.4" - 7" | 163 - 179 mm |
| Wheight | 220 - 240 gram | 230 - 255 gram |
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Forming of Commandos |
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The Shanghai fighting knives |
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There are three basic modells of the F-S fighting knife. |
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1st Pattern F-S Fighting knife |
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2nd Pattern F-S Fighting knife |
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2nd Pattern F-S Fighting Private Purchase knife |
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2nd Pattern F-S Fighting w/o Wilkinson
trademark. like B2, Fat Man, Reverse Knurling |
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3rd Pattern F-S Fighting knife |
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Beaded & Ringed - Roped & Ringed |
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Wood handles. |
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OSS -
Stiletto w.'Pancake Flapper' and |
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Sheaths |
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Marks |
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UK Commando knives; Postwar production |
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The Stalingrad Sword made by Wilkinson Sword. |
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I want
to give special acknowledgement to these gentlemen,
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References:
| Robert Wilkinson Latham | His own web site |
| Alan W. Locken | Commando 1940 - 1945 |
| Robert A. Burlein | Allied Military Fightingknives |
| Ron Flook | British and Commonwealth military knives. |
| Fredrick J. Stephens | Fighting Knives |
| Frank Trzaska | The O.S.S. Stiletto - Knife World February 1998. |
| Frank Trzaska | The Raider Stiletto - Knife World July 1997 |
| Kelly Yeaton | The First Commando Knives. |
| John Nowhill & son | Sheffield |
| Michigan knives | |
| Dr. William Windrum | The earliest commando knivesAllan W. Locken – Commando 1940 - 1945. |
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