British, WW2, First Pattern Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife by Wilkinson Sword – Superb, Fully Original Example with Correct Early Sheath

*British, WW2, First Pattern Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife by Wilkinson Sword – Superb, Fully Original Example with Correct Early Sheath*

A truly excellent and fully authentic First Pattern Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife by Wilkinson Sword Co. Ltd, London, displaying all the scarce early-war features. The ricasso bears the Wilkinson scroll panel, still legible despite age toning, and the obverse shows the faint but correct “F-S Fighting Knife” etch, characteristic of genuine first-issue examples.

The turned and finely chequered nickel-plated brass grip is outstanding, showing crisp diamond cutwork, no flattening, and the correct early baluster pommel with its textbook hand-peened tang visible at the crown. The flat oval guard is clean and true, with the proper thin profile and wartime hand-finishing marks still present.

The blade retains its correct hand-ground 1st Pattern geometry, with the long central ridge, deep ricasso shoulders, and no signs of shortening or post-war regrinding. Blade length: approx. 16.7 cm. Overall length: approx. 29.7 cm

Accompanying the knife is its original wartime leather sheath, complete with the correct nickel-plated chape, early stitching layout, and fitted with authentic Newey Bros Birmingham press-studs—each bearing the appropriate 1930s–40s patent numbers.

Historical Note:
The Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife was created in 1940 by William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes, whose close-quarters combat experience in the Shanghai Municipal Police shaped Britain’s early Commando training. Their design—slender, perfectly balanced, and intended for silent killing—was entrusted to Wilkinson Sword, the only firm with the precision grinding capability required.

The resulting First Pattern F-S was produced in very limited numbers, generally accepted as between 6,000 and 7,000 knives total before the simplified Second Pattern entered mass production in 1941. Every First Pattern was hand-ground, individually finished, and issued to the earliest Commandos and SOE operatives during the formation of Britain’s special forces. Production was short-lived and frontline use was intense, so survival rates were low —an original Wilkinson-marked First Pattern, especially with untouched sheaths— remains the most coveted and historically significant variant of the F-S lineage.

*Condition*
A very strong, investment-grade example.

Knife: The nickel-plated grip is excellent with crisp chequering and no smoothing to the diamonds. The pommel crown shows the correct wartime peened tang, completely untouched and never disassembled. Light age marks on the pommel and guard are fully consistent with wartime plating. The flat guard is tight and correctly shaped. The blade retains its original profile, with honest age speckling and patina but no modern polishing, buffing, or edge reshaping. Wilkinson ricasso panel remains readable; the F-S etch is faint but authentic.

Sheath: The leather is supple and complete, showing only expected wear from age. Stitching is intact along the body. Both Newey Bros Birmingham press-studs are present and original, with patent markings fully legible. The nickel-plated chape shows typical wartime bruising and surface marks but remains firmly attached and correct in form. No repairs, no replaced fittings — a completely original wartime sheath.

Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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