Fairbairn Find.

[Guy]

Hi Chaps,

Picked up this William Rodgers made Fairbairn yesterday. Either late war or just post it is a very pretty little knife. Unfortunately the blade has been tipped and whoever re-profiled it stuck it in a vice to do it. This has resulted in a little bit of denting to the bottom of the grip and edges of the quinlons but it doesn't really detract. hope you like it.

Yours, Guy.

[Guy]

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[DJT]

Nice find Guy Thats certainly not a commonly encountered maker.

[Guy]

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[Guy]

Thanks Des,

It's a little sweety isn't it. I thought it was strange for another to turn up with the 2 markings in such a short period of time.

Yours, Guy.

[lnijherald]

Hi Guy,

It is a good and genuine FS knife, early post-war. You can tell by the thickness of the crossguard (2mm instead of 3) and the manufacturers stampings. You might see cast lines running down the side of the hilt, during the war these were (roughly) removed but at some point this was no longer required. And I assume the is no cast number found at the top of the hilt. The scabbard could be wartime. Still so much better than modern copies!
Cheers, Luc

[Guy]

Cheers Luc,

I thought it was probably the case but still it's a nice thing that seems to have seen some use. Not sure about the scabbard either to be honest. I tend to prefer to see stapled chapes and the top stitched rather than riveted in place. Still these seem to be accepted as wartime so can't grumble.

Yours, Guy.

[lnijherald]

Hi Guy,

I agree about the scabbards but according to my reference book 1/2inch wide elastic band is wartime or early post-war. Later scabberds use much wider bands.
The rivets should fix the frog to the inside of the scabbard, after the war they were fixed to the outside so yours could be ok. Here's what I mean:

Cheers, Luc

[Gary Jucha]

Post war ..

Guy,
I agree ... early post war !.

Gary J.

[Guy]

Excellent stuff, thanks guys.

Luc, what book do you have as it sounds like it has some great info in it. I didn't know about the riveted scabbards, thanks.

Yours, Guy.

[lnijherald]

Hi Guy,

I use the "collector's guide to the Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife" by Alan A. Locken. ISBN 0-9699764-0-2, a 100p. paperback that covers the basics of FS knives. Pictures are not too well, but good enough.
Regards, Luc

[Guy]

Brilliant,

Thanks Luc.

Yours, Guy.