wilkinson sword 2nd pattern fairbairn sykes knife

[lyness]

Maybe not a personal name etch but a 1st pattern with the E is a distinct pattern having the extra long ricasso to accomodate the E.

But I can think of other contenders such as Wilkinson/FS etched 3rd patterns.

[nickn]

Ron
You think the etched 3rd is rarer them the etched nickel 2nd pattern??

[Allan B]

Clive, that is a perfect 2nd nickel. Mine is no where near as nice.

Cheers

Allan

[RobDekk]

I picked up this etched Third Pattern last year.

[Allan B]

I didn't even realise there was a 3rd etched. As there is I want one. Up to now I have only collected 1st & 2nd nickel and or etched.

Cheers

Allan

[lyness]

You think the etched 3rd is rarer them the etched nickel 2nd pattern??

And why not?

But of course there are others that probably can get in the list of the rarest pattern, John Clarke marked ones is just one example and the top of the tree a genuine 3 inch guard 1st pattern.

[nickn]

Why not??
Because it isn't
Do all the arms and antique fairs
I have bought 7 f-s since Christmas and handled lots more
3 etched 2nd 1 sterile nickel 2nd 1 etched 3rd a rare inspector marked 2nd and a b2 3rd
You went to stoneliegh how many etched nickels did you see?
I didn't see one but there were two etched 3rds
The one I bought and a very rough one

Or Just do a quick google search for f-s for sale lots more etched 3rds then there are nickel 2nds
And was the 3" 1st a production knife??
But does any of this really matter? At least we are seeing some nice knives

[nickn]

I do agree john Clark knives are probably rarer I have only had one good enough to keep in nearly 40 years of collecting

[seebee1]

Some very fine and interesting Knives have been posted On the scarcity front, how about this etch on my original 3" crossguard 1st pattern. As yet I have not found a satisfactory explanation for the Numeral 1. Any ideas? Regards, Clive.

[grndevil44]

some fine examples, I found this 2nd pattern locally, indirectly from an estate. On the back of the scabbard was the owners name and service no. from this I was able to contact the Canadian archives and request his service file, I found out he was a wireless/air gunner with 226 Sqd flying in B-25's from Aug 44 till Dec 44 when he completed his tour. From this info I was able to read about all his missions on the UK national archive site.

[grndevil44]

from the archives I was able to get a photo of the original owner,

[nickn]

Clive
Interesting knife no 1 could mean just that?
How did you come by it?
Rob
Another nice 2nd pattern

[Allan B]

Clive, love the 3" 1st. Perhaps 1st batch.

Nice 2nd below.

Cheers

Allan

[nickn]

two rare features on this knife
blind top nut or spigot and blued after the etch had been applied

[nickn]

i have several knives with this gold effect on the pommel end and a few more where the same area is painted yellow??