Honored with a 20th century legendary blade

[Redshank]

A BBC programme called Castle Commando made in Jock's neck of the woods at Acnacarry (Clan Seat of the Camerons) explained in detail the invention of the Fairbairn and Sykes Commando knife and it's intended use, it's well worth a swatch if it comes on again, I do believe there is a book about it as well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bfl4x

[Joshua]

It is indeed legendary...

And revered on this side of the pond as well,

[New World Czech]

I find it odd that from what I have read the 3rd pattern, like my father's knife, was the least favored hilt design because of grip slippage when wet yet it is depicted on the the emblems above. I assume that is because the ring hilt is much more defined and easier to reproduce in art. I really am not planning on using this as a dirk as I have no occasion to wear one.

Dale, my dad spent 3 months on Okinawa. He was then transfered off after a cut became infected and was give a clerk job. CO liked him so much he was never sent back. He was offered a Purple Heart but refused because he said all he did was scrape his leg while his buddies were being shot or killed in battle.

[Pleater]

When over in France after D Day my dad got blood poisoning from an infected cut and was seriously ill and unable to work - he serviced engines for RAF 247 squadron. He carried the mark for the rest of his life.

All he got was the threat of being put on a charge for self inflicted injury.

He brought a Nazi dirk back - with a metal sheath and 'embroidery' along the blade. My brother has it.

I used to have a fighter pilot's compass, which was useful as it glowed in the dark - it was probably radioactive now I think about it.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[artificer]

We recently had to move my Dad into an assisted living facility. As part of the living agreement no weapons are allowed. Dad remembered he had a knife in his USMC foot locker. Now for some history, Dad was recalled for the Korean War and served as an instructor at San Diego. He remembers the base received about two gross of a British fightng knife to see if it might become regular issue for the Marine Corps. Fast forward I am now the owner of a vintage Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife. Dad had no idea about the history of this knife and it has been stored for over 50 years in his foot locker.
This would be an interesting dirk.

Beautiful piece with a nice family history. I'd make (or have made) a decorative holder for it with a small brass plaque describing what you've just told us.
Too much family history is lost over time as someone forgets to make notes about things.

I have my Maternal Grandfather's helmet, which he wore from the landings in Morocco all the way up to Anzio, where it was "rendered unsuitable for service" after a rather large dent and crack in the metal was delivered by a chunk of shrapnel or small arms fire. He got to go home after that, and the Army let him keep the helmet as well.

I also have rather a lot of interesting articles from my Paternal Grandfather, who went over just in time for the Bulge and stayed for quite a time as part of the Army of Occupation.

I've tried to document everything so the history and experiences aren't lost.

I used to have a fighter pilot's compass, which was useful as it glowed in the dark - it was probably radioactive now I think about it.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I guarantee it was radioactive. Most likely Radium based paint. In the small amount of a single dial face it wouldn't do much, but for the poor women painting those dial faces (and frequently licking the tips of their brushes) it was rather a lot of exposure.

ith:

[Geoff Withnell]

I had the honor to work with a few China Marines at the end of their service, back when I first enlisted. Many of the China Marines, especially in the 2nd Raider Battalion, had picked up a Fairbairn or a Chinese copy made from and auto leaf spring, at some point, and the Raiders pretty much were allowed to carry whatever knife they wanted. Lovely piece of work you have there.

[tulloch]

Really beautiful. Thanks for the photos and the story.