Auction find! 2nd Pattern Fairbairn Sykes knife....

[Retreat Hell]

I was at an auction this weekend, for glass and brass, and came across this little gem in a display case. I have a half way decent bayonet collection, and thought a F/S knife would look nice in the case as well. I don't think the crowd or auctioneer new exactly what it was, but myself and someone in the back row did. Had to go a little over budget, at my wife's insistance luckily, and got it for a good price....Looks to be in great shape. It's stamped /I\ B2, and England. It has had a leather loop added at the top to secure it I guess some time in it's life. The only other downside is the tip has a slight bend in it (looks like someone was prying something). I'm really happy with it and thought I would share....

[rbminis]

Hello And welcome to the forum!
It appears to be a nice well used second pattern. Congrats!
You are correct, the strap is a replacement.
Ralph.

[Axium]

thats a nice one. looks genuine enough, but i havent seen "England" stamped on a 2nd pattern before.

[popcorn]

thats a nice one. looks genuine enough, but i havent seen "England" stamped on a 2nd pattern before.

From what I've read these England stamped guards were exported as surplus after the war. Second and third patterns have been known to have them. Very nice blade.

[Chopperman]

Good looking dagger.
Here in the states, "England" stamped #2s are more common than those
without the stamp.

[Walkwolf]

Very nice dagger - Congrats.........!

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Thumbs up from this corner

Cheers,
Tony

[Wagriff]

There's Alwaysssss One guy in an auction crowd that you'd like to shoot! Very nice find!

[Axium]

Just curious, do you have the normal Wilkinson Sword etching or the longer(taller) one? i have a W.S. 2nd pattern with the long etching, heard they ware somewhat rare.

Unfortunately mines been machined back to the original steel color ruining some of the etching, but i got it back to a mirror finis and razor edge as mr. Fairbairn would have liked.

and congratulations again, very nice example.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Hi Axium, this knife does not have the etched blade, typical for the B2 marked ones. And yes, you're correct that the longer etching is definitely scarcer.

Cheers, Tony