2nd Pattern coming up at work

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, this one came into work yesterday and will feature in my March 11th militaria sale @bamfords. A great condition knife and new to the market with provenance.

WW2 British 2nd Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. Early Nickle finish knife with 169mm long blade. Crossguard is marked with a WD Broad Arrow & 5. Hand chequered grip. Overall length 297mm. Complete with early pattern scabbard with nickle finished chape. Both tabs to scabbard are present. Retaining elastic has split: New to the market with provenance. Original owner was Harry Holmes, Royal Engineers. Harry missed D-Day having picked up an injury playing football for his Regt. He later fought in Normandy and North West Europe where he carried the knife.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Just an update to this thread. The knife sold for £800 hammer price.

Yesterday the Gentleman who owned the knife came in with another which will be going in my September sale @bamfords. He is a Freemason and a member of his Lodge turned up with this knife which they are going to sell and donate all the proceeds to Charity. My lot description below:

"2nd Pattern Fairbairn - Sykes Fighting Knife. Private purchase example with unmarked blued brass grip with short knurled pattern grip. Crossguard is blued steel again unmarked. Double edged unmarked blued blade 170mm in length. Overall length 298mm. Complete with a custom made light brown leather scabbard of part rivetted, part stitched construction. Note: Proceeds of this sale are being donated to Charity."

[Chopperman]

That's an interesting knife. I don't think that I have seen the short knurling
before.

That all nickel 2nd sold for a fair price.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Greg, thanks.

I cannot recall seeing that short knurling either and it struck me as soon as I saw it.

That first pattern goes under the hammer tomorrow.

Cheers, Ade.