Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knives

Sollie Kaplan purchased this pair of Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knives from the Wilkinson Sword Company while stationed in London during World War II.

The Fairbairn-Sykes knife, named after co-creators William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes, gained fame during WWII as the issue knife of British Commandos and other special operations units including the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

The knife is light and well-balanced for easy handling. The seven inch blade is double-edged and comes to a fine, sharp point, making it an ideal weapon for thrusting. It was designed specifically as a fighting tool for close-quarters combat, enabling soldiers to quietly dispatch the enemy.

Knives from the Lt. Sollie Kaplan Collection