ARNHEM CONNECTIONS**WW2 British WD B4 Free Polish Airborne Forces, Commando Smooth Alloy Hilt, Fairbairn Sykes FS Fighting Knife With Scabbard Chape Mounted ‘1’ (1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade). Sn 20691 Knives

**ARNHEM CONNECTIONS**WW2 British WD B4 Free Polish Airborne Forces, Commando Smooth Alloy Hilt, Fairbairn Sykes FS Fighting Knife With Scabbard Chape Mounted ‘1’ (1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade). Sn 20691 - 20691

An original and rare to find, smooth alloy hilted Polish Airborne Forces Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife. This variant of FS fighting knife is believed to have been issued to Free Polish Airborne Forces by the British War Dept and were also privately commissioned by Members of the Polish Airborne Forces exiled in this country during the war (see page 141 item 9.49 of The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting knife & Other Commando Knives by Ron Flook where genuine examples such as ours are described as rare). It has an undamaged smooth alloy handle stamped with ‘WD Broad Arrow below 6’ mark. It has a 177mm long steel blade with medial ridge. It’s oval steel cross guard is stamped ‘B4’ and with WD Broad Arrow. It is complete with original leather scabbard with 4 sewn on leather tabs and single belt loop with elasticated retaining strap (intact but frayed in the middle section). The external brass chape is mounted with a number ‘1’ device to the 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade ( a parachute infantry brigade of the Polish Armed Forces in the West under the command of Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, created in September 1941 during the Second World War and based in Scotland. Originally, the brigade's exclusive mission was to drop into occupied Poland in order to help liberate the country. The British government, however, pressured the Poles into allowing the unit to be used in the Western theatre of war. Operation Market Garden eventually saw the unit sent into action in support of the British 1st Airborne Division at the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944). All leather & stitching are intact. The price for this rare FS variant includes UK delivery. Sn 20691

£975.00