MINT**RAREST OF COMMEMORATIVE FS DAGGERS**SAS Golden Jubilee 1941-1991**Limited Edition Number 30 Of Only 50 Cased Fairbairn Sykes 1st Pattern, 1st Type, FS Fighting Knife With Gold Plated Hilt From Family Of WW2 SAS Trooper D. Cargill With Provenance. Knives

**MINT** RAREST OF COMMEMORATIVE FS DAGGERS**SAS Golden Jubilee 1941-1991**Limited Edition Number 30 Of Only 50 Cased Fairbairn Sykes 1st Pattern, 1st Type, FS Commando Fighting Knife With Gold Plated Hilt From Family Of WW2 SAS Trooper D. Cargill. ED 2388

WW2 1st pattern FS Commando fighting knives were initially produced in 1940 with large 3" cross guards but the cross guard size on 1st pattern's was soon reduced to 2" due the larger cross guards snagging on clothing. Many collectors doubted the existence of these 1st type 1st pattern knives as examples were rarely if ever seen, however, Ron Flook in his book The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife & Other Commando Knives describes and illustrates correspondence produced by Wilkinson Sword dated 1941 which contains a request from the War Office to produce knives with 2" cross guards rather than 3" (see page 68 of Flook's book plate 5.8.). This superb full size (12” overall) 1st pattern FS Commando dagger with 1st type 3" cross guard was produced in 1991 by Wilkinson Sword to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ‘The Special Air Service’. These are arguably the rarest of all Wilkinson commemorative FS daggers. They were only sold to members / ex members of the elite British Special Forces SAS and were made in a very limited edition run of only 50 blades. The knives featured in the magazine guns review published December 1991, the article describes these knives as ‘Special’ (an original Dec 91 dated edition of guns review magazine accompanies the knife). Our cased example numbered 30 is in near mint condition and was received directly from the family of WW2 SAS Trooper 907631 D. Cargill who served with The 1st SAS Regiment between 1944 & 1945 in North West Europe and who later commissioned this extremely rare knife. The knife comes with provenance in the form of copies of emails from the Trooper’s family and correspondence between Mr Cargill with Wilkinson sword. The family also provided a paper copy black & white photo of Mr Cargill in WW2 (the driver far right) and a copy of Mr Cargills Certificate of SAS Service signed by the famous SAS Commander Paddy Mayne. The knife’s gold plated knurled hilt is in superb condition as is its gold plated 3” 1st type 1st Pattern cross guard. It has a beautiful blued blade etched on one side with SAS Golden Jubilee Banner and SAS who dares Wins Regiment badge. The reverse has the verse associated to the regiment (illustrated) & Wilkinson Sword London name with crossed swords legend & QEII Royal Appointment. The blade is numbered ‘30’ (of 50). The dagger is contained in its original wooden box with hinged lid covered in black leatherette material. The case has clasp fasteners. The inside of the case is lined in sky blue felt & padded white silk. The silk is emblazoned with the Wilkinson Sword name & Crossed Swords legend and is correctly mounted with plate etched with SAS battle honours (Wilkinson did not issue certificates of authenticity with these knives as they considered the detail contained on the plate to be sufficient which can be read in the correspondence between Mr Cargill and Wilkinson Sword). The case has its original brown cardboard retail packaging. The price for this extremely rare SAS commemorative piece once owned by a WW2 SAS veteran with provenance includes UK delivery. ED 2388 (on shelf behind presentation daggers box)

£2,200.00