SOE CONNECTIONS**VERY RARE**WW2 British 1st Pattern Wilkinson FS Commando Fighting Knife With Double Etched Panels & 1st Pattern Scabbard With Correct Newey Stud Fastener Reputedly To SOE Operative Rollo Young. Sn 21967:2 Knives

**SOE CONNECTIONS**VERY RARE**WW2 British 1st Pattern Wilkinson FS Commando Fighting Knife With Double Etched Panels & 1st Pattern Scabbard With Correct Newey Stud Fastener Reputedly To SOE Operative Rollo Young. Sn 21967:2 - 21967:2

The 1st Pattern FS fighting knife was introduced in 1940 and produced by Wilkinson Sword (see page 63 of The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife & Other Commando Knives By Flook). Rollo Young was reputedly a Special Operations Executive (SOE) operative serving behind enemy lines during WW2. This is a very rare to find 1st pattern FS fighting knife. In 2012 Rollo sold this knife & personally informed the new owner that this was the first fighting knife he was issued & described his training with none other than Eric Anthony Sykes who, with William Ewart Fairbairn invented / developed the Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife. You can see it is an early issue and was carried in action by the fact there are no "wings" on the sheath and by the wear. The knife has been period sharpened time and time again while the soldier was behind enemy lines, to the point that a) the blade is slightly narrower and thinner than it was when new, and b) the Wilkinson Sword and F-S Fighting Knife logos are barely viable on the ricasso. But really, this is a knife that was held by a British SOE operative for months behind enemy lines, not some minty, never been anywhere example. The hilt retains its original nickel finish and knurled grip. Its double edged dagger blade with medial ridge measures 172mm in length (blade lengths of these FS knives vary as they were hand ground). The undamaged blade has staining consistent with age and service use. It is complete with original 1st Pattern leather scabbard with nickel plated brass chape & integral belt loop with retaining strap which has the correct ‘Newey’ press stud fastener. All leather & stitching are clean & intact. The leather is period punch dot impressed with the name ‘ROLLO’. The price for this very rare piece of covert warfare history worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 21967:2

£2,400.00