Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice 1950s-era British Fairbairn-Sykes style Commando fighting knife manufactured by J. Nowill & Sons of Sheffield, England. The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife became one of the most recognizable military edged weapons of WWII and remained influential long after the war, with postwar Sheffield manufacturers continuing to produce examples for military, commercial, and collector use. The tongue for the scabbard has broken off completely.

The knife measures approximately 11 ½ inches overall, with a 6 ⅞-inch double-edged spear-point blade and a 2-inch crossguard. The blade and handle retain approximately 85 percent of their original finish, with only minor areas of loss. The blade remains sharp and shows very little evidence of use, possibly retaining much of its original factory edge. The crossguard remains tight and secure.

This is a very nice 1950’s-era Fairbairn-Sykes style Commando dagger manufactured by J. Nowill & Sons, Sheffield England. This example is in great condition with what looks like a WWII period scabbard in fair condition with some stiffness and cracking in the leather. The elastic band is now gone. The blade still has a sharp edge, possibly the original factory sharpening. The condition of the blade does not indicate it was used at all. The blade and handle has 85 percent of the original finish present with some minor loss. The crossguard is still tight.

The scabbard has weakness and loss of stitching as shown, and the tongue has broken off of the scabbard completely. The finish on the scabbard is very weak with cracking in the body but the drag is still present.

Despite the deterioration to the scabbard, the knife itself remains in very good overall condition and presents as a strong example of postwar Sheffield production derived directly from the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes pattern. The clean blade, substantial surviving finish, tight guard, and complete grip make it especially attractive for a collection focused on British Commando knives and their postwar continuation.

The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was developed in Britain during 1940 through the collaboration of William E. Fairbairn, Eric A. Sykes, and the Wilkinson Sword Company. Fairbairn and Sykes brought extensive experience in close-combat instruction and knife fighting, while Wilkinson translated their ideas into a practical production weapon.

This example is especially interesting as a 1950s J. Nowill & Sons continuation of that established pattern. The combination of its strong original finish, apparently little-used blade, tight crossguard, and surviving period-style leather scabbard makes it an attractive representative of the postwar legacy of one of Britain’s most famous military fighting knives.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 7”
Blade Style: Spear Point Knife
Overall length: 11 3/4”
Crossguard: 2”
Sheath Length: 7½” + Tongue