Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. One of the more exotic assignments for Special Forces Soldiers during the Vietnam War was the 46th Group in Thailand. This small unit conducted a variety of missions during the conflict in Indochina. The 46th was deployed to assist the Thai military in resisting Communist guerrilla activity along the Laotian border, among the hill tribes in the north, and in the south on the Malay Peninsula. The company was originally organized from personnel of 7th SFGA and reactivated as Company D (Augmented), 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in April 1966 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Between the activation and deployment the company underwent pre-mission training. In October of 1966 the unit deployed to Thailand where an SFOB was established at Camp Pawai, Lopburi, Thailand. On April 15, 1967 the unit was redesignated 46th Special Forces Company (Airborne), 1st Special Forces.

The 46th Company conducted specialized Special Forces training at the Royal Thai Army (RTA) Special Warfare Center. Some members of 46th Company were based at Nakhon Phanom (NKP) (link to Google Maps) and assisted Recon Teams from Command & Control North (CCN) based in Danang, Vietnam from 5th SFG(A) wh were running missions into Laos.

This is a gorgeous example of a 46th Special Forces Presentation Stiletto Dagger made in the style of the famous British Fairbairn-Sykes paratrooper knives. The stiletto is etched on the side of the 6 ⅞” blade with the Special Forces crest next to:

46TH S.F.G. (ABN)
THAILAND

Unlike the 5th Special Forces presentation daggers, this example retains a brass British 3rd Pattern style handle with a slightly thicker pommel nut. There are some casting flaws in the pommel. The overall length is 11 ½”.

This example comes in a scabbard modeled after the British pattern with the leather tongue and elastic retaining strap. The strap is intact but fragile. The brass drag is missing much of its paint.
 
A gorgeous Special Forces presentation knife, ready for further research and display.

Dimensions:
Blade Length: 6 7/8”
Total Length: 11 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 13 1/4”

Thai military and police units were trained by the 46th.Some of the units trained were the Thai Special Forces cadre and the Border Patrol Police. In addition, in the early 1970s the 46th trained units of the Cambodia military to include FANK Special Forces units. The Thai Ranger School was founded by 46th Company.

The unit departed Thailand in April 1974 and became part of 1st Special Forces Group at Fort Lewis, Washington. Other sources say the company was deactivated on March 31, 1972. Still another source says the company was deactivated on April 1, 1970 and it was reactivated as United States Army Special Forces, Thailand.