Recommendation? Fairbairn Sykes British Commando Knife Replica?

S

Stahlmann

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Jan 21, 2021
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Hello, I am new here and would like to ask about Fairbairn Sykes British Commando Knife replicas? Is this the correct forum for this type of question?

I would like a replica because I don't want to spend the money for a WWII vintage one, but I would still appreciate handling a Fairbairn Sykes poniard. Actually I seek an actual, current production Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife, and not a replica. One exactly like those made during WWII, by one of the more than 20 original contractors for this knife design, who still produce this knife in England.

The manufacturers I most often come across are "John Nowill & Sons" (owned by J. Adams Ltd.) and "IXL Sheffield" via the KnifeCenter. Both definitely continue to produce the knife in Sheffield, England.

I can't tell though if Nowill and IXL are the same company or not? Does anyone here have any insights on this, or anything else on currently made F-S Commando Knives? Perhaps there's another English knife maker to consider? Much obliged.
 
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I believe both Marbles and Boker are currently producing reproductions. CASE might be making one.

From what I've heard, most quote/unquote "Original World War 2" items on the market are fakes. (same for the artifacts for all the wars prior to WW2, for that matter. :( ) Probably just as wise not to buy a quote/unquote "original" unless you're an expert ... and even "experts" get taken to the cleaners sometimes.

Welcome to the forums :)
 
Stahlmann said:
Hello, I am new here and would like to ask about Fairbairn Sykes British Commando Knife replicas? Is this the correct forum for this type of question?

I would like a replica because I don't want to spend the money for a WWII vintage one, but I would still appreciate handling a Fairbairn Sykes poniard. Actually I seek an actual, current production Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife, and not a replica. One exactly like those made during WWII, by one of the more than 20 original contractors for this knife design, who still produce this knife in England.

The manufacturers I most often come across are "John Nowill & Sons" (owned by J. Adams Ltd.) and "IXL Sheffield" via the KnifeCenter. Both definitely continue to produce the knife in Sheffield, England.

I can't tell though if Nowill and IXL are the same company or not? Does anyone here have any insights on this, or anything else on currently made F-S Commando Knives? Perhaps there's another English knife maker to consider? Much obliged.
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Go for Jack Adams (Nowill). The IXL mark is owned by a company called Eggington, who are just round the corner, but they probably get their knives made by Adams anyway :thumbsup:
 
There are some knife makers in U.K. doing small batches too - some really nice repros as well - will post some pics shortly.
 
Jack Black said:
Go for Jack Adams (Nowill). The IXL mark is owned by a company called Eggington, who are just round the corner, but they probably get their knives made by Adams anyway :thumbsup:
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Thank you. This is the sort of information I am looking for. It's still all a bit confusing to me, but apparently the I*XL mark is a very old, dating back to 1787. It's been owned by a number of firms over the years.

I looked on Google Maps. J. Adams and the Egginton Bros. really are close together with the road "Cross Smithfield" dividing them, in what appears to be an "interesting" neighborhood of Sheffield, England. Thank you again.
 
afishhunter said:
I believe both Marbles and Boker are currently producing reproductions. CASE might be making one.

From what I've heard, most quote/unquote "Original World War 2" items on the market are fakes. (same for the artifacts for all the wars prior to WW2, for that matter. :( ) Probably just as wise not to buy a quote/unquote "original" unless you're an expert ... and even "experts" get taken to the cleaners sometimes.

Welcome to the forums :)
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Those would be American/ Canadian V42 dagger replicas and not British F-S daggers.
 
Stahlmann said:
Thank you. This is the sort of information I am looking for. It's still all a bit confusing to me, but apparently the I*XL mark is a very old, dating back to 1787. It's been owned by a number of firms over the years.

I looked on Google Maps. J. Adams and the Egginton Bros. really are close together with the road "Cross Smithfield" dividing them, in what appears to be an "interesting" neighborhood of Sheffield, England. Thank you again.
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A pleasure, I'm not surprised it's confusing :) Wostenholm were acquired by their old rival Joseph Rodgers in the 1970's, then both firms were acquired by Richards of Sheffield, and the group were taken over by Imperial-Schrade a year later. The Richards group went bust in 1982, and the worthy names were then bought by a short-lived outfit named Meteor Industries, and subsequently picked up by Eggington, a company which previously made sharpening steels. Since then, they have mainly used outworkers and other firms to produce their knives, which have no real connection to the historic cutlery companies. Nowill started out on Scotland Street, on the edge of what was once known as Cutler's Hill, and where Jack Adams, who until a few years ago, was Sheffield's oldest working cutler, is based. They are a small firm, but the main producer of fixed blade knives in the city today (their folding knives are made by another Sheffield company). The area used to be full of small cutlery firms, but sadly they are almost all gone now (you'll find some photos of the old buildings from that area, and other inner city industrial areas of Sheffield, in this thread here). The Nowill knives are decent enough, I have one, which I was given in 1978, and I carried it daily at one time. Eggington's are essentially a warehousing operation, and have knives made up by a number of Sheffield cutlers, which carry the names they own (George Wostenholm, Joseph Rodgers, William Rodgers, Ibberson's, etc). In the last few years, the son of the retired owner has set up a separate company to sell knives of higher quality, which he has made up :thumbsup:
 
I handled an old brass handled one in the Sword Armour and pistol shop on Old Marylebone High Street. I didn't want to pay the price either, but it sure was a different animal to the modern one they offered me instead.
 
Jack Black said:
A pleasure, I'm not surprised it's confusing :) Wostenholm were acquired by their old rival Joseph Rodgers in the 1970's, then both firms were acquired by Richards of Sheffield, and the group were taken over by Imperial-Schrade a year later. The Richards group went bust in 1982, and the worthy names were then bought by a short-lived outfit named Meteor Industries, and subsequently picked up by Eggington, a company which previously made sharpening steels. Since then, they have mainly used outworkers and other firms to produce their knives, which have no real connection to the historic cutlery companies. Nowill started out on Scotland Street, on the edge of what was once known as Cutler's Hill, and where Jack Adams, who until a few years ago, was Sheffield's oldest working cutler, is based. They are a small firm, but the main producer of fixed blade knives in the city today (their folding knives are made by another Sheffield company). The area used to be full of small cutlery firms, but sadly they are almost all gone now (you'll find some photos of the old buildings from that area, and other inner city industrial areas of Sheffield, in this thread here). The Nowill knives are decent enough, I have one, which I was given in 1978, and I carried it daily at one time. Eggington's are essentially a warehousing operation, and have knives made up by a number of Sheffield cutlers, which carry the names they own (George Wostenholm, Joseph Rodgers, William Rodgers, Ibberson's, etc). In the last few years, the son of the retired owner has set up a separate company to sell knives of higher quality, which he has made up :thumbsup:
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Your knowledge on this subject is encyclopedic! Great photos too! Thank you again for your help. The Nowill F-S poniards are fetching abut $85.00 delivered on eBay right now. I think I'll just go and buy one. Again, much obliged.
 
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Chui said:
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Chui said:
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Impressive Paul :cool: I had a couple made in the early 90's, with decent steel, and vacuum-hardened blades, with a dual nitrogen quench, and my Jack Black Knives mark (then active). Very nice knives, but stolen unfortunately :(

Stahlmann said:
Your knowledge on this subject is encyclopedic! Great photos too! Thank you again for your help.
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Thank you very much, I hope you get a nice one :) At one time, many Sheffield cutlers made the pattern, and they were inexpensive to pick up :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
Impressive Paul :cool: I had a couple made in the early 90's, with decent steel, and vacuum-hardened blades, with a dual nitrogen quench, and my Jack Black Knives mark (then active). Very nice knives, but stolen unfortunately :(
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- cheers, Jack :thumbsup:

We've a couple of makers on our UK forum who are making these right now - believe one of them bought up all the last bits n pieces from Wilkinson Sword. The other maker has made a slight variation to the grind, looks awesome...





.............and thank you S Stahlmann :thumbsup:



.
 
Chui said:
- cheers, Jack :thumbsup:

We've a couple of makers on our UK forum who are making these right now - believe one of them bought up all the last bits n pieces from Wilkinson Sword. The other maker has made a slight variation to the grind, looks awesome...





.............and thank you S Stahlmann :thumbsup:



.
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Impressive Paul :thumbsup:

Stahlmann said:
Yes. I'm not sure why, but they seem to be considerably more expensive than the English offerings.
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Sheffield has been making these knives a long time, the tooling was paid for decades ago, and the cutlers, being very familiar with the pattern, can make them relatively quickly. So their overheads are low, but it also has to be said that they don't use the finest of materials, nor, usually, the best HT, from which a dagger pattern like this benefits from in particular.
 
I am curious about something. If Eggington is sourcing their F-S poniards through J. Adams (which certainly seems plausible) and reselling them under their own I*XL mark, why do the baseline I*XL models seem to sell for less (at least via the Knife Center) than baseline units J. Adams sells under its own John Nowill & Sons. mark, given the extra layer? Is J. Adams probably just keeping a bit more for themselves? Thanks again.
 
Stahlmann said:
I am curious about something. If Eggington is sourcing their F-S poniards through J. Adams (which certainly seems plausible) and reselling them under their own I*XL mark, why do the baseline I*XL models seem to sell for less (at least via the Knife Center) than baseline units J. Adams sells under its own John Nowill & Sons. mark, given the extra layer? Is J. Adams probably just keeping a bit more for themselves? Thanks again.
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Even with the added cost of transportation IXL (and Rodgers) knives are sold for less in the US than they are in the UK, because of the higher rate of tax here. If Adams had a US agent, presumably, they would be cheaper also. In theory the VAT (Value Added Tax) should not be applied to export items I don't think, but the Adams website prices will include them. Of course, there could be other reasons for the price difference too, but speculating about that could be endless, and I guess it's one of the reasons the sub-forum guidelines ask us to discuss knives, not the BUYING of knives :thumbsup:
 
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