faribairn-sykes dagger - who makes the best one?

chuck buck

chuck buck

Joined
Nov 4, 2007
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the fairbairn-sykes dagger is THE fighting knife. i love how the knife handles but most produciton models leave something to be desired. ive handled the boker version which was awesome but 440c steal is not at the top of my list (not the bottom either but..). ive seen some gerbers but im not too fond of that companies QC. i like the EK version but that is a bit pricey (440 steal as well)! so did i leave any companies out? whats the best f-s dagger in your opinion? -CB
 
Are you looking for a military/military-type dagger or the F-S dagger?

The easiest F-S to find is by Nowill, and that is the type I have, and Wilkerson also makes (or used to make) several versions.

There are also expensive versions like those found here:

http://www.nzknives.co.nz/pattern1.htm

http://www.esa-swords.com/FairbairnSykesP1.htm

IMO either the Boker Applegate-Fairbairn or the Gerber Guardian II (I don't have a MKII yet) are better than the F-S, especially since they can cut well compared to the F-S, which is mainly for stabbing. The strength of the F-S is that it is very thin which makes it easy to conceal for a knife of that length. I got mine mainly out of historical interest. They do seem to be getting harder to find these days.
 
Benjamin Liu said:
The easiest F-S to find is by Nowill, and that is the type I have, and Wilkerson also makes (or used to make) several versions.

<SNIP>

I got mine mainly out of historical interest. They do seem to be getting harder to find these days.
Click to expand...


I also have the desire to buy a F-S out of historical interest (just read a book on them). Is the Nowill OK for the money (around $65-$75)?

Thanks,
desmobob
 
It isn't something I'd carry EDC, but it is a real dagger. I've not sharpened mine, it comes with an edge but not a sharp one. I'm pretty sure it is mainly for stabbing, which it would have no problem doing. Fairbarin shows cutting techniques in "Kill or Get Killed" so maybe they are intended to be sharpened by the user.

Overall I'd say that there are no real flaws and it should be OK for the money. I paid much less for mine ($40.00,) but that was a few years ago on a sale.

If I wanted a dagger for defense and had none, I'd get a Boker A-F or wait until the Gerber MK II is released, but for getting a historical collectible, even if it is current manufacture, the F-S by Nowill should be a good choice.
 
Benjamin Liu said:
IMO either the Boker Applegate-Fairbairn or the Gerber Guardian II (I don't have a MKII yet) are better than the F-S, especially since they can cut well compared to the F-S, which is mainly for stabbing. The strength of the F-S is that it is very thin which makes it easy to conceal for a knife of that length. I got mine mainly out of historical interest. They do seem to be getting harder to find these days.
Click to expand...

Because he mentioned Boker and Gerber, I wonder if the OP meant the Applegate-Fairbairn (AF) instead of the Fairbairn Sykes (FS) that he posted. :confused:

Boker still makes the AF, and Gerber used to make it. I don't believe Gerber has made it since long before they were sold and the infamous quality control issues began. Did Boker and Gerber make an actual FS?
 
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Current regular production English made F-S daggers are notoriously lacking in quality.
There's hardly any difference in Adams, Nowill or William Rodgers.
Wilkinson Sword was the original premier brand.
Unfortunately, it's all gone now (except maybe for Reg Cooper).
And with WKC of Gemany having bought over Wilkinson; it has now the capacity of producing the F-S.
-http://www.wkc-solingen.de/newshop/ukfs.html
Most current production commando daggers are 3rd pattern concentric ring handles.
Try looking out for the 2nd pattern types or dare I wish a 1st pattern!
A genuine war time F-S would be a definate long term goal.
 
I make an earky pattern Fairbairn fighting knife, the 1933 Shanghai model.

It is based on one of 12 known existing surviving examples.

On my web site.

George
 
What's wrong with 440C in a dagger? Some steels that are perceived as higher quality would be too brittle for that purpose.
 
zenheretic said:
Boker still makes the AF, and Gerber used to make it. I don't believe Gerber has made it since long before they were sold and the infamous quality control issues began. Did Boker and Gerber make an actual FS?
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of any F-S versions made by them, but they could be models I missed, or made before i got into knives. Did Gerber make a fixed A-F? I know they make folders. Al Mar made the A-F and the A-F Smatchet in the 1980s.

I have read things by people who consider the Gerber MK II to be a version of the F-S, something I disagree with. Sure, they are both daggers, but they don't really resemble each other.
 
To the best of my knowledge, neither Boker or Gerber made the F-S dagger. They did make the A-F dagger, as well as Al Mar and (the old) Blackjack;one of which I have. The Blackjacks were notorius for their handles cracking, and mine is no exception.
 
Stainless Steel Japanese made F-S (both black and bright finish) were once within the standard production line-up of the old Al Mar Knives.
Can't be too sure if it was AUS-6.
BTW, the A-F dagger were once available from Al Mar, Blackjack Knives and then for now, Boker.
-http://blackjack.0catch.com/pages/af.htm
 
GIRLYmann said:
....
Unfortunately, it's all gone now (except maybe for Reg Cooper).
....
Most current production commando daggers are 3rd pattern concentric ring handles.
Try looking out for the 2nd pattern types or dare I wish a 1st pattern!
A genuine war time F-S would be a definate long term goal.
Click to expand...

Series 2 and Series 3
These are made by Reg Cooper to order

Scroll to the bottom of the page
http://www.sheffield-pocketknives.com/en-us/dept_25.html
 
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