Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife - Third Pattern

[220_Swift]

I picked up a knife a while back at a sale. The gal said her father "brought it back from England after the war". The price was $10, and I figured I didn't have much to lose. The only marking is on the crossgaurd, and it says "Sheffield England". I did a little digging and it could be a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife - Third Pattern. I know absolutely nothing about it, and really didn't find out much info at all. I'll do some more digging tom. and take a few pics to post. Can anyone give me any more info? Is it worth any more than the $10 I gave for it, if in fact it is what I think it is? Thanks for any input.

 

[Mikhail Konovalov]

If it is a Fairbairn-Sykes, and they were/are made in Sheffield, then you happened across a nigh-legendary blade.

I've never seen a real one for less than 50 greenbacks. You got yourself a heck of a deal.

 

[hso]

If it is a true FS then it's worth a lot more than you paid (like an order of magnitude).

The problem is finding out if it's a real FS because there were so many counterfeits. Here's a great site for FS collectors.

Is there a number on the hilt near the nut?
Does the word "ENGLAND" appear on it?
Do you see a British "broad arrow" military acceptance marking anywhere?

 

[220_Swift]

It says Sheffield England, and that is it. No numbers on the top, no "broad arrow" that I can see either. Their is some symbol on the handle, but it is very hard to see. Here are the pics. I am guessing it is a copy without the marks mentioned?

 

[hso]

Sorry, but it sounds like a copy and not a military FS.

 

[Joe Demko]

I think it is a copy, too. British military issue stuff has acceptance marks on it, in my experience. Also, the sheath doesn't look like any of the issue sheaths I've seen.

 

[220_Swift]

Thanks for your input fellas. It is greatly appreciated. As for the knife, no harm no foul. I wasn't expecting it to be worth much when I bought it. Thanks again.

 

[hso]

Hey, at $10 it's a treasure anyway.

You know it came from England instead of Pakistan or China.
You know that it was carried back to the States.
You're waaaaaaay ahead of most guys with an FS-style dagger.

 

[220_Swift]

Yep, you are 100% correct. I saw some of the repros selling for $20, and they are brand new. This one has 60 years of character.