{"product_id":"wwii-british-3rd-pattern-fairbairn-sykes-fighting-knife-matching-double-2-die-cast-grip-mold-marks","title":"WWII British 3rd Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife – Matching Double \"2\" Die-Cast Grip Mold Marks","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eAn authentic World War II British 3rd Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S) Commando Fighting Knife, complete with its original wartime leather scabbard. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThis particular knife features a rare and highly sought-after configuration that serves as definitive proof of its genuine wartime heritage: matching double \"2\" foundry mould stamps.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eDuring late 1943, to keep pace with intense wartime demand, the British Ministry of Supply outsourced the production of the 3rd Pattern zinc-alloy handles to four primary industrial die-casting foundries. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eTo monitor quality control, these foundries integrated single-digit identification numbers (1, 2, 3, or 4) directly into their two-piece casting molds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThis specific knife is an exceptional example because it features the number \"2\" stamped at both ends of the grip, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eon the smooth collar right above the crossguard and\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003e on the upper collar just below the pommel nut.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eFinding matching mould numbers on both the top and bottom collars is the ultimate validation for collectors. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eIt confirms that this cast-alloy handle came out of a period-correct, unaltered Foundry Mould #2 (historically attributed to wartime manufacturers like Perry Bar Metal Co. or Walsall Die Casting Ltd.). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003ePost-war commercial production and modern reproductions do not carry these distinct single-digit foundry marks, making this double-stamped variation a textbook example of a genuine 1943–1945 Ministry of Supply contract piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThe Blade: An authentic, hand-ground stiletto blade with a prominent central diamond ridge. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eIt features a deep, untouched dark patina with light, honest pitting and surface age wear appropriate for a field-carried combat weapon. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eIt has not been heavily over-sharpened or modified.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThe Grip: The concentric ringed alloy grip shows beautiful, authentic aging. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThe original chemically blackened finish has naturally worn away on the high points from handling, revealing the characteristic grey zinc-alloy underneath. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThe pommel nut is securely fixed, holding the crossguard and blade perfectly square.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThe Scabbard: Includes its original WWII-pattern leather sheath featuring the correct hand-sewn rear seam, belt loop slots, and its original brass chape (tip protector) secured by a single heavy reverse rivet. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eUnfortunately the top elastic retaining band has gone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 15pt; color: black;\"\u003eThis is an excellent, investment-grade piece of special forces history perfect for any serious WWII militaria, British Commando, or edged-weapons collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThe photographs are of the actual item and form part of the description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003ePlease examine the photographs carefully and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\" class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Haywards Antiques \u0026 Collectables","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57352391491849,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/5437\/0569\/files\/620FAB55-FEF7-4421-A3CD-225A66E61801_1_201_a-Photoroom.png?v=1790181260","url":"https:\/\/haywardsantiques.co.uk\/products\/wwii-british-3rd-pattern-fairbairn-sykes-fighting-knife-matching-double-2-die-cast-grip-mold-marks","provider":"Haywards Antiques \u0026 Collectables","version":"1.0","type":"link"}