Artifact Details
The Fairbairn-Sykes knife was also known as the OSS Stiletto, which became standard issue in 1943.
Introduced in 1941, this knife is named after its two British designers, Captains W. E. Fairbairn and E. A. Sykes. While serving with the Shanghai Police, they gained experience in close-combat fighting. Fairbairn and Sykes designed the weapon for striking at vulnerable parts of an opponent’s body, especially the vital organs.
Because of its effectiveness, the knife quickly became a favorite of British commandos. Fairbairn was later loaned to the Office of Strategic Services as an instructor. While with OSS, he created a special version of the knife for them. Successor versions of the weapon were made well into the 1990s.
Artifact Specs
29.2 cm x 5 cm x 1.5 cm
(L x W x H)