WW2 BRITISH FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2ND PATTERN FIGHTING KNIFE WITH PROVENANCE TO GLIDER REGT
An iconic WW2 British Fairbairn Sykes 2nd Pattern Fighting Knife, features chequered brass grip, there is a worn makers stamp on both sides of the Ricasso which is hardly visible and this attributes the dagger to Wilkinson Swords. The fighting knife comes complete with a brown leather scabbard with four tabs intended to stitch to the uniform. The blade has some minor pitting and scratches and the brass grip has a few small marks showing use in the field, otherwise in very good condition.
With the fighting knife came a cardboard tag which shows that the original owner was John Settle Captain The Royal Sussex Regt att to the 6th Air Landing Brigade 6th Air Corps Division Gliders. D-Day and the Rhine.
The 6th Air Landing Brigade formed in May 1943 and formed the glider-borne element of the newly formed 6th Airborne Division.
The Brigade landed as the second airborne lift in Normandy on 6 June 1944 and was constantly in action until the break-out to the Seine in August. It fought in the Ardennes during the winter of 1944-5 and landed under fire during the Rhine Crossing operation in March 1945 and participated in the subsequent advance to the Baltic ending in May 1945.
Great history on an iconic sought after fighting knife.