Fairbairn-Sykes Style Dagger (3rd Pattern) with Damascus, Bronze, and Engraved Zirconium

Product Description for Fairbairn-Sykes Style Dagger (3rd Pattern) with Damascus, Bronze, and Engraved Zirconium

Maker: Willie van der Merwe (Ant Knives), J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Price: $1,300.00
Item num: 111234
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 7.00 in.
Cutting edge length: 7.00 in.
Total length: 11.70 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.95 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.20 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 11.00 oz.
Shipment weight: 23.2 oz.
Blade: Damascus forged from carbon steels by Pieter Goosen
Bolster: Heat colored zirconium engraved and inlaid with 24K gold
Handle: Bronze with a Cerakote finish
Description: South African Journeyman Smith Willie van der Merwe has had a passion for knives for all his life, but didn’t start making knives until just after his retirement in 2016. He attended courses with some of the best knifemakers in South Africa and was soon making truly exceptional knives. He is most inspired when making larger knives and daggers. This dagger really shows off his exceptional skills as a knifemaker.
The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged dagger with a foil grip. It was developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on ideas developed while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police in China before World War II. It was made famous during World War II when issued to British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, the SAS and many other units, especially for the Normandy landings in June 1944.
This Fairbairn-Sykes Style Dagger by South African knifemaker Willie van der Merwe is very true to the original design. It is a spectacular homage that can't help but be the centerpiece of virtually any collection.
The blade is damascus hand forged from carbon steels by fellow South African bladesmith Pieter Goosen. The heat blued twist pattern damascus nicely complements the dagger ground blade. It is perfectly ground. Van der Merwe's touchmark is set on one side. An ant is inlaid in 24K gold (van der Merwe calls his company Ant Knives).
The handle is fluted bronze with a bronze Cerakote finish. The guard is heat colored zirconium, hand engraved and inlaid with 24K gold on both sides. The pommel features a matching heat colored zirconium pommel screw -- also hand engraved and inlaid with 24K gold. This dagger uses take-down construction. The pommel can be twisted to disassemble the dagger. This allows the knife to be taken apart if maintenance is ever needed.
This Fairbairn-Sykes Style Dagger is accompanied by a black leather sheath -- also very true to the original design.
Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: In stock. Usually ships in 1-2 business days