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_900x900.jpg "British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard")
_200x200.jpg "British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard")
_900x900.jpg "British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard")
_200x200.jpg "British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard")
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LOT 1047
British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard
CIRCA 1942 A.D.
13 in. (254 grams, 33 cm overall).
By Rodgers, with finely shaped 15cm stiletto blade with traces of original black finish tapering to a steel oval guard and fitted with a brass 'beaded and ringed' shaped hilt secured by a copper pommel nut; the hilt bearing the War Department 'broad arrow' and '2' marks near to the guard; with the original leather scabbard fitted with brass rivets and chape, pierced for belt wear and with the side flaps for sewing cut away as commonly seen when belt worn; the dagger showing wear with minor chipping to the blade, and movement in the hilt. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceProperty of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.
LiteratureSee Thompson, L., Commando Dagger, Paladin, 1985, pp.56-57, for this type.
FootnotesIn the autumn of 1942, the Rodgers firm produced what many consider to be the best of all the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes knives: the 'Beads and Ridges' model (or 'Beaded and Ringed'); so-called for its distinctive grip pattern to the brass hilt of single rings of tiny beads, interspersed between sections of four to seven plain rings. The blade is delicate and uniform, and the weapon, though light, is well balanced. The blade finish was black (as this example) or nickel. All of this type are considered to be at least scarce. According to both Fredrick Stephens and Leroy Thompson the type was a commercial variant for private purchase; however, there are some rare cases of this type which were officially issued with the War Department broad arrow and number marks, as with this example.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1047
British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
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North-Western Persian Type Sword Blade
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With rounded shoulders and shallow square-sectioned mid-rib running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole. 220 grams, 37 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The Luristan people produced fine metalwork, which according to Dr. Khorasani, was made possible by a settled period which arose as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 B.C. According to Khorasani, 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150-1050 BC.' It became widespread throughout Mesopotamia, the Caucasus and the Near East. -
Ceremonial Polearm with Wooden Shaft
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
Iron-headed 'Lucerne hammer' on a short wooden shaft; the hammer-face with three sturdy spikes, square-section spearhead above and curved bec de corbin to the rear with two short lateral spikes, languets extending down the faces of the shaft. 2 kg, 1.8 m
Acquired UK art market, 1980s-1990s. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman collector. -
Luristan Bronze Dirk
10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
With triangular blade and flat mid-rib, flanged hilt for the insert of a wood or bone inlay, hilt with expanded guard and crescent-shaped pommel. 474 grams, 43.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
This type of dirk belongs to the type III of Medvedskaya classification and is very common among daggers and dirks attributed to Luristan. The same scholar suggests that the dating for the whole series of type III daggers is an inscription on a type III dirk with the name of Marduk Nadin Ahhe (1100-1083 B.C.).
