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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 Bronze Short Sword
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,885
Of fine quality, showing an open cast crescentic pommel with raised midrib and two parallel shallow lines across the top; pommel open on both sides to reveal the tip of the blade, tang rising from the grip; the solid cylindrical grip decorated with fourteen circumferential ribs, angular guard and triangular blade with strong midrib. 1.05 kg, 58 cm
Ex P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s.
The dirk has its hilt cast onto the blade. Moorey published a very similar piece with fourteen encircling ribs on the grip and attributed similar pieces to the North-West, also based upon examples of similar dirks from the Iranian and Russian Talesh region. He dated these pieces to the late 2nd millennium B.C. Similar examples were excavated at Marlik. Stutzinger attributed these types with a wider dating (13th-9th century A.D.) -
Elamite Bronze Crescentic Axehead
Mid 3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £90
With slender tubular socket, horizontal upper cheek and curved lower one, scooped profile to blade with convex cutting edge. 333 grams, 12.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Iron Age Celtic La Tene Dagger
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Featuring a gently curved single-edged iron blade and one-sided fuller, curved handle with knot pommel; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 525 grams total, 35 cm high including stand
Dutch art market. Private collection of K.S., Cologne, Germany, acquired 1996.
One of the military insignia of a Celtic warrior was the war-knife, usually between 33 and 35 cm long. For example, in the collection of Celtic military equipment from Galish-Lovachka, the archaeologists have found a short sword with an X-shaped handle (l = 41 cm), two middle La Tène swords (72.5 and 75 cm long), 12 large curved knives, 27 spearheads, two javelin heads, 14 arrowheads, and nine iron chain belts for hanging a sword. The war-knife was also used for hunting, as a spare weapon, or to cut the throat of an enemy in a surprise attack.
