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Republic_Commando wrote:Thanks for all the great replies, but I was specifically asking about the Next Generation Ka Bar's and how do they stack up

We're not mind readers, so you had best say what you want up front...

Ive got a Fairbairn - Sykes 3rd pattern fighting knife made by J Adams of Sheffield, one of the MOD contractors
This isnt my knife btw, im getting the blade professionally reground, but its the same model.

Its early 60s, RMC issue.

Notice the blade, 7" double edge with a very sharp needle point. thats for precise puncture of the ribcage, arteries and vital organs.

The knife dissasembles into 3 main components. The hex nut on the pommel disassembles it. The blade, which goes conpletely through the handle via a small square slot running though the handle, the handle itself, which is 8oz of solid brass makes a last ditch emergency cosh if the blade breaks. Finally the cross guard.

Its a killing machine. A pure fighting knife.

I remind finding one of those near Valkenswaard when I was young.. (I did a lot of metaldetecting) thinking I found a knife from the bronze age..

I don't agree with the "fighting" knife though. The grip is not quite "easy" to handle.. It's more of a sneaky knife.. small, sharp and easy for stabbing. It's more a knife to creep up from behind and taking out someone silently, but that's also where it was used and designed for. (and it did a good job aswell)

Its a fighting knife Ted. Sure its designed for sentry removal but it was designed for face to face unpleasantness too.

The post war 3rd models like mine had a slighly longer blade, and could penetrate the thickest soviet winter clothing and still give a 2 - 3" deep stab. Someone knowing the locations of a vital spot (of which there are dozens on the human body) Game over in a couple of seconds.. They were very appreciated for this in the Korean war with Korean/Chinese padded winter gear being almost impervious to other knives. The .30 carbine round even had trouble penetrating the Chinese quilted kit.

The 3rd model handle deep "ringing" was criticised at the time for being not as good as the 2nd model for grip in the wet, but its not fatal. Its very handle heavy, deliberately.

Check out Col Fairbairns 1942 book Get Tough. Excellent section on its usage. Its on line somewhere.

Its 11.8 inches long with a 7.5 in blade. Its not such a "small" knife I would say. It weighs about the same as the Ka-bar but is the better fighting knife IMHO. Probably amongst the best ever fighting knife designs. I like the Gerber mk2 as well. it is loosely modelled on the FS.

VERY Interesting that you found one, were British Royal Marine units recorded in the area? A great find.

The ka-bars and other knives mentioned here are all good and useful in most situations, but by far the "weirdest knife award" imho has to go to the Soviet-era Spetsnaz blade launcher. Not sure how good it would be in a close quarters fight but for originality it wins hands down if u ask me. (Still gimme a sykes or k-bar any day).

No marines were recorded in the area, just some commandos. It's the part where the land forces started operation Market Garden.

I don't think it's from marines or commandos though. In the few years directly after the war it was a training ground. Beside that, the Fairbarn was also one of the most self purchased knifes in british history. It was fairly common under other forces aswell, as an private item. On loads of british "liberation" pictures, there are even tank crews wearing fairbarns..

Interesting that you mentioned "self purchased" Cracker. Here in the states, army-navy stores have occasionally tried to inflate the prices of items by proclaiming them as "official issue" meaning that is what the supply room guys hand you when you get to the window. My two personal favorites were the "special forces issue fighting knife" and the "army issue Ghillie suit (in our sniper schools the students are required to actually make their own ghillie suit, there is no "issued" one). The American military is intersting in that special forces and other special ops folks are permitted to purchase "whatever works" for them, it is even rumored that they are compensated for the cost. They don't have to carry a 9mm Beretta handgun and hope that they don't run out of ammo before the bad guy falls down, the .45 is a much better weapon, as are the knives that are available for purchase as opposed to the "issued" bayonet (which the Geneva Convention prohibits sharpening! )

My neighbor, (now deceased) was issued a Fairbarn while a 'China Marine' in the late 30's - early 40's. He had to turn it in when arriving back in the world...
Some REMF needed a souvenir, I would guess!
http://www.chinamarines.com/ver3/shan.htm

Thanks for the link DB. I had heard of the 27th, but didnt know its full history.

@ RT you got any more info on this blade launcher