Many years ago, my father presented me with a knife of the type he used in WWII. He was alway very vague about what he did during the war, but after his death I came to find out the knife was a Fairbairn-Sykes design. This in itself shed a bit more light on they type of "work" his unit did and the CQC skills my father possessed. Thank you for sharing this beautiful blade and your careful workmanship with us all.
Michigan Hiker was he a Marine Raider, or Paramarine? They carried a very similar blade and they are very rare because they weren't really durable. My grandfather passed one down to me too. Odds are if he carried that blade he was a serious bad ass.
The difference between pure art and the mechanists skill have been turned into a Damascus work of art that spans more then the 76 year since WW2, you have spanned more the. 2000 years of history. Thank you
W. E. Fairbairn himself would be proud to ventilate the subclavian artery of an enemy combatant with that knife. The combatant would likely spend his final 2 seconds of consciousness admiring the craftsmanship. Absolutely beautiful work!
I did a FS Sykes style dagger last year, and found that grinding the edges was without a doubt THE toughest challenge I've ever had. It was before I'd got a 2x72 grinder, so I was just using a cheap bench grinder with a wheel, a file, and sandpaper. I took of most of the steel with the grinder, then finished the shaping by hand with a file. Finally doing the polishing by hand with sandpaper. 50+ hours work involved with that one, I swore that I'd NEVER make another, however an incredibly close friend has requested a Damascus FS Style knife now, so there goes my plans for being lazy!!
This truly shows your level of blacksmith mastering you have achieved! So insanely amazing! Beautifully done sir! You are an inspiration! Just getting into blacksmithing, bought my anvil a month ago :)
I am sitting here with my 1943 version of the original on my end table as I eat breakfast and watch the video (cheaper, end-of-war version but it is a wartime version according to the little features. I couldn't afford a first or second pattern, but didn't want one from after the war). Your appreciation of history is, well, appreciated. Thanks. It is relaxing and valuable to me to be able to see how you go about making various things. I learn a lot. I am still beating the hell out of a zx45 mill, but haven't gotten the DRO yet. I will make that leap soon, though. Good work, good taste.
Not a type of dagger I personally find appealing, but that is a FINE piece of work! So many Damascus pattern blades look like the makers are in some sort of pissing contest to see who can have the most contrast in their layers. The lines get wide and the patterns zebra-like. The beauty of your knife IMO is its subtle grace. There's something profound and confident about it. Bravo and well done!
My great grandfather carried one of these. British paratrooper who dropped into normandy a week ahead of the invasion to gather intel. Dropped in again on D-day. I'll forge one in his honor soon. LT RDJ Weathersbee. I wish I could have met him...
Fantastic craftsmanship and a superb knife, the Fairbairn Sykes history is fascinating. These guys were old school hard! Terrific wish I could buy that off you.
Fairbairn Sykes are still available in the UK - for good quality ones pay about £250-£300 .Cheaper versions are available with carbon-steel blades for about £50 .
"...and I very carefully forget to turn on the camera while I'm milling the slot." That's why I like your videos so much Walter. Not only do you get some really great info -- which has actually inspired me to try my hand a knife making -- but you also get some really good entertainment value too! Also, twist pattern is my favorite type of Damascus.
This is absolutely amazing. Every step of this is educational to me--probably one of the more complex processes that's been described on video. It seems like the principle of each step can be applied to other knife designs and that this is the sum of all of them. The thread on pommel is absolutely ingenious.
Absolutely beautiful knife, I love the simple design and choice of handle material -- the ebony really complements the brass. The twist-style damascus was also a great choice.
Thank you for sharing this video. Very nice knife, my only minor complaint is that I wish the final hilt had retained the gripping grooves you started off putting into the blank. Still a work of art!
A dagger with a brass and gorgeous wooden handle..... Incredible. I am a fan of the old Arkansas toothpick (not the Bowie), but this is an artful creation. Thanks for sharing this with us (and me!)
I just watched Alec Steel's UA-cam video doing much the same a few days ago. Great video, but the whole time I was thinking to myself, "I wonder how Walter Sorrells would make this build."
Thans again W.S. This is anothwer good one. I find that I can learn from your videos even when I am not inspired to do the project myself. There is much to learn from the steps that you take.
I made one of those style of daggers. Mine isn't as good as your but it turned out ok. I gave it to my Marine Corps friend and he loved it. I wish I could post a picture of the knife.
Good work and a lovely knife.but as a serving commando i would have loved to see the handle grooved like the original i think it would have really set it off. Great work never the less, very impressive
How much would a thing like this cost? I know a Royal Marine Commando who deserves a knife like this. My neighbour's son at 18 years old rode into a firefight in Helmand province on the outside of an Apache helicopter to try to rescue an injured mate. Firing on the Taliban with his rifle as the Apache let loose with everything it carried. On landing in the compound the marines got off and went out and recovered their fallen comrade before mounting the Apaches and getting outta Dodge. You should get a medal for that kind of action but the Royal Marine never did whilst the pilots got them. To my mind the RM took the bigger risks, unprotected by a cockpit. As the symbol of the Royal Marines a specially made dagger would be a great gift in recognition of his valour.
Beautiful knife ! For me, the single most important aspect of a good commando knife (besides proper geometry & balance) is that the steel must have a sufficiently high TOUGHNESS rating that the point doesnt snap off if you throw it at a less than perfect angle. Every commando knife ive ever owned, if it fails at all, always fails by having the tip snap off. Steer clear of commando knives that are too hard/brittle, or have too much distal taper, if you value the tip.
Nice work :D btw when dealing with brass i would reccomend using a insert with a flat top side or just use a HSS blank and just polish the top side of the blank make some clearence on the other sides
One thing you havent shown us is how to put steel on some rebar or i just missed the video. Also i caught a greyhound out of marietta a few years ago and it was only after i left i heard where your at. I wish i could have stopped by to say thanks for showing us how to do this
nice build, the original had some problems put there for ease of manufacturing. and to save materials, I think your version is much better (even if you had made it of 01 and rubber. )
Beautiful work Walter. I literally exclaimed out loud when you stopped the lathe to show the oiled handle. I have to wonder why you didn't cut the hole in the handle to match the flats of the tang though? It seems to me that it would have given a bit more strength against rotation. As always, a great informative video.
Many years ago, my father presented me with a knife of the type he used in WWII. He was alway very vague about what he did during the war, but after his death I came to find out the knife was a Fairbairn-Sykes design. This in itself shed a bit more light on they type of "work" his unit did and the CQC skills my father possessed. Thank you for sharing this beautiful blade and your careful workmanship with us all.
Michigan Hiker was he a Marine Raider, or Paramarine? They carried a very similar blade and they are very rare because they weren't really durable. My grandfather passed one down to me too. Odds are if he carried that blade he was a serious bad ass.
The difference between pure art and the mechanists skill have been turned into a Damascus work of art that spans more then the 76 year since WW2, you have spanned more the. 2000 years of history.
Thank you
That is one beautiful piece of work. That is high praise coming from a former Royal Marine. I thank you Sir.
W. E. Fairbairn himself would be proud to ventilate the subclavian artery of an enemy combatant with that knife. The combatant would likely spend his final 2 seconds of consciousness admiring the craftsmanship. Absolutely beautiful work!
Walter, I love all of your work, but being British, this may be my favourite project of yours. It's beautiful - an engineering masterpiece.
I agree. Of all the knives I've seen on this channel, this one has to have come together the best. I love every part of it.
I did a FS Sykes style dagger last year, and found that grinding the edges was without a doubt THE toughest challenge I've ever had. It was before I'd got a 2x72 grinder, so I was just using a cheap bench grinder with a wheel, a file, and sandpaper. I took of most of the steel with the grinder, then finished the shaping by hand with a file. Finally doing the polishing by hand with sandpaper. 50+ hours work involved with that one, I swore that I'd NEVER make another, however an incredibly close friend has requested a Damascus FS Style knife now, so there goes my plans for being lazy!!
Dayum thats a disturbingly beautiful piece
She's a beauty.
This truly shows your level of blacksmith mastering you have achieved! So insanely amazing! Beautifully done sir! You are an inspiration! Just getting into blacksmithing, bought my anvil a month ago :)
Walter you've outdone yourself. Stunning blade.
I am sitting here with my 1943 version of the original on my end table as I eat breakfast and watch the video (cheaper, end-of-war version but it is a wartime version according to the little features. I couldn't afford a first or second pattern, but didn't want one from after the war). Your appreciation of history is, well, appreciated. Thanks. It is relaxing and valuable to me to be able to see how you go about making various things. I learn a lot. I am still beating the hell out of a zx45 mill, but haven't gotten the DRO yet. I will make that leap soon, though. Good work, good taste.
Not a type of dagger I personally find appealing, but that is a FINE piece of work! So many Damascus pattern blades look like the makers are in some sort of pissing contest to see who can have the most contrast in their layers. The lines get wide and the patterns zebra-like. The beauty of your knife IMO is its subtle grace. There's something profound and confident about it. Bravo and well done!
You are a true craftsman and artist,honor having you demonstrate your work -again thanks
My great grandfather carried one of these. British paratrooper who dropped into normandy a week ahead of the invasion to gather intel. Dropped in again on D-day. I'll forge one in his honor soon. LT RDJ Weathersbee. I wish I could have met him...
Fantastic craftsmanship and a superb knife, the Fairbairn Sykes history is fascinating. These guys were old school hard! Terrific wish I could buy that off you.
Fairbairn Sykes are still available in the UK - for good quality ones pay about £250-£300 .Cheaper versions are available with carbon-steel blades for about £50 .
"...and I very carefully forget to turn on the camera while I'm milling the slot." That's why I like your videos so much Walter. Not only do you get some really great info -- which has actually inspired me to try my hand a knife making -- but you also get some really good entertainment value too! Also, twist pattern is my favorite type of Damascus.
The ebony handle really sets off the pattern. Very beautiful.
That is a Bee You Tee Full knife - a ton of work but really great results - congrats!!
That's my dream bedside dagger. Great video Sir!
Kegan Wallace why do you need a bedside dagger?
Kegan Wallace just in case you get a call for some commando work in the middle of the night.
Because I dream of knives and guns while I sleep. I have my bedside gun. I need this knife to complete the set. Duh
Glenn van den Berg Yea man in case there are any sentries that need taking out.
These are your best videos. Love watching them... Amazing knife! Thanks Walter
That's honestly one of the most beautiful knives I've ever seen...
Very fancy with the bolster going into the handle like that.
This is absolutely amazing. Every step of this is educational to me--probably one of the more complex processes that's been described on video. It seems like the principle of each step can be applied to other knife designs and that this is the sum of all of them. The thread on pommel is absolutely ingenious.
Beautiful,beautiful dagger.
Now THAT is a work of art!
Couldn't agree more
Beautiful... I love dagger type knifes.
I've just come across your channel Walter and this isn't a knife it's a work of art.
Very nice!this looks like the type of project that REALLY separates the boys from the men!!!
Absolutely beautiful knife, I love the simple design and choice of handle material -- the ebony really complements the brass. The twist-style damascus was also a great choice.
A super classic design with a twist ;)
that is an amazing and really beautiful dagger
Knocked it right out of the park. Thank you so much for getting back to basics. As in application of heat to steel.
Thank you for sharing this video. Very nice knife, my only minor complaint is that I wish the final hilt had retained the gripping grooves you started off putting into the blank. Still a work of art!
i'm a sucker for Damascus steel. I look so nice and just adds something special to a knife.
Nice work as always Walter!!
A dagger with a brass and gorgeous wooden handle..... Incredible. I am a fan of the old Arkansas toothpick (not the Bowie), but this is an artful creation. Thanks for sharing this with us (and me!)
Do what you love and love what you do.
true craftsmanship, great knife
That turned out beautifully. You truly are a master craftsman sir.
Great video mate. Love that tight patterned twist damascus
I just watched Alec Steel's UA-cam video doing much the same a few days ago. Great video, but the whole time I was thinking to myself, "I wonder how Walter Sorrells would make this build."
Superb. Love the original. Yours is a fitting tribute.
Awesome looking blade Walter!
That's one gorgeous blade.
Walter, that is a beautiful blade! A fitting tribute.
What a beautiful knife ! How i wish i owned one.
This specific knife is the reason I wanted to get into knife making. One day I shall make you.
Thans again W.S. This is anothwer good one. I find that I can learn from your videos even when I am not inspired to do the project myself. There is much to learn from the steps that you take.
Beautiful work.
Gorgeous blade. .thank you
I made one of those style of daggers. Mine isn't as good as your but it turned out ok. I gave it to my Marine Corps friend and he loved it. I wish I could post a picture of the knife.
Piece of art right there. Your friends sure are lucky!
That ebony handle is a beauty
This dagger has always been one of my very favorites! To see this video was a real treat!! Thank you!
I like the more complex projects like that, sometimes we just want to see a competent professional doing what he does best.
SatanSupimpa agree
Amazing work
Beautiful knife Walter. You should be proud of that one, for sure.
That's beautiful!
Gorgeous work!
BEAUTIFUL BUUILD!
Walter, that has to be the nicest dagger I've ever seen. Once I've gotten the equipment, I will attempt to make one.
Very beautiful work sir
i can watch these types of videos ALL D-A-Y LOOONG!
Simply awesome.
Excellent piece!
Walter, love your video’s. More than that however, your dry wit makes them that much better.
Beautiful knife...
you are truly gifted and I am truly jealous! well done beautifully crafted and a joy to watch !
Good work and a lovely knife.but as a serving commando i would have loved to see the handle grooved like the original i think it would have really set it off. Great work never the less, very impressive
What a beautiful peace you have make there, the extra time put into it well worth it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Beautiful.
Very nicely done!
Awesomely handsome possession! Love watching the machining operations.
a pleasure as usual.
Nicely done !
Awesome job as always
Another one from the best!!!!
Love this knife...great video!!
your workshop is like a sweet shop for tool junkies.
beautiful work as usual. :-)
How much would a thing like this cost? I know a Royal Marine Commando who deserves a knife like this. My neighbour's son at 18 years old rode into a firefight in Helmand province on the outside of an Apache helicopter to try to rescue an injured mate. Firing on the Taliban with his rifle as the Apache let loose with everything it carried. On landing in the compound the marines got off and went out and recovered their fallen comrade before mounting the Apaches and getting outta Dodge. You should get a medal for that kind of action but the Royal Marine never did whilst the pilots got them. To my mind the RM took the bigger risks, unprotected by a cockpit. As the symbol of the Royal Marines a specially made dagger would be a great gift in recognition of his valour.
woody1380 I agree! I’m willing to be other coalition veterans would be willing to donate a little to such a cause, too
Beautiful
HEY WALTER GOD JOB ON FORGED IN FIRE, MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE ✌️✌️✌️
Outstanding!
Beautiful knife !
For me, the single most important aspect of a good commando knife (besides proper geometry & balance) is that the steel must have a sufficiently high TOUGHNESS rating that the point doesnt snap off if you throw it at a less than perfect angle. Every commando knife ive ever owned, if it fails at all, always fails by having the tip snap off. Steer clear of commando knives that are too hard/brittle, or have too much distal taper, if you value the tip.
Nice tribute.
Just saw that thumbnail and felt the need to comment
*Beautiful (!!) work as always!!!*
Amazing you sir have some serious skills🤠👍
Dude you sanded that brass guard like Neo from the Matrix!!
Nice work :D btw when dealing with brass i would reccomend using a insert with a flat top side or just use a HSS blank and just polish the top side of the blank make some clearence on the other sides
Videos like this is why I'm a patreon supporter. Keep it up!
One thing you havent shown us is how to put steel on some rebar or i just missed the video. Also i caught a greyhound out of marietta a few years ago and it was only after i left i heard where your at. I wish i could have stopped by to say thanks for showing us how to do this
Amazing as always walter
Gday Walter. Cheers for the video and excellent work.
nice build, the original had some problems put there for ease of manufacturing. and to save materials, I think your version is much better (even if you had made it of 01 and rubber. )
Beautiful work Walter. I literally exclaimed out loud when you stopped the lathe to show the oiled handle. I have to wonder why you didn't cut the hole in the handle to match the flats of the tang though? It seems to me that it would have given a bit more strength against rotation. As always, a great informative video.
Never gets old watching somebody take such pride in their work. Check out Clickspring if you want to see some amazing machine work in brass.
Awesome video, been waiting to see a classic dagger build.
B.E.A-utiful Two thumbs up, Walter!
How in God's name can someone give this a thumbs down??? So cool!! Edit to add that it's positively gorgeous.
Amazing.