View Full Version : Last production F/S dagger
Gents,
I had Wilkinson Sword produce a dagger for me in 2002/3 that is a true pattern two knife with a sharp edge. Unlike the junk they sold the last years of production this knife has sharp grind lines and a "pointy" point. The handle is bright nickel as is the guard and the blade is satin finished. The sheath s brown leather with a nickel finished square-ended tip and a snap retaining strap.
I have a guy bugging me for it, anyone have an idea what it might be worth?
ThXXX
MVP
greenberetTFS
08-30-2010, 14:20
Gents,
I had Wilkinson Sword produce a dagger for me in 2002/3 that is a true pattern two knife with a sharp edge. Unlike the junk they sold the last years of production this knife has sharp grind lines and a "pointy" point. The handle is bright nickel as is the guard and the blade is satin finished. The sheath s brown leather with a nickel finished square-ended tip and a snap retaining strap.
I have a guy bugging me for it, anyone have an idea what it might be worth?
ThXXX
MVP
MVP,
Can you show a picture of it? ;)
Big Teddy :munchin
Gents, anyone have an idea what it might be worth?
ThXXX MVP
I think you need a professional appraisal..
My default appraiser is eBay and Gunbroker,, and the last original to sell went for 1499.99 USD, one(1) bid. After that they are selling in the 200-300 USD range,, Big Difference.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ORIG-WW2-1ST-PATTERN-FAIRBAIRN-SYKES-COMMANDO-DAGGER-/170524831645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b4126f9d
You might also ask over at BladesForums.com
http://www.bladeforums.com/
Witch version do you have??
A) Fairbairn - Sykes
B) V-42
C)Other??
ref: http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/stiletto.html
The Reaper
08-30-2010, 18:00
I think you need a professional appraisal..
My default appraiser is eBay and Gunbroker,, and the last original to sell went for 1499.99 USD, one(1) bid. After that they are selling in the 200-300 USD range,, Big Difference.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ORIG-WW2-1ST-PATTERN-FAIRBAIRN-SYKES-COMMANDO-DAGGER-/170524831645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b4126f9d
You might also ask over at BladesForums.com
http://www.bladeforums.com/
Witch version do you have??
A) Fairbairn - Sykes
B) V-42
C)Other??
ref: http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/stiletto.html
Not sure that a knife from 2002/3 needs a professional appraisal.
Those prices are for originals, IIRC, or the Strider version.
TR
Green Light
08-30-2010, 18:00
20 bucks and I'll take those useless things off your hands! :D
Very beautiful!
Bill Harsey
08-30-2010, 19:15
Not sure that a knife from 2002/3 needs a professional appraisal.
Those prices are for originals, IIRC, or the Strider version.
TR
TR,
Good point. The high prices come from the "originals" which if memory serves are mostly from the WW2 era.
Not sure that a knife from 2002/3 needs a professional appraisal.
Those prices are for originals, IIRC, or the Strider version.
TR
TR
I used the prices off ebay to show how varied UNIQUE items can get. The suggestion of the appraiser was for the same reason. Documented "last issue" and one off items can be outrageously priced to a panting collector.
Fanatical collators are a class all to themselves.
As an example,, has anyone ever look at the ampersand that is roll-marked on a Smith and Wesson barrel, or on the side plate. Over time there have been almost a dozen different formats. The S&W collectors spend hours talking about the different versions.
Here is a short thread on the N frame series,, there are many others.. 89 threads discussing the & on the S&W forums.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/doc44/62-ampersands-used-n-frame-revolvers-part-i.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/doc44/63-ampersands-used-n-frame-revolvers-part-ii.html
I am not a collector, but spend a lot of time reading. Knives,, as long as I can keep an edge on them,, I'm happy.
cszakolczai
08-30-2010, 23:02
TR,
Good point. The high prices come from the "originals" which if memory serves are mostly from the WW2 era.
You're correct sir. The high prices are paid by collectors who are interested in them due to the daggers association with the FSSF during WW2. The dagger is incredibly rare in its original form, and therefore it fetches 1500+ dollars for an original. Anything FSSF has an incredible price tag on it, and the daggers are surely not an exception.
The current production knives are definitely much cheaper, but they do run in the few hundred dollar range if I remember correctly. I really only remember seeing one of the original daggers at a show, and it was priced around 1700 bucks.
edited to add:
on the topic of collectors...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230511039018&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT anything 101st from WW2 fetches tons of money now.
TOMAHAWK9521
08-31-2010, 01:02
Something along the same lines, I had two situations with what I considered "historic" Randall knives when I worked at a local knife store. The first one was a college kid looking to price his dad's Vietnam-era #1. Seems he had wanted a Katana instead of his dad's knife and was hoping to hawk the Randall for the money to buy the sword. Completely stunned, I asked him to bring it in. This knife was still in its original leather sheath and had definitely seen a lot of service. As I gave the kid as much of a history lesson on the Randall as I could off the top of my head, I took the knife and gave it a dose of TLC-polished the blade to mirror finish, cross-guard to bright yellow brass, and just a touch on the blade's edge. When I handed it back to him, he about shit himself and reconsidered his plan. I can only pray he actually kept the knife.
The other situation was an old, weathered gent who, if I recall correctly claimed to be part of CCN, showed me a matching set of six #1 Randalls. He claimed to be the last surviving member of his old team and thus the caretaker of the knives. He inquired as to the market price of such a collection or if I knew of anyone who might be interested in buying the set. He was in bad health and wanted to make sure the set was kept intact before he died. It was my turn to shit myself as I never knew Randall made any matching knife sets. I couldn't even fathom a price but I recommended the Smithsonian or JFK Museums. This was 12 or 13 years ago so I don't know if he ever found a proper buyer or place to donate them to.
James Clifton
08-31-2010, 04:09
Sir,
Those are 2 diff.knives you are showing! The top one is a F/S Commando knife,the bottom one is a V42(Devil's Brig.)fighting knife! The prices between the two are night & day.Look carefully at the V42, see if it's marked China...China has made copies they go for $30 bucks.Any more info I may give ,just ask!If you have the real deal...with the original Case sheath...we are talking some serious $$$.
Jim
Ok,
Two quick photos from last night, had some trouble with light therefore two different backgrounds. If anyone has seen the knives W-S was putting out in 2002/3 you will not this is a finished knife unlike the $300 letter openers they were selling then.
MVP
cszakolczai
08-31-2010, 10:22
Ok,
Two quick photos from last night, had some trouble with light therefore two different backgrounds. If anyone has seen the knives W-S was putting out in 2002/3 you will not this is a finished knife unlike the $300 letter openers they were selling then.
MVP
almost looks like the 5th group presentation stiletto. I know it isnt, but maybe it was meant to be based off of that stiletto. The price of the presentation stiletto's is around the 800 dollar range. I tried looking online for your knife but couldnt find a thing.
I purchased one of the regular production knives they were making in 2002. The knives were really bad and so I called and was told they could not produce a good knife because of the "British Knife Law". After several discussions, one of the managers offered to make this knife since it would not be sold in the UK and could be considered exempt. It is not based off of anything but an original WWII knife and as far as I know it is the last fully sharpened knife they made with the checkered handle. If you search the internet it is possible to find photos of their last production and you can see the buffed over grind lines and butter knife edges of the last knives.
MVP
CHRISTIN
09-19-2010, 09:13
Hey... I remember THAT knife... it used to sit on the desk of my former Boss. Someone's bugging you to sell it ... and it isn't me??!! WoW
Chris,
Nope not you, Haven't decided whether to let it go or not....
M.
The problem your going to run into in tring to value your F-S knife is the tens of thousands of copies that have been produced over the years, Most collectors won't touch this knife for that reason.
If you have one thats truely different, or manufactured to a higher standard than the regular crap thats circulating now you should consider just hanging on to it. I would also recommend saving any doccumentation that came with the knife.
P.S. I would have to say the estimated value of an origional V-42 is way,way low;)
Orko,
I collected F/S daggers for over 15 years and you are right there have been many junk copies made. That said, most serious collectors know what they are looking at and this is very obviously not a cheap fake. The trouble valuing it is it's uniqueness, there are plenty of examples of verifiable originals but few on-offs especially high quality post-war knives.
What do you mean by "I would have to say the estimated value of an origional V-42 is way,way low"? What estimated value are you referring to?
MVP
cszakolczai
10-12-2010, 13:11
Orko,
I collected F/S daggers for over 15 years and you are right there have been many junk copies made. That said, most serious collectors know what they are looking at and this is very obviously not a cheap fake. The trouble valuing it is it's uniqueness, there are plenty of examples of verifiable originals but few on-offs especially high quality post-war knives.
What do you mean by "I would have to say the estimated value of an origional V-42 is way,way low"? What estimated value are you referring to?
MVP
I think he was referring to the estimated value I said earlier in the thread. I have to take his word for it, I know Orko is an avid knife collector and he has some sweet blades. Hopefully he'll donate them to me someday haha :)
As for the price MVP I think that we spoke about in the PM was around if not a little low of what it you should ask for it if you do sell. As you said, its a one off and that will only help the value.
Put the knife on ebay with a ridiculous high reserve price that way it doesnt sell. It will however give you an idea of what the knife is worth to someone.
I think he was referring to the estimated value I said earlier in the thread. I have to take his word for it, I know Orko is an avid knife collector and he has some sweet blades. Hopefully he'll donate them to me someday haha :)
As for the price MVP I think that we spoke about in the PM was around if not a little low of what it you should ask for it if you do sell. As you said, its a one off and that will only help the value.
Put the knife on ebay with a ridiculous high reserve price that way it doesnt sell. It will however give you an idea of what the knife is worth to someone.
All I am suggesting is there are lots of copies of the FS out there so your sale of a rare one may only appeal to a limited audience. Hence you may want to consider hanging on to it. Any time a one of hits the market its a complete guess anyhow. Either it is highly sought after or won't fetch the value you have on it.
As far as a price being low, I was referring to the 1500 Chris stated earlier in the thread for the 42, $1500 may be a good start price for a beat up used one. there were only 3600 made total and that may be a high estimate.
Out of curiosity, if you have collected F-S daggers for 15 years, why would you want to part with a rare one?
This is the last of my F/S daggers, I lost interest 7-8 years back and sold them but had acquired this one to be a letter opener. After the struggle to get it built and realization it was a one-off it went in a drawer. Would rather have the $$ now to finance gun stuff....
MVP
cszakolczai
10-18-2010, 00:07
All I am suggesting is there are lots of copies of the FS out there so your sale of a rare one may only appeal to a limited audience. Hence you may want to consider hanging on to it. Any time a one of hits the market its a complete guess anyhow. Either it is highly sought after or won't fetch the value you have on it.
As far as a price being low, I was referring to the 1500 Chris stated earlier in the thread for the 42, $1500 may be a good start price for a beat up used one. there were only 3600 made total and that may be a high estimate.
Out of curiosity, if you have collected F-S daggers for 15 years, why would you want to part with a rare one?
Completely agree with you after having first hand experience with an original after coming back from a local show here. Well.. loca-ish. Spoke to a guy who had one and his asking price was wayyyy above the 1500. My apologies for misleading the figures on price for an original V-42.