Bond's knife of choice

cpoulos62 · May 2009

I know that Bond had a fix blade knife in QoS but I think a folding knife would be more appropriate.

With that, I would like to see what you all think would be an appropriate knife for him to carry.

Donald Grant · May 2009

That's easy, it would be the modern equivalent of the Sykes Fairbairn commando knife. It would be the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. It was designed to eliminate the shortcommings of the original Fairbairn-Sykes, namely weakness at the blade tip and hilt, and the round handle that offered poor tactile orientation of the knife.

Col. Rex Applegate became Fairbairn's assistant when Fairbairn came to the U.S. to train the OSS at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. They both taught CQC (Close Quarters Combat) or what Fairbairn called "Defendu". Applegate and Fairbairn worked togethher to solve the weaknesses in the Fairbairn Sykes knife. It was not until the 1980's, when Col. Rex Applgate pulled out the saved notes and drawings, that the Applegate-Fairbairn knife was realized. The Applegate-Fairbairn has had many iterations and makers over the years, but the latest and perhaps the best versions (aside from the custom one off prototypes) are made by Boker knives. There is also make a folding version of the knife made by Gerber, but I think Bond needs a fixed blade and perhaps the smaller boot version. It's what Bond should have carried in QOS in the small of his back. It's the real deal with Bond heritage to boot.

Here is a link to the knives:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?ttl=Boker%20Applegate%20Series%20of%20Combat%20Knives&srch=eqCATE%20CODEdatarq%3Dbo%26eqKEYWORDdatarq%3Dapplegate

Col. Rex Applegate was also one of the earliest practitioners and teachers of point shooting and co-wrote the book "The Close Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate".

DG

walther p99 · May 2009

Donald Grant wrote:

That's easy, it would be the modern equivalent of the Sykes Fairbairn commando knife. It would be the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. It was designed to eliminate the shortcommings of the original Fairbairn-Sykes, namely weakness at the blade tip and hilt, and the round handle that offered poor tactile orientation of the knife.

Col. Rex Applegate became Fairbairn's assistant when Fairbairn came to the U.S. to train the OSS at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. They both taught CQC (Close Quarters Combat) or what Fairbairn called "Defendu". Applegate and Fairbairn worked togethher to solve the weaknesses in the Fairbairn Sykes knife. It was not until the 1980's, when Col. Rex Applgate pulled out the saved notes and drawings, that the Applegate-Fairbairn knife was realized. The Applegate-Fairbairn has had many iterations and makers over the years, but the latest and perhaps the best versions (aside from the custom one off prototypes) are made by Boker knives. There is also make a folding version of the knife made by Gerber, but I think Bond needs a fixed blade and perhaps the smaller boot version. It's what Bond should have carried in QOS in the small of his back. It's the real deal with Bond heritage to boot.

Here is a link to the knives:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?ttl=Boker%20Applegate%20Series%20of%20Combat%20Knives&srch=eqCATE%20CODEdatarq%3Dbo%26eqKEYWORDdatarq%3Dapplegate

Col. Rex Applegate was also one of the earliest practitioners and teachers of point shooting and co-wrote the book "The Close Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate".

DG

Didnt he carry that knife in Tomorrow Never Dies?

Donald Grant · May 2009

I don't think so. There was a knife, but it was not the Applegate-Fairbairn.

DG

Mister White · May 2009

Thanks DG.

Never heard of the Applegate version, but I'm a great fan of the FS dagger and 'Get tough!'

Donald Grant · May 2009

Mister White wrote:

Thanks DG.

Never heard of the Applegate version, but I'm a great fan of the FS dagger and 'Get tough!'

You're quite welcome. I too love the FS knife, and it's just so Bond. It has had different iterations too and the vintage ones are quite collectible. There is also a mini FS that was used in a forearm sheath. Very cool! Thanks for mentioning the Fairbairn tome "Get Tough". I think it's still used today as a guide for hand to hand combat fighting by various military organizations including the United States Marine Corps. At least I'm not the only one that delves deep into Bond's world!

DG

Mister White · May 2009

Actually I am also a WW2 historical re-enactor. Our group gives demonstrations in knife fighting with the FS, and we also show people moves from Get Tough!

So it's basically where my two great interests meet.

Donald Grant · May 2009

Mister White wrote:

Actually I am also a WW2 historical re-enactor. Our group gives demonstrations in knife fighting with the FS, and we also show people moves from Get Tough!

So it's basically where my two great interests meet.

Wow! Now that is cool.

DG

7289 · May 2009

FWIW, Ian Fleming had a personal FS knife with his name and rank on it.

Commander Fleming carried it with him "in the field" during WW2 - along with his .25 Browning. Fleming jokingly referred to his F/S as his "letter opener", but at times hinted to friends that the knife and he had some dark secrets.

Donald Grant · May 2009

7289 wrote:

FWIW, Ian Fleming had a personal FS knife with his name and rank on it.

Commander Fleming carried it with him "in the field" during WW2 - along with his .25 Browning. Fleming jokingly referred to his F/S as his "letter opener", but at times hinted to friends that the knife and he had some dark secrets.

Nice collection! Looks like a first and second pattern you have there. I think there was a Camp X version too. Don't forget the FS also appeared in the Chopping cover art for The Spy Who Loved Me and Dikko Henderson gets one in the back in the cinematic You Only Live Twice.

DG

0073 · June 2009

Hi

Also: In Live and Let Die (if I remember correctly) when Bond prepares for the assault against Mr Big, he orders gear through the Government house. The gear included limpet mines and what Fleming decribes as a "Commando Dagger". One can never be quite sure what he ment by that, but it is reasonable to assume that it is infact FS fighting knife.

Therefore Applegate-Fairbairn knife would be in line with literary Bond, as well as contemporary and (also important) Tacticool! :007)

7289 · June 2009

No doubt that Fleming described the F/S knife in "Live and Let Die" his words are something like, " a commando dagger as made by Wilkinson's during the war." Fleming also had Wikinson provide the knives for the attache case daggers in "From Russia with Love".

minigeff · June 2009

never knew fleming refered to his FS as a letter opener, strangely, thats exactly what i use mine for.

)

Bond's knife of choice

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