Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife
Encyclopedia
The Applegate-Fairbairn Fighting Knife is a Combat knife
that was designed by Colonel Rex Applegate
and William E. Fairbairn
as an improved version of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife
. The blade retained the same double-edged dagger
profile, but featured an improved handle with adjustable lead weights which could change the knife's balance-point.
Applegate first approached Randall Made Knives
with their design. Bo Randall
made a handfull of prototypes based on his "Model 2 Dagger" and sent them to soldiers for field testing, they proved not to be popular with the troops and Randall declined to produce the knife beyond the original prototypes.
Applegate took the design to custom knifemaker Bill Harsey, Jr. who made several prototypes for Al Mar Knives
. In 1995, Harsey would design a folding version for Gerber Legendary Blades
, which won the 1996 International Blade Show "American Made Knife of the Year" award.
After Al Mar ceased production of the A-F Fighting Knife, the design would be revisited by Blackjack Knives, Gerber, and Böker
Knives who made various versions of it with limited degrees of success. The US Military Stock Number for the Gerber folding version is NSN: 5110-01-436-1548.
Combat knife
A combat knife is a fighting knife designed solely for military use and primarily intended for hand-to-hand or close combat fighting.Since the end of trench warfare, most military combat knives have been secondarily designed for utility use in addition to their original role as close-quarter combat...
that was designed by Colonel Rex Applegate
Rex Applegate
Rex Applegate was an American military officer who worked for the Office of Strategic Services, where he trained Allied special forces personnel in close-quarters combat during World War II. He held the rank of colonel....
and William E. Fairbairn
William E. Fairbairn
William Ewart Fairbairn was a British soldier, police officer and exponent of hand-to-hand combat method, the close combat, for the Shanghai Police between the world wars, and allied special forces in World War II. He developed his own fighting system known as Defendu, as well as other weapons...
as an improved version of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife
Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal...
. The blade retained the same double-edged dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
profile, but featured an improved handle with adjustable lead weights which could change the knife's balance-point.
History
While Applegate was a student of Fairbairn, he came up with a series of improvements to Fairbairn's Dagger and worked with Fairbairn on implementing these improvements.Applegate first approached Randall Made Knives
Randall Made Knives
Randall Made Knives, usually referred to as Randall, is an American manufacturer specializing in custom handcrafted knives founded by Walter Doane "Bo" Randall, Jr. The factory and showroom is located in Orlando, Florida. Randall offers 28 models of knives for different applications, each...
with their design. Bo Randall
Walter Doane "Bo" Randall, Jr.
Walter Doane "Bo" Randall also known as Bo Randall or WD Randall was a Knifemaker who founded Randall Made Knives in Orlando, Florida.-Early life:...
made a handfull of prototypes based on his "Model 2 Dagger" and sent them to soldiers for field testing, they proved not to be popular with the troops and Randall declined to produce the knife beyond the original prototypes.
Applegate took the design to custom knifemaker Bill Harsey, Jr. who made several prototypes for Al Mar Knives
Al Mar Knives
Al Mar Knives is a production knife company headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, United States. Al Mar Knives was established in 1979 by Al Mar, and has a reputation for making tactical knives of innovative design. While headquartered in the United States, Al Mar Knives are made in Japan.-Al Mar:Al...
. In 1995, Harsey would design a folding version for Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades is a maker of consumer knives and multitools headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, United States, within the Portland metropolitan area. Currently Gerber is a sub-division of Fiskars Brands Inc, owned by the Fiskars company of Finland...
, which won the 1996 International Blade Show "American Made Knife of the Year" award.
After Al Mar ceased production of the A-F Fighting Knife, the design would be revisited by Blackjack Knives, Gerber, and Böker
Böker
Böker or Tree Brand is a commercial manufacturer and distributor of knives, based in Solingen, Germany. Böker primarily makes folding and outdoor knives...
Knives who made various versions of it with limited degrees of success. The US Military Stock Number for the Gerber folding version is NSN: 5110-01-436-1548.