An Antiques Roadshow guest was ‘amazed’ after receiving a staggering appreciation for his Second World War ‘fighting knife’.
Expert Robert Tilney said the ‘beautiful, beautiful thing’ had ‘completely made my day’ as it is one of only ‘a few thousand’.
The knife was used by the guest’s father when he worked for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), also known as ‘Churchill’s Secret Army’.
It was explained that the handmade Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife was purchased so that Lieutenant LH Massey could complete commando training for the force and then train the Polish resistance in the same way.
The knife was a pass for the ‘Inter-Services Research Bureau’ (ISRB) – a fake organization based in Baker Street as a front for the SOE.
An Antiques Roadshow guest (seen) was left ‘astounded’ after developing a giddy appreciation for his father’s World War II fighting knife
The Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife was created specifically for close-quarters combat for secret commandos operating in occupied Europe, by creators William Fairbairn and Eric Sykes
Expert Robert Tilney said the ‘beautiful, beautiful thing’ had ‘totally made my day’ as one of only ‘a few thousand’ before giving it a £5,000 rating
“This is interesting,” Mr. Tilney began, “this is a pass for Lieutenant LH Massey of the Inter-Services Research Bureau.
“It’s interesting because the Inter-Services Research Bureau didn’t exist.”
The guest explained that after his father was invited to join the ISRB, he was taken to another room and told by senior officers about the true nature of his employment.
“When my father was told to report to the ISRB headquarters in Baker Street, London, he was given this pass and told that he had joined the organization, but not what it was or what it did.” , he revealed.
The ISRB was the cover name of the SOE, not that Lt. Massey had heard of that too.
One of the new recruit’s first tasks was to obtain his own equipment, including a 16 shilling fighting knife from Wilkinson Sword.
The FS fighting knife was developed by William Fairbairn and Eric Sykes specifically with the hand-to-hand combat that would be conducted by the SOE, working with Lt. Massey.
That meant the dagger brought on the BBC One show had been wielded by the designer himself, prompting Mr Tilney to say: ‘I’d bet £5,000 on that.
“It’s the most amazing thing: It’s handled by the man who invented it. That definitely made my day.”
The guest’s jaw dropped as he said, “I’m amazed.”
The guest’s father, Lieutenant LH Massey, had to buy the knife before he went on commando training in the Scottish highlands
Lieutenant Massey’s dagger was purchased from Wilkinson Sword for 16 shillings
Churchill’s SOE was founded in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance on the occupied continent, and to aid European resistance movements.
Fairbairn and Sykes taught officers destined for field service in Arisaig, Scotland, although the main base for the SOE was in Baker Street.
Officers also underwent training in parachuting, demolition, security and ‘craftsmanship’.
It was disbanded after the war in 1946 by new Prime Minister Clement Atlee, despite the head of SOE, Lord Selborne, advocating its continuation despite a strained relationship developing with other government and military agencies.
