Post 1952 Indonesian Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS: Komando Pasukan Khusus) “TNI AD" (Army Property: Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat) Fairbairn Sykes Type FS Fighting knife & KOPASSUS Scabbard. Sn 23822 Knive

Post 1952 Indonesian Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS: Komando Pasukan Khusus) “TNI AD" (Army Property: Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat) Fairbairn Sykes Type FS Fighting knife & KOPASSUS Scabbard. Sn 23822 - 23822

The Indonesian Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS/ Komando Pasukan Khusus) has a deep, historic connection to the British Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S) fighting knife. The weapon is so central to their identity that it is featured prominently on the KOPASSUS insignia on their red berets, as well as on their upper-arm uniform patches. When the elite unit was first founded in April 1952 (initially called Kesko TT-III, and later KOPASSANDHA before becoming KOPASSUS), they were initially ssued surplus British Third-Pattern F-S knives. The unit was created in 1952 and has gained fearsome and infamous reputation particularly during its operations in East Timor. The marking “TNI AD" (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat) identifies weapons as Indonesian Army property (see pages 214-216 of The Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife & Other Commando Knives By Flook). This is an original Indonesian special forces FS type fighting knife. This example has an undamaged blackened alloy handle with correct knurled bands similar to those found on USA Vietnam era variants. It has a 171mm clean, sharp blackened steel blade with medial ridge. The blade is marked on one side with Kopassus insignia and the reverse with Indonesian army property mark ‘TNI AD’. The dagger is complete with correct original leather scabbard with integral belt loop retaining strap with lug fastener and wire belt hanger. The front of the frog has ‘Kopassus insignia. All leather & stitching are clean and intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23810 (fs box) Sn 23822

£345.00