English: Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, 29.2 cm x 5 cm (H x L), capable of effective slashing and penetrating, officially named «Fairbairn-Sykes OSS Stiletto». Based on classic dagger design, it gained popularity and accounted for nearly 200 spin-offs, made well into the 1990s.

The knife was named after its two British designers, Captains W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes. While serving with the Shanghai Municipal Police, which guarded the Shanghai International Settlement in China, they gained experience in close-combat fighting. Fairbairn and Sykes designed the weapon of being able to strike at the vulnerable parts of an opponent’s body. Introduced in 1939 to British Commandos, the knife quickly became a weapon of choice. Fairbairn was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) as an instructor where he created a special version of the knife, which in 1943 became a standard issue. The knives were manufactured with an unusual «pancake flapper»-looking sheath with an O-ring to hold the knife in place. The slots in the sheath were designed to fit the belts of different widths. The knife was produced by Landers, Frary and Clark, the largest American manufacture of kitchen utensils. It is possible that the same molds the company used to make its pancake flappers were employed to manufacture the sheath.

Note: All museum artifacts have been declassified by the appropriate officials for public viewing. Please note that because the museum is located in the CIA Headquarters, it is not open to the public for tours.