Recommendation? Smatchets and F-S daggers...

BeardedGhost

BeardedGhost

Joined
Mar 27, 2026
Messages
3
Twenty-five years ago, our old Scoutmaster -- who became the most-decorated Scout lifesaver in history and whose grandfather had served in Jedburgh teams with the OSS -- gave us his grandfather's smatchet and had us walk through the woods cutting down suitable saplings for use in pioneering projects.

And like the little twits that we were, we lost it. It turned up a couple years ago when the Boy Scouts, turncoat sleazebags that they are, sold the camp to pay their shameful two billion dollar judgement and the new owners blogged about it. It was a rusted out mess with the aluminum handle hanging off it, and I stlll haven't told George.

I would like to get him a smatchet to replace it, since he saved my life at least three times by my count, and recognize him for being the best friend most of us ever had for over twenty five years.

The guy's a superhero.

But here is my question for you knife guys. I know Etsy is covered up in janky Pakistani knockoffs of some smatchet-like substance because they are all the same right down to the hole in the ricasso, which I suppose is for hanging it on a peg? (One guy who was selling them told me that was what the hole was for, but God only knows if he has any real idea.)

I know Cold Steel made a pretty good modernized smatchet but I can't find one. Some makers will sell you one for $400-800, and I'm sure they're great, but I was hoping that I could get a servicable smatchet for under $299. I see that there are reproductions of the WWII original on (Windlass on Amazon, and Museum Replicas on eBay, both for around $150) but I wanted to ask if they were any good.

And while I'm asking, are there any good Fairbairn-Sykes reproductions out there that won't break the bank? One of the kids is going off to selection for one of those high speed, low drag outfits and when he wins we want to give him one.

We may wind up investing in a belt grinder and some truck springs and just make them some stuff, but if there is a way to acquire reliable, non-garbage smatchets and Fairbair-Sykes daggers, I'd be grateful for the advice.

(I did search on the forum but a lot of the discussion wasn't current enough, so forgive me for asking what's probably an old question.

All the best,

Roger
 
BeardedGhost said:
And while I'm asking, are there any good Fairbairn-Sykes reproductions out there that won't break the bank? One of the kids is going off to selection for one of those high speed, low drag outfits and when he wins we want to give him one.
Click to expand...
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

The thing to remember about the FS is that in its original take it is a fairly flimsy knife. Wilkinson's were constantly re-blading handles all through the war and after. So if you are going to buy a reproduction for a loved one that may be heading into harms way it's best to choose wisely. I would strongly urge you to avoid the cheap e-bay rubbish.

I own a number of customs and reproductions. In my opinion the very best at a reasonable price made properly are the various Spartan Knives versions of the knife......... HERE
You simply won't find better for the money.

If you want a full custom that is a different story. Les George makes a phenomenal custom dagger which is a blend of the FS and V-42.
Some of the best are the full billet integral knives being made by Derek Rauch in South Africa.......HERE

If you want a true reproduction my favourite is made by Brent Sandow in New Zealand.
 
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On the Smatchet front, buy a CAS APOC Wallace smatchet. It's the best sub $300 one you'll find. The Windlass was a fun project knife when it was $75, but at the current $150-175, it's a messy knife. It's only saving grace is that it is closer to the WWII styling, if you're interested in that.

Museum Replicas and Windlass are the same company and knives BTW.

Edit - The hole on the modern smatchets was an Applegate addition for edge indication. He advised one edge ground coarse, and the other fine.
 
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These are just the kind of anwers I was hoping for, and I thank you all!

I may go out on a limb and see if I can find George an old school repro original style smatchet like we lost iin the woods, and a modern take too.

We'll find a way to make it work. But if the museum repros are good enough for the money, even if they're twice their intro price, I might be able to manage that, and the bet him an APOC for Christmas, or something.

Or maybe I'll start with the APOC, and if he still wants an OSS repro, I can do that later.

I'm just relieved these things are available. And thanks again!
 
Steven65 said:
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

The thing to remember about the FS is that in its original take it is a fairly flimsy knife. Wilkinson's were constantly re-blading handles all through the war and after. So if you are going to buy a reproduction for a loved one that may be heading into harms way it's best to choose wisely. I would strongly urge you to avoid the cheap e-bay rubbish.

I own a number of customs and reproductions. In my opinion the very best at a reasonable price made properly are the various Spartan Knives versions of the knife......... HERE
You simply won't find better for the money.

If you want a full custom that is a different story. Les George makes a phenomenal custom dagger which is a blend of the FS and V-42.
Some of the best are the full billet integral knives being made by Derek Rauch in South Africa.......HERE

If you want a true reproduction my favourite is made by Brent Sandow in New Zealand.
Click to expand...
That is a whole bunch of good news! Thank you!
 
tltt said:
On the Smatchet front, buy a CAS APOC Wallace smatchet. It's the best sub $300 one you'll find. The Windlass was a fun project knife when it was $75, but at the current $150-175, it's a messy knife. It's only saving grace is that it is closer to the WWII styling, if you're interested in that.

Museum Replicas and Windlass are the same company and knives BTW.

Edit - The hole on the modern smatchets was an Applegate addition for edge indication. He advised one edge ground coarse, and the other fine.
Click to expand...
I just had a look. And windlass steelcrafts does seem to pop up a bit.
 
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