The Smatchet was developed by Lt. Col. William Fairbairn for use by British Commandos of the SOE and SAS, and was later manufactured in the U.S. and adopted for use by the OSS. A massive close combat weapon with an 11 inch blade and 16 inches overall, it was heavy, balanced and combined the features of both the machete and bolo. The leaf-shaped blade is sharpened the entire length along the bottom and the front half along the top and allows it to be used for slashing, thrusting or chopping an opponent.
By Robert G. Segel
Except for Germany and Japan, the world was ill prepared for World War II. Military budgets had been cut, troop numbers reduced, tactics continued to be rooted in old ways, new technology ignored and research and development curtailed. Suddenly in September 1939, the world was stunned by the assault on Poland by Germany and Europe was once again being torn apart by a vicious war. Poland fell, France fell, Belgium fell, Italy joined Germany and Russia and England were faced with beating back the German advances. The U.S. provided material aid but tried to stay out of it.
The McLacklin-Peskett Close Combat Weapon was designed for special operations use by the British SOE and one of only about two dozen made on special order from Cogswell & Harrison (this one is serial number 11). This three-in-one weapon has a 5 1/2 inch turned cylindrical body with a Parkerized finish. On top is an approximately 1 1/4 inch weighted steel ball to be used as a bludgeon. Loosening a setscrew beneath the ball allows a 24-inch wire garrote to be unwound. Turning the large steel ball retracts the wire back into the body. At the opposite end is a push button that releases a 5 1/2 inch steel gravity ìspikeî type stiletto blade. A heavy web wrist strap is attached by a split ring and is marked ìSS No. 1î for First Special Services Brigade. The weighted ball is marked ìPat. No. Pend. No. 11 MPCCW.î The overall length of the unit in the closed position is 7 inches and with the blade extended it is 12 1/4 inches.
Japan was expanding her empire and invaded China in the 1930s. Then in December of 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor and later the Philippines fell, the Dutch East Indies fell, other Pacific islands were occupied and Australia was in danger of being invaded.
Unlike World War I that was stagnant and rooted in trench warfare, the new world war was swift and mobile. Modern technology of the time of aircraft, land machines and more efficient weapons dictated new tactics. With this came a sudden surge in research and development in everything imaginable in an effort to counter every threat. Secrecy, stealth, spying and clandestine operations suddenly were very real and necessary. Along with the spying side, the high number of aircrews that were shot down and captured demanded a wide range of materials to enhance the capabilities of escape and evasion. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention.
The Mark-1 Garrote, as used by the OSS, is a 24 inch long strand of “piano wire” attached to two 2 1/2 inch steel handles that fit neatly into a small cloth pouch. The main effect of a rope or cord garrote is to slip up quietly behind a guard or sentry, loop it around his neck and tighten to cause strangulation. A wire garrote has the added effect of slicing the neck arteries and trachea causing partial decapitation. While not a knife, in the proper hands it certainly can cut like one and there is no doubt as to its classification as a close combat weapon.
False information, secret meetings, coded messages, secrecy, lies, stealth, moles, double agents, dead drops, bribery, blackmail, assassination, couriers, saboteurs, concealment, interrogation, analysis, capture, interrogation, imprisonment, torture, false documents, tunnels, escape, evasion and execution – all are just some of the words associated with spying and clandestine operations or evading or escaping from captivity.
Novels, movies and television romanticize the game, but the reality is that the vast majority of such work, particularly in peacetime, is relatively safe and mundane information gathering and checking facts. Yet the stakes were high, lives at stake, and field agents and operatives, particularly in times of war, do indeed go in harm’s way with agents suffering the fate of immediate execution and escapees harsh punishment or execution at the hands of their captors.
British Commandos were issued this triangular bladed dagger with web Mk 4 spike bayonet hanger and steel scabbard. The dagger measures 11 inches overall with a blade length of 6 1/2 inches.
World War II was the impetus for the development of specific services that focused on clandestine operations that also dovetailed into the art of escape and evasion for agents and downed pilots, aircrew and prisoners of war. In the U.S., the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, later after the war becoming the CIA – Central Intelligence Agency), the British SOE (Special Operations Executive), MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6 – Intelligence) and MI9 (Military Intelligence, Section 9 – Escape and Evasion) developed the many tools of the trade for all sorts of clandestine operations.
British Commando Knife/OSS Stiletto designed by Lt. Col. William Fairbairn and Capt. Eric Sykes in late 1940. Their unique fighting knife was adopted and issued to British Commandos and SOE personnel at the beginning of World War II. In 1942, the OSS adopted the design and began issuing their version to field agents in 1943. The OSS Stiletto and unique “pancake flipper” sheath were made by L.F.&C. (Landers, Frary and Clark) and differed from the British Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife in that the almost 7 inch blade is more slender at the tip and the knurling on the grip extends all the way to the cross guard. The CIA reissued old stock of these knives to operatives involved in the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 in an effort to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
Inherent in these types of operations, operatives or soldiers must master many skills, among them close combat weapons that generally included knives, coshes and garrotes and specialty firearms. Some are designed as an offensive weapon to eliminate a guard or sentry in a swift and silent attack while others are a last ditch self-defense weapon to be used when no other means are available and life is immediately at risk.
Close combat is the ultimate battle – one on one and face to face. It calls upon the very fiber of self-preservation as there can be no mistakes. There is only one winner resulting in either the death of the opponent or the opportunity to disable or distract the opponent to enable escape from the situation.
U.S. V-42 stiletto manufactured by Case. Reflecting the design of the British Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife, this U.S. made knife was issued to the elite First Special Service Force in World War II. Total production was only 3,420 with each one being hand made. The long upper portion of the sheath was so the knife hung low on the leg allowing for quick unencumbered access and draw. Inset: 15 tally marks are purposely scratched into an area on this particular OSS “pancake flipper” scabbard recording the possible missions or operations involved with the original owner. The rubber O-ring is used to secure the handle of the knife when placed in the scabbard to prevent rattle
Some weapons were specifically designed and adopted as issue equipment for field use such as the OSS Stiletto, Smatchet, Mark-1 Garrote and the suppressed High Standard pistol. But it was the British SOE, MI6 and MI9 that excelled in the art of deception, spying and escape and evasion during the war. Because so much was new, and untested, operatives had great leeway in obtaining commercially made items that they felt were necessary and were comfortable using. Surprisingly, the most common secondary knife used was the trusty Boy Scout knife. Yet there are a number of sleeve daggers, lapel daggers, stilettos, frisk knives, spike daggers, gravity knives, garrotes, blackjacks, the Welrod or Hi-Standard suppressed pistols, etc., that are attributed to various agencies as part of their close combat or escape and evasion arsenal of equipment. Some of them were, but the majority of special purpose blades were produced commercially, mostly in Great Britain, for private purchase and did not appear in official records or equipment lists. There is no evidence that these were ever used in actual operations let alone credited with an actual “kill.” While these specialized blades were designed for use by operatives, and were purchased by them, they appear to be more a souvenir than an actual field service item. That is not to say that they were not in fact taken into the field. As is often the case, an item designed for a perceived need is far from practical for the actual need. Nevertheless, such items offer an insight to the life and death world of clandestine operations.
Basic escape and evasion items commonly carried by aircrew members as issued by MI9. Shown at the top from left to right is a RAF uniform button that unscrews to reveal a compass – a necessary item when escaping and evading. Next is a SOE collapsible pocket telescope issued by MI9 measuring 1 1/4 inches closed and 1 1/2 inches extended with a 1/2 inch diameter. Next is a Penny Knife issued by MI9. Often times, small blades would be concealed or camouflaged in everyday objects that could be overlooked during a pat down or during high volume processing of a number of POW aircrews. This British penny (dated 1938) has a single one inch steel blade pin-hinged to the bottom of the penny with a 3/8 inch concave cutting surface for cutting ropes or hand or feet ties. It could also be used to slash a tire or neck. On the right is a lapel knife issued to SOE and MI9. It is constructed as a one piece teardrop steel blade, 3 inches long with slotted thumb areas to both sides. The blade is double edged diamond shaped. The leather sheath is to be sewn in the lapel area of a uniform or civilian coat. A last ditch thrusting weapon to the neck or other similar shallow vital area. On the bottom is an SOE and MI9 escape stiletto steel thrusting dagger with a cruciform blade and a twine wrapped grip that is ingeniously concealed inside an ordinary writing pencil. Pilots and navigators would carry these as well as being inserted in parcels sent to prisoners of war. The pencil had lead in it and could be sharpened and used as an ordinary writing instrument to defy detection. Shown is a selection of the pencil that has been cut away to show placement of the dagger.
An interesting but most likely useless close combat weapon is the commercially made British Robbins Dudley push dagger. The grip is made of molded alloy with a steel knuckle guard and a 5 inch steel double-edged blade complete with blood grooves to top and bottom. The bottom of the handle is maker marked Robbins Dudley. The purpose of the knuckle guard is unknown as due to its position relative to the blade it cannot be used as a “brass knuckle” for striking purposes. Additionally, for the well-dressed look that all agents must have as they woo the femme fatales, a beautiful brown leather fitted holster with brass stud and buckle closure with belt loop on the rear stands out as a masculine accoutrement when worn proudly on the hip at the local pub. So much for a low profile!
British SOE Push Dagger made by Cogswell & Harrison Ltd. reportedly made for the British Royal Marine Commandos, Special Forces and Free French Forces in exile. The straight double-edged steel dagger is 7 inches long with a usable blade length of 5 1/2 inches with a cylindrical rod ìTî handle that is 4 3/4 inches long. A thick rectangular dark brown leather washer acts as a counter guard and blood stop. The leather scabbard has a brass stud closure and the rear has the maker’s oval stamp “108 Piccadilly Cogswell & Harrison”.
A very common close combat weapon is the simple truncheon or “blackjack.” A lead head is mounted on a flexible shaft handle and covered in leather. A wrist strap assures the blackjack stays close at hand. A sharp whack to the head will usually result in an unconscious state of the victim.
Left: Grapple Hook Thrusting Stiletto made in Australia for the SOE or MI9. The round steel blade is 8 inches long and is triangulated at the tip with a cord finger loop near the hook end. The blade is maker marked “Alcock & Pierce Melbourne” and the hook is marked with the Australian Army acceptance marks of “D” broad arrow “D”. The leather sheath has two unique leather stitching flaps for securing inside a uniform or civilian garment. Middle: Three-Finger Push Dagger with a 5 1/4 inch round steel stiletto blade and three hole grip. The leather scabbard has two leather button hole tabs for sewing inside a uniform or civilian clothes. It is mistakenly assumed that the index, middle and ring fingers are inserted through the three loops. However, this provides no support for the handle in the palm area that causes a great amount of movement laterally and provides no force to a forward thrust; probably resulting in a missed thrust to a key vital area and could very well result in the breaking of your knuckles. The proper way to grip this weapon is to grip the entire handle in the palm of your hand with the blade protruding through your index and middle fingers. This provides a positive grip against the palm with no movement and aligns the dagger with your wrist and forearm for a powerful straight line forward thrust. The holes are not for the fingers – they are to reduce weight. Right: Push Dagger made by Cogswell & Harrison for use by SOE or MI9. It has an 8 inch steel triangular stiletto blade with a small ball handle and leather thumb loop.The leather sheath is marked “Made for Cogswell & Harrison” and has four leather tabs to sew to the inside of uniform or civilian clothes.
Top: This theater handmade push dagger is actually a large nail with flattened head and flattened double edged blade. Overall length is 5 1/2 inches with a blade of 3 inches. Below is a SOE and MI9 steel thrust stiletto with a 3 1/2 inch triangular blade and an overall length of 7 inches. The handle is turned and knurled for a positive grip surface. The leather scabbard can be sewn inside a uniform or civilian clothes.
Close combat also involved the use of specialized firearms. On top is the .22 caliber U.S. Hi-Standard Model H-D Military semiautomatic pistol with suppressor as used by OSS operatives. The middle shows the British .32 ACP caliber (also made in 9mm) Welrod suppressed pistol. The Welrod is a bolt action, magazine fed, suppressed pistol devised during WWII at the Inter-Services Research Bureau (later Station IX) in the UK for use by irregular forces and resistance groups and used primarily by the British SOE and also by the American OSS. On the bottom is the U.S. FP-45 Liberator pistol. The .45 caliber Liberator was a crude, single shot, mass produced pistol intended as an insurgency weapon to be used by resistance fighters in occupied territory to use at short range to kill or incapacitate the enemy and retrieve his weapons.
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V19N10 (December 2015) and was posted online on October 16, 2015
