CANSOP

[Bill A]

Doing research reveals some interesting nuggets once and awhile. The Canadian Forces have created a Canadian Special Operations Command. The command has a unique badge, which reflects the V42 fighting knife. This is an interesting choice, as only Canadians issued this fighting knife were the First Special Service Force. The Sykes Fairburn was far more widely issued and used by Canadians in the Second World War.
http://www.cansofcom.forces.gc.ca/index-eng.asp
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-...sofc-cfosc.jpg

[Voltigeur]

Hi Bill, if I may add an information here.Speaking of Special Forces I found this drawing (not a badge per se) which is supposed to be for the JTF2. Real or spurious....???. Just thought I would add it here.
Jo
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo5/.../Special-7.jpg

[Adam H]

CSOR, of CANSOFCOM carries the 1st SSF Battle Honours, so perhaps it makes more sense than we think.

However, I'm not convinced that's a V42 being depicted, and I can't find anything that says it is...it's a bit of an indistinct pattern of knife that has parts resembling early Fairbairn-Sykes knives. Is there something official stating they've used the V42 as the model?

As far as that "JTF2" badge, it appears to be a CANSOFCOM insignia, albeit with considerable artistic license when it comes to the dagger.

[Bill A]

Hi Adam, have a look a the grip and the knob on the bottom of the grip (at the bottom of the image of the knife). I have only seen that type of knob on the grip of the V42, not on Sykes Fairburn knives.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...num=5&ct=image

[Adam H]

Bill, I would tend to agree with you, interesting.

I will see if I can find out anything via official channels regarding the insignia.

Cheers,

Adam

[Seathanaich]

This JTF-2 thing is a biker tattoo, not proper Canadian insignia. For starters, the half globe should be stylised, not a space photo, and the dagger should be a Sykes-Fairbairn, not a piece of internet clip-art.

Even if they can't wear a cap badge on their uniform, the people at DH&H should be designing a proper insignia for them to use on other items for wear AFTER they leave the unit (like ties, t-shirts, blazer crests, etc).

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

As a writer and dealer in the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife and their many variations it has been my pleasure to have sold a few original examples of the rare V-42, so thought it would be of interest to share an example (sold earlier this year) here.

Cheers, Roy.

[Bill A]

The source of the JTF2 image that Jo linked to does not appear to be the authorized crest.
The V-42 was the "proper" fighting knife for the FSSF. It was issued to the FSSF which incoporated the 2nd Canadian Parachute Bn. There is historical precedent for using that weapon in the design of CSOC.

[edstorey]

A stylized V42 Dagger is a common symbol used in much of the current Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) and Canadian Special Forces insignia.

[Bill A]

Thanks Ed. Could you identify the badges for reference purposes?

[edstorey]

The badges are from top to bottom:

CANSOFCOM Command Badge for DEU uniform.

CANSOFCOM Command Badge for Naval Combat Dress (NCD) uniform.

Basic Special Operations qualification badge.

Special Operations Assaulters qualification badge.

[JamesAA]

The Governor General Heraldic Authority has approved unit badges (from which some of the badges Ed has shown are derived) for CANSOFCOM and CSOR. The symbolism of the V-42 fighting knife is explained at the following links:

CANSOFCOM - http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/pr...1293&ShowAll=1

CSOR - http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/pr...2388&ShowAll=1

There does not appear to be an approved badge in registry for JTF 2.

The DND webpage for JTF 2 does have a unit logo (for want of a better word) which appears to have semi-official use. See - http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/operation...rces/jtf2.page

Jim

[jranrose]

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