World War 2 was a defining moment for society as a whole. To this day, many people are fascinated with the history of the conflict and voraciously study it. One group who particularly interests us at Armory Replicas are the British Commandos. This can be seen in our Rondel British Commando Armor Piercing Stiletto Dagger.

According to the History Learning Site, “The British Army had created its first commando unit in 1940 and from 1942 on, it joined with the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines had a proud history even before the outbreak of World War Two. It was during the 1939-45 war, that the Royal Marines took on a commando role, linking the regiment to the Army Commandos that already existed. Winston Churchill had ordered the creation of a ‘butcher and bolt’ small group raiding unit after the defeat at Dunkirk and the evacuation of the BEF from mainland Europe. Morale in the country was thought to be in need of a boost. Clearly, Britain was not in a position to launch any form of major military attack on the Germans - but a series of spectaculars would, Churchill believed, do a great deal for morale. The commandos task was to land in Nazi-occupied Western Europe usually at night, destroy vital targets and leave as quickly as possible. In June 1940, Churchill had called for 20,000 men; men he called ‘leopards’ ready to spring at the throats of the Germans.”

Army.mod.uk explores the history of the British Commandos following the war. According to the site, “After WWII the Commando role passed entirely to the Royal Marines, the Royal Navy’s amphibious infantry. Army Commando units ceased to exist. In the late 1950s, Britain’s defence policy began to stress the importance of a worldwide maritime strategy. The RN commissioned Commando Carriers such as HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion. The marines, who no longer had their own artillery gained support from an artillery Regiment. During 1962, 29 Field Regiment RA were deployed with 25 Pounder guns in Aden and Kuwait, deterring Iraq from invading the oil fields. On the back of these deployments, the Regiment was re-roled as Commando Artillery. The newly formed 29 Cdo Regt RA trained for and passed the All Arms Commando Course at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines Lympstone. It was a proud and historic moment when the first Army Commandos since the end of the War received their Green Berets on 15 May 1962. The 25 Pounders in service with the Regiment at that time were then replaced by the 105mm Pack Howitzer. 29 Cdo Regiment has deployed around the globe as part of 3 Commando Brigade, and in 43 years the Regiment has operated in every major conflict the Brigade has been involved in.”

If you’re looking for the perfect replica item to engage with this history, look no further than our Rondel British Commando Armor Piercing Stiletto Dagger. This triangular heavy blade has three safety edges and is particularly useful for penetrating armor. It’s intended for penetration more than slice and dice cutting. The dagger’s tapered point helps to generate greater piercing power. Its 2.75 inch cross guard is angled towards the blade to help ward off blows from an enemy while the handle features premium hardwood inserts. Our dagger’s pommel features a pointed extension on the end that offers the possibility of a glass breaker. Lastly, it comes with a free snap fastened nylon sheath with belt loop so that it can always be by your side whenever you need it.

Whatever replica armory needs you might have, you can’t go wrong with Armory Replicas!