Home Artists Posts Import Register
Patreon importer is back online! Tell your friends ✅

Content

Scheduled for June 1. Fairbairn gets a mention alongside one of the Shanghai Police Colt 1908 pistols in my book, Pistols of the Warlords. If you haven't taken a look at the ongoing Kickstarter for it, check it out here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headstamp/pistols-of-the-warlords?ref=59pevr

Files

How William Fairbairn Created the Modern SWAT Team in Warlord Era Shanghai

The Kickstarter for my new book, "Pistols of the Warlords" is live here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headstamp/pistols-of-the-warlords?ref=6p67mz William E. Fairbairn is best know for his work with Eric Sykes and their ""Commando" knife design during World War Two. However, Fairbairn spent some 33 years in the Shanghai Municipal Police, working his way up from a beat constable to Assistant Commissioner. There he was responsible for the SMPD adopting truly forward-thinking fighting methods, and he essentially invented the modern SWAT team (the "Reserve Unit", which Fairbairn led for 10 years). He combined expertise in formal marksmanship, instinctive practical shooting, and hand-to-hand combat schools (including jiu-jitsu and judo) into a comprehensive training program like no other on earth at the time. http://www.patreon.com/ForgottenWeapons https://www.floatplane.com/channel/ForgottenWeapons/home Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.forgottenweapons.com Contact: Forgotten Weapons 6281 N. Oracle 36270 Tucson, AZ 85740

Comments

Joseph W Cupp

Good video, Fairbairn was a heck of a man, started reading about him about 50 years ago, thanks for pointing out 2 books I haven't seen yet.

Mrgunsngear

Interesting; thanks

ViejoLobo

His one handed firing techniques remain remarkably effective. Imagine him with access to SIMs, modern body armor and comms, and pistols such as Glocks or SIGs. And SWAT training and tactics still reflected his influence when I was in harness. As for the 1908 Colt .380 and that mysterious slide-mounted tensioning spring on the SMP pistols, check out US Handguns of World War II, by Charles W. Pate, Appendix "G," which seems to indicate that improperly designed or fitted ejectors (likely from the similar .32 model 1903) were responsible for widespread malfunctions.

Anonymous

I' m a retired Marine, have trained extensively long ago, as such, studied the "China years" as interest and training, because of this connection. This was extremely informative, much I'd never read nor heard, and you do a very fine job in producing these, very clear and professional. I've been there a couple times, but in the eighties and nineties, no, not that old. Semper Fi.

Sean Tyson

I don't think I've heard of WE Fairbairn previously, but I am quite familiar with his knife. Extremely distinctive shape. Wow, great video!

Anonymous

I expected you also to mention his book "All-in Fighting." It's not exactly a light read. Looking forward to the Warlords book!

Jeffrey Allan Beeler

I really enjoyed this article. Will there be one on Sykes?