The various versions of the Boker Applegate-Fairbairn have been convincing special forces all over the world for years and have emerged as an icon among tactical knives. The knife goes back to the classic Fairbairn-Sykes dagger from World War II and was designed by Col. Rex Applegate. The elite soldier coordinated secret operations throughout Europe during the war and even became President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal guard. He trained Allied Special Forces in close combat and founded the School for Spies and Assassins in today's Camp David. Later he continued to work as a consultant and trainer, wrote numerous books about close quarter combat and began to develop and improve the perfect combat knife.