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: 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. Book references: The World’s First SWAT Team, by Leroy Thompson: Gentleman & Warrior, by Peter Robins: Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! Contact: Forgotten Weapons 6281 N. Oracle 36270 Tucson, AZ 85740