  We investigate the decay of $f_1(1285) \to \pi K \bar K$ with the assumption
that the $f_1(1285)$ is dynamically generated from the $K^* \bar{K} - cc$
interaction. In addition to the tree level diagrams that proceed via $f_1(1285)
\to K^* \bar{K} - cc \to \pi K \bar K$, we take into account also the final
state interactions of $K \bar K \to K \bar K$ and $\pi K \to \pi K$. The
partial decay width and mass distributions of $f_1(1285) \to \pi K \bar K$ are
evaluated. We get a value for the partial decay width which, within errors, is
in fair agreement with the experimental result. The contribution from the tree
level diagrams is dominant, but the final state interactions have effects in
the mass distributions. The predicted mass distributions are significantly
different from phase space and tied to the $K^* \bar{K} - cc$ nature of the
$f_1(1285)$ state.
