This Mk 1 American WW1 trench knife saw service in both WW1 and WW2. It has literally been to Hell and back.
In 1918, realising that the US-based factories were unlikely to finish production in time to supply the frontline troops with the newly developed knuckle knife, the American Government contracted the French maker, Au Lion, to produce and supply these knives to the American troops in the European Theatre. Au Lion made knives went from the factory to the front-line. Only the French made examples saw WW1 combat service.
The American made Mk I trench knives were produced too late to be issued during WW1 and were placed in storage.
In December, 1941, when America joined WW2, American Government stores of the Mk I trench knife were issued to soldiers in the US Airborne regiments. These soldiers often ground off the front guard to allow the knife to be sheathed in a leather scabbard and worn snug to the body. Sometimes the spiked apexes to the knuckles were also ground off to prevent them from snagging on equipment and clothing. The removal of the guard and spikes in no way detracted from the devastating impact of the brass knuckles as a close-quarter-battle weapon.
This war-worn example has both modifications and was brought back from Arnhem, in the Netherlands, by a British soldier who took part in Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Where and how the British soldier came by the knife is not known by the family. I purchased the knife from his grandson.
The 157mm double-edged blade has a raised medial ridge and terminates in a spear point. The blade was service sharpened and retains its fighting edges. The blade was period re-pointed, as evidenced by the pitting to the re-ground point, shortening it from its original 170mm length. This may have been done because the tip broke, or in order to better fit the WW2 leather scabbard in which it came. The blade is in overall good condition with a pale patina and shallow pitting to the point on one side.
The ricasso is stamped with a worn Au Lion makers mark; a recumbent lion above the name, Au Lion.
The roughly cast brass knuckle hilt has had the guard ground down, along with the spiked apexes to the knuckles. The pattern designation, U.S. 1918 is cast into the right-hand side of the grip. The letter & numeral combination, H Q 1 is stamped into the obverse of the grip. The hurriedly made French hilts are quite roughly cast compared to the American made examples.
The back of the brass guard is grooved along both sides. This is believed to be a feature of knives made after the initial production run. Being made later in 1918 could also account for the increased roughness of the casting as a result of wear to the casting mould and expediency. The blade is held firmly in the brass hilt by a square-sided skull crusher pommel nut.
The trench knife is complete with its WW2 period black leather scabbard. The scabbard has been reinforced at the tip with copper wire to prevent the point of the blade cutting through. The scabbard is very worn and floppy but the copper rivets and stitching are intact and tight. The name and address of the British soldier who brought the knife back from Arnhem at the end of WW2 is pricked into the leather.
This is a highly collectable example of a rare American WW1 trench knife that saw service in both World Wars, and has the scars to prove it.
