New Made Item: Brand new to the market developed for over a year copied directly from an original in the IMA collection! This is a very high quality reproduction of the US WWI issue Mark I trench knife. The Mark I, developed in 1918, has a substantial spiked "brass knuckle" handle, dagger style blade, and steel scabbard. Original Mark I knives in any condition are hard to find and typically cost over $1000. This reproduction will fill the hole in any collection at a fraction of the cost.

Notable features:

- Dagger-style 6 ¾" black steel blade with a rat tail tang secured by the "skull crusher" end bolt.
- Steel Scabbard marked: LF&C 1918
- Brass Spiked Handle marked U.S. 1918 over LF&C 1918
- Comes fully "blacked" like the original issue and will wear down with use exposing the brass handle and steel blade. We wore one down for the photos.

NOTE: Scabbards may be somewhat loose on the blade. They are "adjustable" by pressing a flathead screwdriver in on the indents above and below the belt clips.

The U.S. Mark I Trench Knife was the second major "Knuckle Knife" to be officially adopted and issued to the US military. It was developed for use in the horrific trench warfare that typified the stalemate on the Western Front during the latter part of World War One and saw use not only there, but during World War Two as well. The knife was manufactured in the United States by Henry Disston & Sons (H.D. & S.) as well as Landers, Frary & Clark (L.F. & C.) and Oneida Community Ltd (O.C.L.). The knives were also produced in France and are marked with the usual 1918 and US marks, as well as Au Lion on the blade. Whether this mark was a maker's mark or simply a motto is not known. The U.S. M-1918 Mark I Trench Knife is easily identifiable due to its large "brass knuckle" style guard and grip. The knives were 11 ¾" in overall length, with a 6 ¾" dagger style blade. The brass grips were marked U.S. 1918 and with the makers name or initials.

As originally issued, the knives were entirely blackened; both the blades and the brass knuckle hilts. These knives remained in use with the US military, classified as limited standard (secondary issue) through January of 1945, when the knives were officially classified as obsolete. As originally issued, the knives were carried in a blued sheet steel scabbard that was typically maker marked, and was equipped with a pair of wire tabs that were intended to engage the US pistol web belt in use at that time. Many of the knives issued during World War II ended up in substitute leather scabbards of various designs and styles, many of which were "theater made".