Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very fine example of a French Made Au Lion 1918 Trench Knife with its original steel scabbard. These are one of the most sought after military issue knives out there.

The U.S. Model 1918 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. In order to save time in getting the new knife to troops in the field, the first Mark I trench knives were procured from a French manufacturer, Au Lion (Au Lion/Société Générale, France). 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.

The example of the U.S. Model 1918 Mark I Trench Knife offered here is in great service used condition. The knife is one of the French made examples which is marked on the ricasso with a (Reclining Lion) / AU LION. The blade mark is about 90% retained. This brass grip of the knife is clearly marked: U. S. 1918. As is usually the case with the AU LION marked knives, the cast brass grip is rougher and cruder than the US made versions, with some residue as shown. As is also typical of the French made knives, the knuckle points are also less defined and not as sharp as the US made knives.
The French made grips are cast with a variety of minor differences, and this one is cast with two grooves along the top edge of the grip. The brass knuckle grip has a lovely brass color with a heavy amount of patina, and spots of oxidation.

The blades of most of the AU LION knives were produced in the white, with no finish on the blade. The steel scabbard is in excellent condition, and unlike most examples still has both belt prongs intact. There is a fair bit of denting to the scabbard as shown. The scabbard retains most of the original finish, and as with most Au Lion scabbards, there are no markings.

The overall construction of the scabbard is more simple than the US made scabbards. This example does have some tiny dents, as these were made from much thinner steel than the US version, and the construction is less robust.

Overall this is one of the finest examples of the very popular and collectible World War I era US trench knife. The knife and scabbard are 100% complete and original, and would make a fantastic addition to any military edged weapons collection. These brass D guard knuckle knives always make a great centerpiece to any military knife display and certainly draw attention due to their size and fierce appearance.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 6 3/4"
Blade Style: Double Edged Dagger
Overall length: 11 1/2“
Guard: 4" long x 3 3/4" wide
Scabbard Length: 7 ¼