Item:
ONSV10793

Original U.S. WWI M1917 Trench Knife by L.F. & C. dated 1917 with Jewell Scabbard

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition Model 1917 trench knife has a wood handle, triangular stiletto blade, and leather scabbard with standard GI Pistol belt hook attachment.

The top of the guard is is nicely marked:

U.S.
L.F. & C.
1917 

Landers, Frary, and Clark (L.F. & C.) began in 1853 as Landers & Smith Manufacturing Company, and in 1862 became known as Landers, Frary & Clark. They were in New Britain, Connecticut, and made a number of house hold items, as well as items for the military. They closed their doors in 1965.

Notable features of this example:

• Triangular 9" steel blade. This blade is very good condition, with most of the original finish remaining. The rest has been removed by cleaning or by removal of rust. The tip is still mostly intact, though a bit rounded, so it does look to have been reprofiled a bit, but not enough to shorten the blade.
• Very good condition wood grip. It does show wear and some staining, but no cracks or major chips. Shows light use.
• Good condition spiked steel hand guard, with no major dents or bends. It does however show wear and oxidation, with some light rust on the inside of the guard. The original finish is probably retained at 60%
• Leather scabbard, which is very faintly marked JEWELL. Scabbard is in good condition with nice leather that still has some of the original finish. The leather is definitely worn, which is why the date cannot be read, and does have some tearing. It is also loose in the locket of the scabbard.
• Standard pistol belt steel attachment hook, though the finish has worn to an oxidized patina.

Overall condition is very good, with a great patina of age. There is no play in the the crossguard or handle. A great addition to any military knife collection. Read to display!

The first official U.S. trench knife adopted for service issue was the U.S. M1917 trench knife designed by Henry Disston & Sons, and based on examples of trench knives then in service with the French Army. The M1917 featured a triangular stiletto blade, wooden grip, metal knuckle guard, and a rounded pommel. The M1917 proved unsatisfactory in service, and a slightly improved version, the M1918, was adopted within months. Despite this, the M1918 is almost identical to the M1917, differing primarily in the construction and appearance of the knuckle guard. Usable only as stabbing weapons, the M1917 and M1918 frequently suffered broken blades. Their limited utility and general unpopularity caused the AEF to empanel a testing board in 1918 to test various trench knives and select a replacement.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 9”
Overall length: 14”
Scabbard length: 9 7/8"
Handguard: 4 1/2”x 5”

  • This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington

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