WW1 Trench Knife

I’ve always thought trench knives would be fun to collect, but there has long been a booming business in fakes.

Hope yours is real, no idea how to tell.
 
JimB said:
I’ve always thought trench knives would be fun to collect, but there has long been a booming business in fakes.

Hope yours is real, no idea how to tell.
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I had no idea. When did the forgeries start popping up? If its a fake its super well done between the patina and the wear/age of the leather. Honestly the scabbard is rarer than the actual knife.
 
A very cool, rare piece of history. Figuring out if it is real or a reproduction requires someone who has studied these in depth.
 
Kogarth said:
I had no idea. When did the forgeries start popping up? If its a fake its super well done between the patina and the wear/age of the leather. Honestly the scabbard is rarer than the actual knife.
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Yup, that sheath is awesome!
 
Kogarth said:
View attachment 499978View attachment 499979View attachment 499980

Ive had this knife for maybe 10 years. Its stamped 1917 and I know its a trench knife but all the ones I see online have a different knuckle duster. Im new and just wanted to share and see if anyone on here knew more about it.
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Are you referring to the missing pyramid at the top of the knuckle duster? From the small amount of research I have done, it looks they were made with and without the extra pyramid.
 
beamernc said:
Are you referring to the missing pyramid at the top of the knuckle duster? From the small amount of research I have done, it looks they were made with and without the extra pyramid.
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Ah ok, the US made quite a few iterations its hard to keep track. I like the 1918 variants as well but dont have one.
 
I have my grandfather's 1918 trench knife that he brought home from WWII. Not sure where he originally got it. But it has rust stains on the blade that look like finger prints and we've always wondered it if was from holding it with a bloody hand. It also had the guard modified which I found was common.

1658335714957.png1658335748969.png
 
These are heavily faked, as has been noted. The fakes/repros have been around for decades, so sometimes they are seen with geandmparina.

With that said, yours looks righteous, from what I can tell in the pics.
 
Awesome, I had no idea fake trench knives were such a big thing. The only issue I have with it is the scabbard is starting to come loose. Should I try an fix it or just leave it alone?

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beamernc said:
I have my grandfather's 1918 trench knife that he brought home from WWII. Not sure where he originally got it. But it has rust stains on the blade that look like finger prints and we've always wondered it if was from holding it with a bloody hand. It also had the guard modified which I found was common.

View attachment 500078View attachment 500079
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Love the 1918s, such a cool knife.
 
Kogarth said:
Awesome, I had no idea fake trench knives were such a big thing. The only issue I have with it is the scabbard is starting to come loose. Should I try an fix it or just leave it alone?

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Leave it alone. Baby it such that it doesn’t get worse.
 
www.ima-usa.com

U.S. WWI M1917 Trench Knife with Scabbard - Marked LF&C 1917

New Made Item: This is a high quality reproduction of the first US issue trench knife. The M1917 has a wood handle, triangular stiletto blade, and leather scabbard with standard GI Pistol belt hook attachment. Notable features: - Triangular 9" black steel blade- Steel guard marked: LF&C 1917-...
www.ima-usa.com www.ima-usa.com

www.ima-usa.com

Original U.S. WWI UNISSUED M1917 Trench Knife by L.F. & C dated 1917 With Cardboard Shipping Tube and Scabbard by Jewell dated 1918

Original Item: Only One Available. This excellent condition Model 1917 trench knife has a wood handle, triangular stiletto blade, and leather scabbard with standard GI Pistol belt hook attachment and even the original cardboard tube which was put over the blade before being issued! The top of...
www.ima-usa.com www.ima-usa.com

links to a reproduction and an original. Perhaps there are some difference you can see to make a determination.
 
Awesome links, i think the biggest tell is the scabbard. You can tell a big difference between the repo and the original. The leather doesnt keep the green. The knife is a little harder to tell. Im guessing you could fake the patina. One way I guess would be the marks on the blade where the scabbard scrapes the finish off the blade but that could be faked as well. :/
 
Reminds me of a bad day at the shop.

Guys come in with his son. Said he wanted me to look at is grandfather's M1 Garand he brought back from WWII.
I said great not too many WWII bring back Garands. It would be great to look it over.
What I was looking at was a true WWII Springfield... Short or the 50's barrel and Big Stamp on the barrel. Blue Sky!

He said that his grandfather as I said brought it home from WWII. I went on to say yes the gun was a WWII Springfield. They knew nothing about it. I was trying to break it as easy as I could. Explained that Blue Sky was an importer. Also said the barrel was 54 ish. He said I do not know what I was talking about and that Blue Sky was a unit marking.
Now they were not trying to sell it. All they wanted was to teach the kid about it and a value along with condition and if safe to shoot abd shoot the ammo he had also brought back because it was old and on clips.
Bad day breaking the guys heart. I tried to deflect stuff... Yep this could be the SN he had and carried. Could be the same type, look and Mfg. So I agreed it could be the same as but not the same complete gun.....

There are so many fake correct guns, gear, ammo, knives......

Even china copied LC 30 carbine ammo with war time dates but made in the 70's and 80's
Knives are a big fake item. Hope yours is real.
 
Mr.Gadget said:
Reminds me of a bad day at the shop.

Guys come in with his son. Said he wanted me to look at is grandfather's M1 Garand he brought back from WWII.
I said great not too many WWII bring back Garands. It would be great to look it over.
What I was looking at was a true WWII Springfield... Short or the 50's barrel and Big Stamp on the barrel. Blue Sky!

He said that his grandfather as I said brought it home from WWII. I went on to say yes the gun was a WWII Springfield. They knew nothing about it. I was trying to break it as easy as I could. Explained that Blue Sky was an importer. Also said the barrel was 54 ish. He said I do not know what I was talking about and that Blue Sky was a unit marking.
Now they were not trying to sell it. All they wanted was to teach the kid about it and a value along with condition and if safe to shoot abd shoot the ammo he had also brought back because it was old and on clips.
Bad day breaking the guys heart. I tried to deflect stuff... Yep this could be the SN he had and carried. Could be the same type, look and Mfg. So I agreed it could be the same as but not the same complete gun.....

There are so many fake correct guns, gear, ammo, knives......

Even china copied LC 30 carbine ammo with war time dates but made in the 70's and 80's
Knives are a big fake item. Hope yours is real.
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Wow that is heart breaking.
I guess there is plenty of money in forgeries. You pretty much have to have a forensic team these days when dealing with old gear.
 
Mr.Gadget said:
Reminds me of a bad day at the shop.

Guys come in with his son. Said he wanted me to look at is grandfather's M1 Garand he brought back from WWII.
I said great not too many WWII bring back Garands. It would be great to look it over.
What I was looking at was a true WWII Springfield... Short or the 50's barrel and Big Stamp on the barrel. Blue Sky!

He said that his grandfather as I said brought it home from WWII. I went on to say yes the gun was a WWII Springfield. They knew nothing about it. I was trying to break it as easy as I could. Explained that Blue Sky was an importer. Also said the barrel was 54 ish. He said I do not know what I was talking about and that Blue Sky was a unit marking.
Now they were not trying to sell it. All they wanted was to teach the kid about it and a value along with condition and if safe to shoot abd shoot the ammo he had also brought back because it was old and on clips.
Bad day breaking the guys heart. I tried to deflect stuff... Yep this could be the SN he had and carried. Could be the same type, look and Mfg. So I agreed it could be the same as but not the same complete gun.....

There are so many fake correct guns, gear, ammo, knives......

Even china copied LC 30 carbine ammo with war time dates but made in the 70's and 80's
Knives are a big fake item. Hope yours is real.
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I recall buying some of that 30 carbine ammo from Paragon Sales (?) in the early 90’s. I think their back story was it was intended as clandestine aid to “freedom fighters”. How true that was is anyones guess.
 
Kogarth said:
Wow that is heart breaking.
I guess there is plenty of money in forgeries. You pretty much have to have a forensic team these days when dealing with old gear.
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One of my friends made a lot of repops. Mostly parts. Parts for muskets from the CW.
I remember being at a collector show and a guy had a mint lock for a Fayetteville musket if I recall correctly. I remember making the comment to him that there was a guy with a Fayetteville lock, looks great from what I could see. He said yep it should be it is one of mine I bet. I said No he said it is original and asking 2k if I recall.

He said lets go bust his bubble. So off we go he said nice repop lock.Guy jumped up and said that is not a repop it is an original. And a long story.
He said he knew what it was and that he built it. Along with 50 others or something like that. Guy got pissed said you are wrong and you do not know whst you are looking at.
My friend said pull it out and I will show you my mark. It is on the back behind the sear.
Sure enough mover the sear and it was marked.
It was worth good money but no place above 1000$
It was not a fake for say but the guy got it as real so was selling it as a fake and did not know.
 
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