WW1 US Trench fighting knives 1917 & 1918 

I was lucky enough to have inherited both the 1917 and 1918, unfortunately the scabbard/sheaths were no longer with them, very proud to have them in my collection. 🍀😉👍

My dog crapped in the house and when I was looking for cleaning supplies I found the 1918 knife just sitting in the cabinet. I was quite surprised when I examined it and saw “1918” on the handle. Great video!

Purpose of the 1917 was to be able to stab through the Germans wool trench coats from my understanding a regular knife had a hard time stabbing thru them when they were wet, correct me if I’m wrong but that’s what I learned. Also it made a nasty wound that was hard to close and heal well

Your videos are awesome, definitely subscribing, keep up the awesome videos mate

This guy should have way more than 39 subs

The French soldiers would cut down the “Rosalie” cruciform bladed early bayonet for the same reasons as the 1917 U.S. knife

Man i need one of those things

Good video, worth mentioning too that while the m3 replaced the m1918 in the US military, It wasn't actually because the m3 was a better design. The primary reason for the change was cost, it was just too expensive to use that amount of brass on each knife. So it really is a testament to what a good knife as a weapon the 1918 was, it really never was obsolete from a use perspective only a logistical one. The only other complaints was it was a bit heavy, and it was ill suited as a multi purpose survival knife, while the Ka-bar served the multi purpose role much better, as a camp knife, and a pry bar for marines. Still, as a pure fighting weapon, it holds up to this day.

Your criticism's of the D gaurd triangle knife stem from a lack of understanding it's near perfect design and how it was designed to be used. If the enemy is wearing large heavy coats, forget about cutting.. This point and triangle blade is unmatched. The D gaurd trench knife is perfectly designed for thrusting with the live hand reinforcing the pommel. While still having the pyramids for a reduced impact surface. The large D gaurd also works while wearing gloves. Look at it again and see it in the light/context it was designed and used.

The blade is clearly that of the French couteau-poignard modèle 1916, aka "Le Vengeur". Over 350.000 of those knives were made in Thiers, and that brand name is clearly from Thiers (there is still a manufacturer called Lion-Sabatier). You probably won't find an Au Lion scabbard, for it's not a thing French manufacturers wasted their time on. The way production worked in Thiers, heavily relying on subconctracting, made that the scabbard likely wouldn't have been made by the company making the knife. Possibly the knife wasn't even really made by Au Lion, just Au Lion got the manufacturing contract. Or the blades could gave been forged by a third party, quenched somewhere else, then ground by jobbing grinders, and only the polishing and assembly done in-house. This is a very common thing in Thiers. I know, I'm a knife manufacturer there.

Triangular blade wounds were harder to stitch up that them from normal knives. At least that is the reason I've heard they were banned.

My favorite ww1 knife is the m1917 bolo vary good knife solid as a rock

Opening up the box... 'Thank you for purchasing our MK1 Trench fighting knife, we hope it will give you many years of good reliable service'. 'If you're not satisfied with our product then please contact us directly before leaving your feedback. Lol.

Love your channel brother

I think 🤔 I will watch the movie 🍿 “1917” now.

Cool knife.

Mate, it would behoove us to input some "end-user" testimony ;o)~ , even with my humbly limited knowledge, I can see you missed a lot. Happy that someone even cared to make a video on it, keep up the good work!

Great video! The Great War is one of my favorite era's of history. Keep up the awesome content.

I had an 1918 when I was a kid and sold it, trying to wheel and deal to find and buy an 1917... When I was a kid I found out they took a shitload of the old Civil War bayonets and puked out these knives. No, it's not actually a practical knife per se, but the history of it is amazing!

Great video! The Great War is one of my favorite era's of history. Keep making awesome content.

About first knife... Roman's gladius, medieval daggers, Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife-all these weapons were designed to thrust- stab, because it is the most efficient way of eliminating an enemy. So, complaining about a triangle blade, because you cannot slash with it is kinda lame.

So many knife puns so little time 🤷‍♂️😂😂 love the video!

Thanks, Michael Caine!

they can also make great naval combat weapons.

Doing proper damage

I'd like to have the thumbnail knife in life or death brawl.

I'd like to have the 1918 blade on the 1917 handle.

How much is 1918 knife?

Where could I purchase a authentic trench knife?

Does anyone make a copy of the Mark 1 American trench knife now? Like a clone copy of it. Obviously not gonna find one from back then

The 1917 model is a violation of the Hague convention. Triangular punctures are harder to mend than a lenticular puncture. Creating a wider wound channel. Stabs tend to be more lethal than cuts in most cases as well. However the 1918 model with its compromise cut and thrust type blade is more versatile for utility as a knife, also the triangular shape of the 1917 ( barring any metallurgical imperfections) should be significantly less flexible than the flat lenticular blade of the 1918. Also cuts through clothing are not very effective while a stab parts the fibers easily.

Aren't knives with a knuckle duster hand guard illegal to own in the UK?? Or are these exempt because they are original old antiques??

What did you give for it

Great for cracking walnuts

Nice video, thanks for sharing. Your thoughts on slashing with these knives are incorrect.

Pas mal

Au Lion (Or Lion = Gold Lion)

I read somewhere that the triangular blade was designed for penetrating the German jackets that apparently when damp were difficult to pierce. I have no idea if there is any truth to that but I tell the guys at auctions this and they think I know my shi$. Very informative video, Thank you.

..i have one of this 1918 knife,i want to sell it

I have an au Leon and scabbard that I would like to sell.