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1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 4:22 pm
by OSCAR
Always wanted an original but never found one. Not sure what a genuine one would cost, or how to tell if it’s an original. Any idea what it would cost and how to find one? What do you need to look for so as not to waste money on a counterfeit? Thanks
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:07 pm
by doglegg
Oscar there are a few listed on Stewarts Military Antiques.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:18 pm
by 1967redrider
This guy wrote the book on 1918 Trench Knives, I was fortunate enough to meet him at the Antique Arms Show in Baltimore last year and picked up a signed copy.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ ... ariations/
Also this website has a lot of information on real vs. fake trench knives so you know what to avoid.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ ... fe-thread/
Here's an L.F.&C. and Au Lion that I have picked up, along with the cartridge belt their scabbard will clip into.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:24 pm
by OSCAR
Red rider,Doglegg.....thanks for the information.
I will start with this. Not sure it’s within my budget, but I will try. I always wanted this knife.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 3:29 pm
by eveled
When I was a kid a neighbor was renovating his bathroom and found one inside the wall. I got to hold it and have never been the same. Very cool piece of history for sure. Nice set of knives RedRider. Good luck on your quest Oscar.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 4:49 pm
by OSCAR
Thanks Eveled.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:29 pm
by zzyzzogeton
Just be careful about "replicas" and outright forgeries. There have been a ton of these made. One of the tells is the handle and blade stamps. Subtle nuances such as presence or absence of a period, font style, etc.
Over on usmilitaryknives.com, Mr. Frank Trzaska's website, there are articles about trench knives in Knife Knotes, Vols, 3,4,6.
Do a google search on "fake 1918 trench knives" and you'll get 300K+ results.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:50 pm
by 1967redrider
eveled wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 3:29 pm
When I was a kid a neighbor was renovating his bathroom and found one inside the wall. I got to hold it and have never been the same. Very cool piece of history for sure. Nice set of knives RedRider. Good luck on your quest Oscar.
Thank you, Sir.
I'm always on the lookout for the Diston and Oneida ones I don't have, and they're as rare as hen's teeth. The Antique Arms show at Timonium, MD was cancelled this year.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:54 pm
by jtb
zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:29 pm
Just be careful about "replicas" and outright forgeries. There have been a ton of these made. One of the tells is the handle and blade stamps. Subtle nuances such as presence or absence of a period, font style, etc.
Over on usmilitaryknives.com, Mr. Frank Trzaska's website, there are articles about trench knives in Knife Knotes, Vols, 3,4,6.
Do a google search on "fake 1918 trench knives" and you'll get 300K+ results.
I've generally avoid them because I just never took the time to learn the details. Some are obvious replicas, but some of the ones designed to passed off as fakes can be pretty close to original looking.
Re: 1918 knuckle duster trench knife
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 4:12 pm
by brucegodlesky
Any clue to what type of steel was used for these blades? Did the milspecs specify exactly what grade of steel??