1918 Trench Knife- Whats it worth?
The handle looks original ( stamped 1918 brass knuckle style) but the blade has been modified to a "Japanese Dirk" style. The knife has a sheath and other than the blade looks and smells...old. I got this as a gift and I'm wondering if my wife over paid.
PS, Great site, just found it.
PS, Great site, just found it.
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An original is bringing up to $250.00....But there are a bunch of Reproductions out there...and are worth $20.00....They look Real, and a few Colletors have been Taken by unscrupless Dealers...One of the Give aways to one style of reproduction is the Stainlees Steel Blade and the Stainless Nut holding the Blade to the Bronze Hilt...The Fact that your Blade has been modified makes it even less desirable....
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Further...be aware that they are illegal, original or repro in many
cities and states.0 -
Landers, Feery, and Clark made some 140,000 of these knives for use during WWI and they stayed in service up into WWII- although listed as limited standard. None were produced after 1919. The things were nasty looking but due to the clenched fist design, not really very useful for anything other than busting someone in the chops or a dagger stab. Since these things were big, heavy, and not too useful for anything other than killing, most troops perfered to carry around anything other than the 1918; a K-BAR was just as effective a killer and also had a variety of other uses as a day to day knife.
On the rightside of the handle of the 1918 there should be lettering U.S. 1918 and then below that in smaller letters L.F&C-1918. These US made knives were chemically blackend on the blade and handle. There were also left over French made versions of the same knife in which saw service and they were marked U.S. 1918 in very large letters. The French knives had a bright blade, brass finish on the handle and a lion trademark "Au Lion" stamped on the blade near the hilt. Each 1918 knife came with a stamped sheet metal scabbard which was also marked LF&C 1918 near its top on the reverse. The French scabbards were made of brazed blued steel and very cheap looking compared to the US versions. The French scabbards were unmarked.
Capt. Kirk is on the money with the value and 101 is correct to caution you that these knives are illegal in may locations. In some cases however a real 1918 would be legal as a historical curio but a reproduction would be banned as a deadly weapon. Fighting knives make interesting collectables and although many are expensive, you can still build up a very impressive collection for far less money than a simular collection of firearms- and usually with many fewer restrictions.
Mark T. Christian0
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