Mk1 Knuckle Duster Trench Art Sword

Product Description:  An intriguing and highly individual example of wartime ingenuity, this M1918 Mk1 L.F.& C. Knuckle Duster Trench Art Sword represents a compelling fusion of standard-issue military equipment and trench art adaptation. The piece measures approximately 29.5 inches overall, with a 25-inch blade that exhibits visible corrosion and wear consistent with age and service, lending the surface a pleasing and even patina.

The blade has been affixed, likely by soldering or a comparable period method, to an original Mk1 L.F.& C. knuckle duster hilt, creating a striking and unconventional hybrid form. The absence of the end nut further underscores its improvised character.

As a whole, the M1918 Mk1 L.F.& C. Knuckle Duster Trench Art Sword stands as a unique and evocative artifact, embodying both the functional demands and the creative adaptations of its era.  Overall it rates in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The first official U.S. trench knife adopted for service issue was the U.S. M1917 trench knife. It was designed by Henry Disston & Sons and based off examples of trench knives that were in service with the French Army at that time. 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.

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