Okay, so Christmas came very late this year. I got a gift from my wife's Grandparents. I know pretty much nothing about this knife. Its definitely a high-carb blade and it looks like a very good one. The old scabbard that came with it has the Marine Corps insignia on it, so its probably a fair guess that this was owned by a Marine. I asked my wife's Grandpa about it and he knows next to nothing about it except that its pretty old and he thinks it's either from WW1 or WW2. He got it from a brother or cousin who supposedly bought it off a Marine a long long time ago ... so all information about the thing is third-hand. Anyone know anything about it???


The knife can be broken down. Take the screw off the bottom, take out the blade and you've got a set of brass knuckles.

Anyways, I'm very curious if anyone can tell me something more about this knife. Thanks in advance!!

Looks to me like the Mark 1 trench knife.

Wow, very cool. Looks to be what was used in WWI.

Mod Edit: We aren't interested in what you think you could do with the knife. Ratchet down.

Was that a standard issue knife for WW1? USA Marine Corps or just a general weapon issued to Army or Marine or whichever branch of service? I had a feeling that it might be WW1. Seems to have been designed with a whole lotta close quarters ugly kinda fighting in mind. What else can you tell me about it?

According to what I've been able to find out as far as the Marine Brigade and this is from Warren Jackson's book His Time In Hell. The Trench Knife was issued to the Marine Brigade upon their arrival in France. Since the Marine Corps used the AEF QM system (Army Controlled) I'd say it's a pretty good bet that Army troops were also issued Trench Knives as the Marines were an attachment to the 2nd Infantry Division.

The Trench Knife was also issued in limited quanties to the Marine Raiders and Parachute Bn's in WWII. Since your sheath has a Marine Corps Emblem I'd say it's a safe bet it's WWII issue and the sheath maybe a private purchase or selfmade item. The EGA on the sheath appears to be the "Old Corps" design and was probably attached by the owner, it wasn't issued that way. The EGA is probably a Barracks Cover device.

I think the "skull buster" on the hilt was more effective than the brass knuckles. Either end looks like it could damage your fighting ability.

Thanks so much to everyone for the info!! Probably a safe bet that a good number of skulls got busted by this guy.

Now I'm contemplating whether it would be better to leave it looking all beat up, or to polish it up.

Nice knucle dusters.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

According to what I've been able to find out as far as the Marine Brigade and this is from Warren Jackson's book His Time In Hell. The Trench Knife was issued to the Marine Brigade upon their arrival in France. Since the Marine Corps used the AEF QM system (Army Controlled) I'd say it's a pretty good bet that Army troops were also issued Trench Knives as the Marines were an attachment to the 2nd Infantry Division.

The Trench Knife was also issued in limited quanties to the Marine Raiders and Parachute Bn's in WWII. Since your sheath has a Marine Corps Emblem I'd say it's a safe bet it's WWII issue and the sheath maybe a private purchase or selfmade item. The EGA on the sheath appears to be the "Old Corps" design and was probably attached by the owner, it wasn't issued that way. The EGA is probably a Barracks Cover device.

If said Marine had the sheath custom made w/ Marine insignia added later, I'm not following how to conclude whether it is WW1 or WW2. Thanks so much for the information and response!!