The U.S. Army contracted two varieties of fighting knives throughout the First World War:
• the 1917 model trench knife with the nine inch triangular blade, and
• the 1918 Mark I trench knife with the 6.75 double-edged flat blade
The 1917 knife was the one that was carried during the war. The conflict had ended by the time it was decided to begin production on the second knife, which saw some use during the Second World War.
This article is illustrated with pictures of both and goes into some detail at to the manufacturers and the various issues that the Quartermaster Corps had to consider in making their decision as to what should be involved in designing such fighting knives.
More articles about W.W. I trench warfare can be read here.
ww1 fighting knivesworld war one us army knivesww1 trench knives1917 model trench knife history1918 Mark I trench knife informationww1 american army fighting knifeww1 military contractorswwi army fighting knife contractorsLANDERS FRAY and CLARK military contractors1917 trench knife by LANDERS FRAY and CLARK1918 trench knife by AA SIMONS and SONSAA SIMONS and SONS military contractorsAA SIMONS and SONS ww1 military knife manufacturersLANDERS FRAY and CLARK ww1 military knife manufacturers
![U.S. Trench Knives [BR]1917 - 1918](https://oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/Trench-Knives_0001.jpg)
![U.S. Trench Knives [BR]1917 - 1918](https://oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/Trench-Knives_0002.jpg)
ww1 fighting knivesworld war one us army knivesww1 trench knives1917 model trench knife history1918 Mark I trench knife informationww1 american army fighting knifeww1 military contractorswwi army fighting knife contractorsLANDERS FRAY and CLARK military contractors1917 trench knife by LANDERS FRAY and CLARK1918 trench knife by AA SIMONS and SONSAA SIMONS and SONS military contractorsAA SIMONS and SONS ww1 military knife manufacturersLANDERS FRAY and CLARK ww1 military knife manufacturers
