schmooser Posted October 13, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 13, 2018 Was this issued in WW2? Looking at an example that is marked USS TUNA. Dated 1941 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted October 13, 2018 Knife...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted October 13, 2018 Pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted October 13, 2018 Share #4 Posted October 13, 2018 No expert here but I don't believe they were issued. However you certainly see their use along with the 1918's in WW2. I'm assuming there was a USS Tuna. I like anything customized. Probably need pics of the maker's name and better shots of the knife overall to show it's legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted October 13, 2018 It is legit, I own a few. The question is why a trench knife would be on a submarine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted October 13, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 13, 2018 Dad was issued one when he joined the National Guard in 1940. He was told to turn it in sometime in 1942 but sent it home instead. A trench knife on a sub? That thing has some 'splainin to do. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted October 13, 2018 Share #7 Posted October 13, 2018 Is it free hand carved or stamped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted October 13, 2018 Looks hand done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted October 13, 2018 Share #9 Posted October 13, 2018 Greetings, I’m not sure why, but knuckle knives were popular trading items within the U.S. Navy. I own several examples just like yours that came directly from Navy Veteran’s families. None have any personalization or attributions as your example, but they all possess leather scabbards made from scraps (no, I won’t be posting examples of them). Of course, they were great fodder for trading with Marines or Soldiers, but there was a genuine level of affection for knuckle knives within the Navy’s ranks. I think that whether made on board ship, by Seabees on an island, or a once issued piece such as your example; knuckle knives were just another traded for commodity. I don’t believe it was a case of obtaining these for their original intended purpose, but more for their “cool” factor and too, as a souvenir to send back home to demonstrate to the folks back home that they in fact were in the $!&T. If you have a young man raised on Errol Flynn movies and you put a MkII and a knuckle knife in front of him he’s going to pick up the knuckle knife even though the MkII is a far more useful knife. So, to me it is not a case of a Submariner, who is needing/using it, it’s more a case of something neat the Sailor traded for as a souvenir/memento of their tour. A neat knife, thank you for posting it. Thoughts complete. Best, V/r Lance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted October 13, 2018 Share #10 Posted October 13, 2018 I would think decorated by a happy sailor who picked up a humdinger of a knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted October 14, 2018 Share #11 Posted October 14, 2018 I was taught that the 1917's and any other knife with a tri-sided blade was removed from U.S. inventory and released to the consumer market in the 1920's, due to the various international treaties signed after WW1. It wouldn't surprise me that some stray examples might still be found occasionally in dark corners of some supply rooms. However I have a hard time imagining there would be much of a presence of these around in any theater of operation during WW2. Personally I wouldn't want to end up having one on my person if I happened to be captured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted October 14, 2018 Share #12 Posted October 14, 2018 As sactroop stated they were released in the 1920's from government storage. Would love to know what they sold for. Maybe they're listed in some Bannerman's Catalog of the time. I know I only paid $10 for my original "OCL" w/ correct "Jewell" scabbard in 1972. I digress. I could see a whole bunch of servicemen carrying these in WW2. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted October 15, 2018 I only wish I was collecting in the 70s. Too busy partying and chasing women while in the Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted October 15, 2018 Share #14 Posted October 15, 2018 I wish I had collected more in the 60s & 70s. The sad part was there were not many references out there, so we didn't know what was what. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted October 15, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 15, 2018 From my 1925 Bannerman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted October 15, 2018 thanks, RD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted October 15, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 15, 2018 Thanks again Red Devil ! SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccyooper Posted October 16, 2018 Share #18 Posted October 16, 2018 I have a couple early bannermans too and I believe on that page they are also selling 45-70 trowel bayonets for $1.25 for gardening tools....thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share #19 Posted October 22, 2018 Given Franks comment on this post, http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/197222-a-usmc-m1917-knuckle-knife/page-2&do=findComment&comment=2553642 It is possible the 1917 was available in WW2 for issue and use. I did make the purchase and am pleased with it. Much better in hand. The seller started collecting as a kid, very surprised he never played with it in the yard. He has a child on the way and needed funds. His other pieces were foreign, no interest to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Trzaska Posted October 22, 2018 Share #20 Posted October 22, 2018 The USS Tuna actually had a shore landing party. They had an aborted landing and a successful island landing during the war. Maybe... ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmooser Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted October 23, 2018 This example looks to never have been in a sheath, so I honestly dont know. Need to get my time machine tuned up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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