1918 Commando fighting knuckle knife . PLEASE HELP IS IT REAL OR FAKE

[tolly]

Hello

 

I am new to this site but have been on CALGUNS in Ca for quite some time and have always been honest with things i have sold for myself and friends, This 1918 knife was given to me by a friend for sale, He asked me to help sell 3 knives that were in his grandfathers collection and he now needs the money to pay property taxes. The Gravity knife is definatly ok the last knife i admitted i have no idea of what it was but this knuckle knife it the issue.

 

I listed the knife and a guy there has told me its a fake and is basically accusing me of misleading people, firstly i doubt that someone would pay the price i am asking for this knife because it looks pretty but he refuses to post why he thinks it is a fake, i have been honest on the board and asked for anyones help in clarifying its authenticity. If he is right then i will return it to my friend and let him know what he has. If he wrong i would like him to apologise.

 

If anyone can please help, this is eating me up and making me nuts, i would be eternally grateful.

 

Thanks in advance .

 

here is a folder of pics of the knife.

 

http://s482.photobucket.com/albums/r...tomsww1knives/

 

 

[tsellati]

I am by no means an expert, but, I did do a fair bit of internet and book research before acquiring an Au Lion Model 1918 trench knife for my collection. With that said, I do not see anything about your example that screams fake. One piece of information I came across that might help is it has been suggested the replicas floating around have a 1/8" thick blade whereas the original was 5/16".

 

Let us know how thick your knife's blade is. It might also be helpful to post a clear up close image of the model and maker stamp on the handle and one of the pommel "nut".

 

Hopefully, Mr. Trzaska, Tony-in-NH, Greg Robinson, etc. will chime in and offer their learned opinions.

 

Tim

[Corpsmancollector]

I would also agree with Tim, there is nothing that shouts fake to me...Some closer pictures of the handle would help in my opinion.

 

Will

[Tony-in-NH]

It looks good to me with the pictures shown. Lot of finish wear on the blade. Nut looks good. I would like to see a better pictures with a different back ground that would not distort features.

[gunbarrel]

tolly,

 

Tony-in-NH is an expert on these particular knives; get him some better pictures, like he says. In the meantime, you can compare it yourself with some of these pictures:

 

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/m1918mk1.htm

[tolly]

Thank you gentlemen for your time and assistance.

 

Tsellati, the blade is 1/8' wide

 

gunbarrel, i looked at the link with the fakes and it definatley is not like any on there at all.

 

Tom, i took more pics and have put them in the folder, linked above and posted a few here also.

 

 

 

 

 

[Tony-in-NH]

I cannot get into the album. But from the added pictures it is good

[tsellati]

I cannot get into the album. But from the added pictures it is good

 

Tony,

 

Does the fact that the blade is 1/8 " thick and not 5/16" thick raise any concern or is the comment I came across on the internet that "replicas floating around have a 1/8" thick blade whereas the original was 5/16" merely an unsubstantiated rumor?

 

Tim

[tolly]

the link for my photbucket album is

 

http://s482.photobucket.com/albums/rr185/g.../tomsww1knives/

 

The blade also is a fraction over 1/8" but it is definatley not 5/16.........does that make any difference.

 

i do not wish to post the price i am asking on gunboards here as i am fully aware that this is not the 'classifieds' section but if someone has a rough estimate of what an expert thinks it should fetch please send me a private message.

 

once again thanks to ALL of you guys

[Tony-in-NH]

This is the first time I have heard of 1/8 inch, 5/16 thing. Unless some other expert has definate information I would not worry about. In 40 years of collecting I am still a "STUDENT" and I have said it before nothing in collecting Militeria is textbook. The knife in question has been used and wear is evident. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if I need it.

 

Added note: I was set up at a recent Gun Show and had shown an "original" Saganaw M1 Carbine to another collector who is somewhat "ANAL" The Carbine in question was all Saganaw. What he objected to was a couple of light streaks running through the stock. He indicated he thought someone had "messed "with the carbine. There was no indication of the stock ever been sanded or messed with. I told him to take a pill and bother someone else. Point is, the stock had some light areas in it and it wasn't 100% dark walnut that bothered him not me. Bottom line also is you only have to please yourself. I still say the knife in question is good unless some one else can prove it isn't. Then I will eat crow.

[mkgarms]

OK, from what I can see and compare to what I use to have 1918 it is real. The only thing I see wrong with it is someone cleaned the patina off it.

 

What you need to look for is:

 

You have LF&C 1918

Your blade is raised in the middle. Like a raised point on the top blade.

 

 

 

 

[Frank Trzaska]

The knife shown is correct and other then the fact someone buffed it clean it looks good.

 

A 5/16 blade would be way too thick, more like 1/8 to 3/16 is correct.

 

All the best

Frank Trzaska

[tsellati]

The knife shown is correct and other then the fact someone buffed it clean it looks good.

 

A 5/16 blade would be way too thick, more like 1/8 to 3/16 is correct.

 

All the best

Frank Trzaska

 

Yes, 5/16" sounded too thick to me as well and now, for the life of me, I cannot find the url on the web where I came across that comment about determining authenticity based upon blade thickness. If I do manage to stumble across it again I will post the source here.

 

Tim

[kphfun]

Tolly, that knife is correct. If you take the nut off and remove the handle it should have a marking on the hasp I have been told. I only had an Au Loin blade..

[kphfun]

Yes, 5/16" sounded too thick to me as well and now, for the life of me, I cannot find the url on the web where I came across that comment about determining authenticity based upon blade thickness. If I do manage to stumble across it again I will post the source here.

 

Tim

I think 5/16 would be more in line with the M1917 trench knife.

[cwnorma]

The knife shown is correct and other then the fact someone buffed it clean it looks good.

 

A 5/16 blade would be way too thick, more like 1/8 to 3/16 is correct.

 

All the best

Frank Trzaska

 

You can't get a better endorsement than this.

 

Thanks for weighing in Frank.

[APO472]

Great thread and not to hi-jack it. Here is one that I picked up in an antiques store many moons ago. It looks like the one that started the thread but I thought I would see what the experts say as this is not my cup o' tea. Thanks in advance.

[APO472]

Sorry for the pic quaility...my photo skills lack!

[tolly]

Thank you guys for all of your help

[tolly]

Once again just wanted to thank you guys for your help, i did eventually sell the knife on another board and the guy that bought it is sending it to his son who is based in Iraq.

[ChrisNZ]

I purchased a 1918 at a gun show today, purchased it as a repro and am pretty sure it is, can anyone confirm from the photos as to if it is an original or not, i removed the bade and cleaned it up, it has 4 notches on the tang, does this mean anything, we're pretty sure its fake but just want to confirm it.

 

[Jack's Son]

I purchased a 1918 at a gun show today, purchased it as a repro and am pretty sure it is, can anyone confirm from the photos as to if it is an original or not, i removed the bade and cleaned it up, it has 4 notches on the tang, does this mean anything, we're pretty sure its fake but just want to confirm it.

 

Your's is a repro.

The knife shown in the original post is what it should look like.

[ChrisNZ]

Your's is a repro.

The knife shown in the original post is what it should look like.

 

Cool thanks for that, anyone have an idea as to if the 4 notches mean anything? i've also noticed it has a similar 4 notches on the edge of the hilt.

[gunbarrel]

Chris,

 

This is just a wild guess, but when they reproduce military knives and bayonets like in Pakistan and India, they've been known to copy the master piece (an original) to the tee. If the master had those 4 notches on it, they will produce 5,000 replicas, or whatever with those notches on it. Let's say that they buy a knife from you on eBay, an original, and during your childhood you marked it CNZ. Well, their next production batch will all say "CNZ" on it; they figure that's supposed to be there :w00t: Remember, these folks are not collectors; they are craftsmen.

[ChrisNZ]

Thanks for that,

I thought it might have been a mark to show that it was a reproduction, I purchased it from a police officer who said it came out of a collection and that the guy has owned it for over 30 years so its an oldish reproduction (being that they have been illegal to import here for decades) I purchased it as a reproduction and am happy with it being one, just wanted to make 100% sure it was as i would hate to treat it as one only to fine out it's real, I'm still please to have it, I thought I would only ever be able to own a rubber version due to import laws.