Bigdibbs88 Posted August 31, 2017 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2017 Hi All- I just picked up this Au Lion trench knife. It's my first one so I dont have much to compare to and would appreciate your opinions. I know that the green paint on the scabbard is not factory and was likely added during use in WWII. My concerns are that the blade seems to be in excellent condition and the striking pommel on the end doesnt seem to fit very flush. Im pretty sure that Au Lion did not blacken their blades and I remember reading that they also didnt have the highest quality but I just wanted to make sure its right. I also havent seen another variation of this type with the small circles near the crossguard and between the middle knuckles. I just want to make sure that the knife is not put together or has not been cleaned. Thank you! (sorry for the third party image links, i cant get files to upload even though theyre under the size limit) https://ibb.co/gzgpj5https://ibb.co/hjCJcQhttps://ibb.co/jTn6Wkhttps://ibb.co/cGSUj5https://ibb.co/ngah45https://ibb.co/gHGYBkhttps://ibb.co/b2Tfrkhttps://ibb.co/kovRWkhttps://ibb.co/fBv4HQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doughboy Posted August 31, 2017 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2017 What I can see - it looks good to me.Let's see what the specialists say. doughboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted August 31, 2017 Share #3 Posted August 31, 2017 Greetings, My vote would be the handle is not original (the rest is). I concur with never seeing another example with those circles cast into the handle. The fonts are of a style I have not viewed on other grooved variants see here http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/196382-m1918-mk-i-trench-knife-comparing-originals-to-your-suspect-knife-thread/ and appear more like one the styles used on the un-grooved examples. Besides the aforementioned circles, what kills it for me is the interior of the fonts are basically the same color (patina-wise) as the surface of the handle. Plenty of folks polished the handles for their own reasons, but who polishes the insides of the fonts? I believe there is a color match/uniformity between the two areas, because it is a new made reproduction and has not had time to tarnish in the uneven manner of nearly 100 year old originals. And finally, I have not viewed an Au Lion grooved reproduction before, but this is an excellent candidate. Sincerely, Lance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdibbs88 Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted September 1, 2017 Thanks guys. Any other opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knucvks7 Posted September 1, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 1, 2017 A dealer from Greensboro, NC. had a similar one for sale, is this possibly the same one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted September 1, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 1, 2017 Saving some of this knife in question's pictures to the thread in order to keep it alive if/when the posted links die. V/r Lance Picture 01: With the handle's circles highlighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted September 1, 2017 Share #7 Posted September 1, 2017 Picture 02: With the noted poor fit (blade & skull crusher) and handle's rear circle depression (blue highlighted circle) highlighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted September 1, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 1, 2017 Picture 03: Hilt shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony-in-NH Posted September 1, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 1, 2017 I agree handle does not look right. The rest looks ok to me. The Au Lions always give me a hard time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted September 5, 2017 Share #10 Posted September 5, 2017 For forum members situational awareness, the Knife in question is listed for sale here http://www.brentsantiques.com/cgi-bin/Display_Items.asp?Cat=176&Sub=738 as Item #: BA5270.V/r Lance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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