Here's some history:
When the US entered WWI, we knew we needed to issue a fighting knife, and the first model issued was the US Model 1917/18 Trench "knife".
This really wasn't a knife, since the blade was a 9 3/4" triangular "ice pick" type blade.
The handle was walnut, and the guard was made of steel, formed into a knobbed knuckle bow.
The 1917/18 was not popular with the troops, since it couldn't be used as a combat knife to cut open rations, cut rope, or other uses, and the 1917/18 was large and bulky.
In 1918, Major Eugene McNary of the AEF designed and patented a new knife named the US Mark One.
Many people call this knife the "1918", since the 1918 date is cast into the handle, along with the makers initials.
This was an actual knife, with a 6 3/4" double edged dagger blade, and a handle made of cast bronze with knuckles.
The butt of the handle had a conical nut that both held the blade in the handle, and acted as a "skull crusher".
The knuckles were formed into individual finger stalls, which were intended to prevent the user from dropping the knife if he was wounded or knocked unconscious.
The knuckles had spikes on each bow, both to improve the damage done to an opponent, and to prevent the opponent from grabbing the knife hand.
The blade is finished with a dull gun blue, and the bronze handle was chemically blackened.
The Mark One's scabbard was a two piece iron scabbard, with two prongs riveted on the back, which were used to attach the scabbard to the cartridge belt. In order to attach the scabbard to the cartridge belt, the upper prong is bent upward.
The prongs were the weak point of the scabbard, since if the prong was bent down to attach the scabbard to a pistol belt, or if the scabbard was given a jerk, the prongs would break off.
For this reason, most surviving scabbards are missing one or both prongs.
The scabbard was copper plated then chemically blackened to prevent rust.
The scabbard is much rarer than the knife.
Since it took time for the American makers of the Mark One to tool up for production, Major McNary contracted with the French company of Au Lion to make a version of the Mark One in France.
This Au Lion version has a handle made of brass, not the bronze used on the American version.
The knuckles have a more rounded shape with no spikes, and the handle often has two grooves running the length of the handle on the upper side to provide a better grip.
The French version is noticeably poorer quality than the American made version, and is slightly smaller.
The blade was the same blade used on a French issue trench knife, and is marked with a reclining lion, and the name Au Lion.
The brass handle was left in it's natural, as-cast color, and the blade was left bright.
The French scabbard was iron, made in the European bayonet scabbard tubular method, with two prongs welded on the back.
It was finished in a dull black color.
It's uncertain if the American version saw action, since by the time shipments arrived in Europe, the war ended.
The French version definitely was used in combat.
In the 1920's, the US 1917/18 spike blade knives were sold off as surplus, and many of the Mark One models were also sold.
When WWII started, the Mark One was the only combat knife available, and it was heavily issued to early paratroopers and Rangers.
It was a common practice in WWII to modify the Mark One by cutting one or both sides of the round guard off so the knife would lie flatter against the side.
Individuals also would cut the knuckles off, leaving finger grooves.
Occasionally, the handle was thrown away, and the blade was fitted with a new handle.
Since the scabbards tended to break the prongs off, many Mark One knives were fitted with replacement scabbards made of leather.
When it became clear that many more combat knives were needed, it was decided to design a more modern knife that didn't use brass or bronze, this being in short supply.
So, the US Mark Three combat knife was designed and issued.
The Mark One knives bring HIGH prices.
The French version brings less than the American made knives, but it's not unusual for a French version to bring $400.00 and up.
