Original Item: One of a Kind. We've had multiple examples of these lovely "theater made" knuckle knives over the years, but never one quite like this one. If anything, it's a "knuckle machete", due to the heavy 20 3/4 inch long blade, which gives it an overall length of just about 25 inches.

The brass handle is definitely one taken from an earlier WWI 1918 Mark 1 Trench knife, though it has been altered to the point that the manufacturer cannot be read. The shape of the loops is distinctive, and would not be possible to replicate in the field. The blade however would have easily been made in the on-ship foundries that the capital and transport ships had. These were necessities, as there was no time to return to port for repair and fabrication.

So, someone had a damaged Mark 1 trench knife, which were still issued even in WWII, and had it turned into this sizable knuckle machete. It is not exactly the easiest weapon to handle, but would have been very useful in the Pacific Island brush. A very interesting theater made weapon, ready to display!