Strange Mix WWII Knife

neitman

Member
Just picked this one up. I suspect it to be a theater modification, but who really knows? French made AU LION trench knife blade from WWI, missing the brass knuckle grip and appears to have it replaced with possibly a Mark 1 leather grip/wooden butt. All attractively housed in a nice Milsco M6 sheath.
If you have anyother thoughts on it, I would love to hear them.
 

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I can't identify it, but I have to say that is an attractive knife. Interesting that the guard and pommel used seem to go to a single edged knife. You'd think the maker would have used a double guard and a round pommel to accent the double edged blade, more of a Fairbairn style balanced look. Perhaps that does indicate a theater modification?
 
AU Lion

As I said, the brass knuckle grip is missing. Maybe found it too heavy and cumbersome and since it is held on by a nut at the pommel end, it was easily removed. However, the replacement grip, besides being a less attractive choice considering the double edged blade, is also very sloppy loose. The leather washers and the wood pommel move around quite a bit. I doubt it was ever a tight replacement. I would love to find an original 1918 stamped brass knuckle grip with a trash blade. Then maybe I could get it cheap and restore the AU Lion back to the way it was issued.
 

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