World War 1 on the Western Front soon devolved into nightly trench raids to eliminate sentries, capture prisoners, and gather intelligence. The traditional US Army long edged weapons proved nearly useless in the narrow confines of the trenches, leading to the introduction of the M-1917 knuckle knife. It featured a triangular spike blade specifically designed to pierce heavy wool uniforms, and it was also widely carried by US troops in the early days of WW2. This US Army USMC Marine WW1 WW2 A.C. Co. M-1917 Trench Fighting Knuckle Knife is in Very Good Condition, with some light downward bending and finish abrading to the blade tip, some scattered nicking as a result of pitting to the blade edges, some scattered scratching, finish abrading, pitting, and patina at each side of the blade, moderate cleaning to the guard and pommel, which has removed most of the bluing, a small chip and a rough patch in the top spine of the handle, some scattered nicking and scratching to the handle, some light roughening around the lower right edge of the handle, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features an 8 7/8” triangular spike blade that retains approximately 75% of the original blued finish, sports the classic bowed steel “D” guard with two rows of 5 flanged knuckles down the middle, and is stamped “U.S.A.” at the interior middle of that guard, along with its maker, “A.C. CO.” (American Cutlery Company of Chicago, Illinois), and the date, “1917”. It boasts the original, mellow “finger grip” walnut handle, carries the original steel pommel nut, and the whole piece remains “tight as a drum”. A fine example of a very rare, original US Army USMC Marine WW1 WW2 A.C. Co. M-1917 Trench Fighting Knuckle Knife. No scabbard included.