Info on this 1918 Au Lion trench knife?

[jma10780]

A member on my local firearms forum posted this, and was curious about whether selling a knife like this is legal across the country. I just wanted to know if it was the genuine article.

[not2sharp]

It looks like the real deal. It would not be legal in places that prohibit the sale of double edge knives, or brass knuckles.

n2s

[willgoy]

Seen these before, but I have a question too: Why are they always stamped 1918? Was this when they were issued by the French to American forces? Were there other year stamps for other forces, say the British, Anzacs or Canadians.

Nasty looking piece of kit , provided the machine-gunner let you near enough to use it.....

Can't imagine them being street legal anywhere!

[bernard_levine]

They were US issue, not French issue. Made to US specs.

Only made in 1918.

The same blade was used in French issue trench knives, with more practical wooden handles.

BRL...

[willgoy]

Thank you for the correction.

I got misled by 'Au Lion' assumed it would've been French.

[CWL]

Thank you for the correction.

I got misled by 'Au Lion' assumed it would've been French.

The first ones were made, under contract, by the French firm Au Lion, later ones were manufactured in the USA.

[makandr]

The first product line was made in France by the General Society on manufacturing knives and jewels in Saint-Ouen (S.G.C.O.)
under cover of Au Lion («At the Lion») representing a lion lying under the inscription Au Lion, which was registered in
Thiers May 14, 1906 by Antoine Gonone, and then sold him to SGCO June 9, 1909.

[K Williams]

It would be awesome if Bark River Knives/Blackjack Knives did a reproduction of this knife.