Why are authentic M1918 and MK I Trench Knives so expensive?

S

Stahlmann

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Jan 21, 2021
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Obviously it boils down to supply/demand, but I'm curious if their scarcity is due to so few ever being made, or were a bunch destroyed or what exactly? Thanks.
 
Many have given into use and time and are now destroyed; others are in collections the world over. These knives have served officially or unofficially in just about every war since WWI. There are relatively few of these well known and colorful knives left in the wild, and that makes it hard to get and expensive.

n2s
 
I don't have much to add past not2sharp not2sharp . Trench knives were often unofficial types of knives. And their coolness is derived from their use, not usually their specific forms (there are some exceptions, like say SMATCHET!!!). There were a lot of trench knives, but the ones in decent shape these days probably didn't spend much time in the trenches. WWI was a war of attrition, I thin that is why you don't see more of the knives.

And of course, the traditional sub-forum is usually devoted to friendlier knives, which might be why you see less of them here.
 
I do think the number made was fairly low compared to other issue knives. And soldiers often provided their own knives too if anecdotes are to be believed. So if you start with a knife that’s not very versatile, add in the usual high wartime attrition rate, and the fact that they look very “bad to the bone” and lots of guys would love to have one… they’re not too cheap today, to say the least. I’ve had the privilege to examine a couple in detail (they basically lived on my desk for a year or so) and they are indeed neat knives.
 
My response is that it's over a hundred years ago, conditions on all fronts were horrific and even large material simply vanished in the mud and chaos, let alone small items. Thus they're scarce. There is another aspect too, in retrospect people are interested in wars and the weaponry and paraphernalia but a significant number of those taking part in action don't have this feeling. Once freed of war many soldiers (and civilians) simply don't want to recall it too much or to associate with items of death. Many don't want to talk about it as they feel they will not be understood anyway, except by others who shared the experience. Early on in WW1 many soldiers sought trophies, cap badges, helmets, buckles, small arms ,knives etc but this too soon wore off as the grim realities of survival and attrition kicked in, human life was disregarded so it's no wonder that equipment or artefacts got lost. If you were captured, being found in possession of certain items/trophies or having sniper or machine-gun insignia might greatly reduce your chances of being given mercy.

We might look at photos or film of the era, see piles of various rifles, pistols, bayonets, knives etc after surrenders or attacks and think it would be interesting to own them, but at the time I suspect the people involved had a different reaction.

They're rare because they're rare, because they're rare, because they're rare....
 
Not that many were made, lots of attrition since. This is no different than any other production collectible.
 
Anything and everything WW2 related is expensive. :(

(Even if it can't be proven without question it was actually used by a trooper during the war.)
 
GaiusJulius said:
I do think the number made was fairly low compared to other issue knives. And soldiers often provided their own knives too if anecdotes are to be believed. So if you start with a knife that’s not very versatile, add in the usual high wartime attrition rate, and the fact that they look very “bad to the bone” and lots of guys would love to have one… they’re not too cheap today, to say the least. I’ve had the privilege to examine a couple in detail (they basically lived on my desk for a year or so) and they are indeed neat knives.
Click to expand...
"...the U.S. government placed orders for 1,232,780 Mark I knives with several U.S. contractors, including Landers, Frary & Clark Co., Henry Disston & Sons and Oneida Community Limited, with deliveries to commence in December 1918. Ordnance records note that the end of the war in November 1918 caused Ordnance to cancel all orders for the Mark I with the exception of a single reduced order for 119,424 knives from Landers, Frary & Clark Co." Ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_I_trench_knife

That's a very good point. Less than 10% of what was originally ordered from US manufacturers was ever actually produced. Had 1.2M Mark I's been made and ultimately surplussed, I suspect excellent $400-500 specimens would be readily available today.
 
abbydaddy said:
I don't have much to add past not2sharp not2sharp . Trench knives were often unofficial types of knives. And their coolness is derived from their use, not usually their specific forms (there are some exceptions, like say SMATCHET!!!). There were a lot of trench knives, but the ones in decent shape these days probably didn't spend much time in the trenches. WWI was a war of attrition, I thin that is why you don't see more of the knives.

And of course, the traditional sub-forum is usually devoted to friendlier knives, which might be why you see less of them here.
Click to expand...
The M1918 and MK I Trench Knives were issue pieces, as was the glorious Smatchet.
 
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