The Trench Knife of the Great War: A Relic of Close Combat
A World War I Mark I trench knife and period soldier photograph reveal the harsh realities of close combat on the Western Front.
July 11, 2026
Among the artifacts preserved in the Ghosts of the Battlefield collection is a striking and sobering reminder of the realities of World War I combat—a U.S. Model 1917 trench knife.
Designed specifically for the brutal conditions of trench warfare, the Mark I trench knife represents one of the most recognizable and iconic weapons carried by American soldiers during the final year of the First World War. Unlike traditional bayonets intended primarily for use on a rifle, the trench knife was built for close-quarters fighting in the narrow trenches, shell holes, and fortified positions that defined the Western Front.
The example in our collection displays the distinctive features that made the Mark I instantly recognizable. Its cast-brass knuckle guard was designed to protect the user's hand while also serving as a striking weapon. The double-edged blade provided a lethal thrusting weapon, while the pointed steel pommel could be used as an impact tool in desperate hand-to-hand encounters. Every element of the design reflected the harsh lessons learned from years of trench warfare.
Although officially adopted by the United States Army in 1917, the weapon arrived late in the war and saw only limited service before the Armistice ended hostilities on November 11, 1918. Nevertheless, it became a symbol of the American Expeditionary Forces and the dangerous conditions faced by soldiers fighting in Europe.
Accompanying this artifact is a period photograph of two young American servicemen. Their image serves as a powerful reminder that the equipment we preserve today once belonged to real individuals—young men who left home to serve their country during one of history's most devastating conflicts. While we may never know all of their stories, their photograph helps connect the weapon to the generation that carried such tools into war.
For many soldiers, trench raids and patrols were among the most dangerous assignments of the conflict. Fighting often occurred at night, in confined spaces, and at extremely close range. Weapons such as the Mark I trench knife were developed specifically for these encounters, where speed, surprise, and determination could mean the difference between survival and death.
Today, more than a century after the guns fell silent, artifacts like this trench knife help illustrate the realities of World War I in a way that words alone cannot. They remind us that warfare was not only fought with artillery, tanks, and aircraft, but also by individual soldiers facing extraordinary challenges in some of the harshest conditions imaginable.
Preserved within the Ghosts of the Battlefield collection, this World War I trench knife stands as a tangible link to the American soldiers who served on the Western Front. It is a relic of a conflict that reshaped the modern world and a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and endurance of those who fought in the trenches of the Great War.