27th NY Division on Saipan was issued much in the way of WWI dated equipment. And the Banzai attack hit between the 105th and 106th Inf Regiments tactical boundaries.
Please be sure to document exactly where you found the handle and keep the information with it, it's worth more to collectors with good provenance. I'd guess you could easily get more than $100 USD for it. The guard on the handle has been reshaped to make it thinner and easier to carry, this was a common thing to do especially for paratroopers. What a great find!
It's probably worth quite a bit more than what I told you(I left out a 0).
No doubt a WWII or military museum would love to display it - I know I would.
If you want to see some original photos of this knife being used and carried during WWI and WWII check out my "Brass Knuckles Collector Club" in yahoo groups.
that is a nice find, i wouldn't have left it behind because it was on the surface and was US in origin, it was most likely lost or discarded like any other relic and ended up in the fill that was used to bury toughs poor soldiers if it had been a Japanese item in that same spot that would be a different story. you do a great job.
@geckonz1 Thanks Geckonz. I guess that this was used and broke during the Banzai charge. I can't wait to see what other artifacts are at the bottom of the rest of that trench.
The handle with the US 1918 date on it was probably a US Marine's k-bar knife that he fasioned into that handle...if you research it a little bit...you will find a lot of marines of WWI made these handled knives when they were in their downtime in France in trench warfare...it's in Marine Corps nature to pass items like this down to new troops.
Great video, and very educating, as usual. One thing I have to say, though...I applaud you for leaving these items lay exactly where you found them, but some things you just have to keep! And, no one would fault you for preserving history in this manner. Good job with the handle!
Outstanding vid Eric im glad for once you kept it if you left it there someone else would have picked it up.
I wonder if the blade was known to snap off at the handle i wonder if it was used on a jap soldier broke off inside the poor fellow then just dropped on the floor?
If its brass i wonder what it would look like all polished up back to how it was when it was new or did they dull them down so not to get spotted glinting in the sun?
This is going to be good a series need another coffee :)
@baldfatgit1 Thanks Steve. The handle was originally painted black to prevent a shinny reflection. This one had no trace of that paint. Perhaps the soldier himself polished it since he was no longer on recon missions.
@baldfatgit1 Thanks Steve. I have lots of clips for my next video but have to wait until after next weekend at least to get more clips and then edit them together.
Excellent video as usual. Small point though; the Marine Raiders were consolidated into the 4th Marine Regiment rather than the 4th battalion. Great work!
@FUSA4LIFE Thanks Fusa4life. I thought someone would get a laugh from that. I decided not to leave it right where I found it because the next person to see may not have the same peaceful historical interests that I have.
27th NY Division on Saipan was issued much in the way of WWI dated equipment. And the Banzai attack hit between the 105th and 106th Inf Regiments tactical boundaries.
LineDoggie 1 month ago
Please be sure to document exactly where you found the handle and keep the information with it, it's worth more to collectors with good provenance. I'd guess you could easily get more than $100 USD for it. The guard on the handle has been reshaped to make it thinner and easier to carry, this was a common thing to do especially for paratroopers. What a great find!
GunOwnerDan 4 months ago
@GunOwnerDan Thanks GunOwnerDan.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
@SaipanPictures
It's probably worth quite a bit more than what I told you(I left out a 0).
No doubt a WWII or military museum would love to display it - I know I would.
If you want to see some original photos of this knife being used and carried during WWI and WWII check out my "Brass Knuckles Collector Club" in yahoo groups.
groups.yahoo.com/group/brassknucklescollectorclub
You will need to join first(it's free) then go to the "Files" section and click on "Historic Knuckles".
GunOwnerDan 4 months ago
Very beautiful find Eric! I love this Trench Knife handle!
inoxesox 4 months ago
@inoxesox Thanks Inoxesox.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
Very old US Trench knife.
PAINTANK 4 months ago
that is a nice find, i wouldn't have left it behind because it was on the surface and was US in origin, it was most likely lost or discarded like any other relic and ended up in the fill that was used to bury toughs poor soldiers if it had been a Japanese item in that same spot that would be a different story. you do a great job.
geckonz1 4 months ago
@geckonz1 Thanks Geckonz. I guess that this was used and broke during the Banzai charge. I can't wait to see what other artifacts are at the bottom of the rest of that trench.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
Amazing video and find :D. It definitely shows all aspects of the Pacific Theater.
bdd458 4 months ago
@bdd458 Thanks Bdd458.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
The handle with the US 1918 date on it was probably a US Marine's k-bar knife that he fasioned into that handle...if you research it a little bit...you will find a lot of marines of WWI made these handled knives when they were in their downtime in France in trench warfare...it's in Marine Corps nature to pass items like this down to new troops.
xfootball58 4 months ago
Thxs for sharing Eric great find , Keep searching !
MrNevped 5 months ago
@MrNevped Thanks MrNevped.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
amazing!
TheCaliKid17 5 months ago
Great video, and very educating, as usual. One thing I have to say, though...I applaud you for leaving these items lay exactly where you found them, but some things you just have to keep! And, no one would fault you for preserving history in this manner. Good job with the handle!
apsscinc 5 months ago
@apsscinc Thanks Apsscinc. I was going to leave it there but I know it would then fall into the wrong hands.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
Outstanding vid Eric im glad for once you kept it if you left it there someone else would have picked it up.
I wonder if the blade was known to snap off at the handle i wonder if it was used on a jap soldier broke off inside the poor fellow then just dropped on the floor?
If its brass i wonder what it would look like all polished up back to how it was when it was new or did they dull them down so not to get spotted glinting in the sun?
This is going to be good a series need another coffee :)
baldfatgit1 5 months ago
@baldfatgit1 Thanks Steve. The handle was originally painted black to prevent a shinny reflection. This one had no trace of that paint. Perhaps the soldier himself polished it since he was no longer on recon missions.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
@SaipanPictures Yes Could of i agree or over the passage of time its weatherd off.
Looking foward to the next vid Eric i have plenty of coffee :)
Steve Bristol {UK}
baldfatgit1 4 months ago
@baldfatgit1 Thanks Steve. I have lots of clips for my next video but have to wait until after next weekend at least to get more clips and then edit them together.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
@SaipanPictures I Await you next vid Eric :)
Steve
baldfatgit1 4 months ago
Excellent video as usual. Small point though; the Marine Raiders were consolidated into the 4th Marine Regiment rather than the 4th battalion. Great work!
argo84 5 months ago
@argo84 Oh yes, you're correct. Thanks Argo84. That one wrong word accidentally left out 1,000's of soldiers.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
woow great find
(btw lool iam gone leave it right here some sec later cleaned in your hand xD)
FUSA4LIFE 5 months ago
@FUSA4LIFE Thanks Fusa4life. I thought someone would get a laugh from that. I decided not to leave it right where I found it because the next person to see may not have the same peaceful historical interests that I have.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago
@SaipanPictures yea it would proboly end up in an ship so china with old iron xD
FUSA4LIFE 4 months ago
Very interesting.
I have seen those trenchknifes before, they look badass. Very nice find.
you could use the "bottom" of the knife and bash people with that spike looking thing.
I'm going to follow this :)
ChickenFriedFabrizio 5 months ago
@ChickenFriedFabrizio Thanks CFF.
SaipanPictures 4 months ago