C021356 U.S. MODEL 1917 BOLO KNIFE.

BACKGROUND: The original Army bolo knives were issued to medical corpsman for use in clearing brush and to cut limbs and small trees to be used for shelter poles or litters. Produced from 1897 through 1918, in varying designs, they were used well into WW2.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A First War era bolo knife in its original scabbard. The blackened metal pommel of the knife is lightly surface spotted. Age-darkened wooden grips are riveted to either side of the hilt, whose shape is molded to accommodate the contours of the fingers. The blackened metal double cross guard has a circular perforation to one side and has some minor surface spotting. The cross guard has markings on both sides, to the blade side top is stamped "AT" while the handle side has a "B", top and bottom, and what appears to be a bird shape over "K 53". The 10 1/4" long blackened blade is 1 1/4" wide at the ricasso and widens to 2 1/8" before narrowing to the point. "U.S. Mod. 1917" is stamped to one side of the ricasso, "Plumb Phila. 1918" to the other. The blade is moderately surface scratched and the blackening is largely worn to the highlights. The rawhide reinforced wood scabbard with is 11" long and 2 7/8" across at the brass capped throat, narrowing to a point at the base. It is totally covered in a khaki-colored canvas, with the base covered in brown leather 4" up from its point. A khaki canvas loop is sewn to the reverse near the throat, with an alloy belt hook fed through it. Stamped to the reverse of the leather base is what remains of the makers mark that would had read "Brauer Bros." arching above a "1918" date. All of the stitching to the scabbard covering is intact, and the canvas and leather covering itself is moderately age and usage soiled with scuffing and scratching to the leather.

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