Description

This item was originally made by Landers, Frary & Clark in New Britain, Connecticut in 1918 – L.F.&C. above the date stamp. Some of these “Patton Sword fighting knives” were made under a contract for Uncle Sam during the war and a few more were made by some unknown makers using M1913 Cavalry Sabers and even Civil War era swords. The “Patton Sword fighting knife” type is illustrated on page 231 of the KNIVES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WORLD WAR II book by Michael W Silvey-a well established expert and the author of a number of books on the subject of the US military edged weapons. Finely-shaped fullered blade is about 8 1/8 inch in length; 1 1/8 inch wide; and 14 ¼ inch in total length. The tip is near perfect and there are no nicks or chips in the blade. The handle is stacked Plexiglas, aluminum, brass, and black-n-red Bakelite handle with aluminum fittings is in great overall condition; all parts are tight with no play. An unusual wide double hilt was cut from a solid chunk of aluminum and expertly fit onto the blade. L.F.&C / 1918 on ricasso on one side; US and “screaming chicken” stamp / No. 12 on the other – a rare M1913 blade without a serial number. This WW2 American fighting knife former WW1 Patton sword M1913 cut-down 1918 L.F.&C Cavalry Saber type is VERY rare these days – today most of the surviving WW2 American fighting knife former WW1 Patton sword M1913 Cavalry Sabers are in private collections and are off the market. One of the best WW2 era “non-regulation” US fighting knives with a lot of character; you will not be disappointed!