The bolo knife was handy for clearing brush by engineers, machine gun crews and hospital corpsmen who might also have to improvise stretchers, etc.  The 1917 pattern was an improved version of the 1910 that eliminated the scabbard catch. Wartime demand caused contracts to be let by the government to the American Cutlery Company and to Plumb. To speed production both contractors produced knives with looser tolerances and one-piece blades and pommels that required the guard to be cut and then welded around the blade tang, leading to the designation of “Model 1917 C.T.” for “commercial tolerances,” indicating that they might not pass prewar rigid inspections, but were good enough for service.

On one side of the ricasso, this example bears the Plumb firm name and one of its factory locations, St. Louis, along with the date of manufacture: 1918. The other side bears the model designation: “US MOD / 1917 C.T.”

The wood grip rates very good. The pommel and guard retain about 80 percent of their original blue finish. The blade retains about 70 percent with some striations running in both directions from cleaning over the years. These useful tools also saw service in World War Two. They have been some comfort as a last ditch defensive weapon as well.  [sr]

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