Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

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GSPTOPDOG
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Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

Here is my M1917 Plumb Bolo knife.
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eveled
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by eveled »

::tu:: Two thumbs up. ::tu::

Very nice old knife.

That checks all the boxes. Military history, cool maker, 100+ years old. AKA the Smatchet!
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

eveled wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:11 pm ::tu:: Two thumbs up. ::tu::

Very nice old knife.

That checks all the boxes. Military history, cool maker, 100+ years old. AKA the Smatchet!
Thanks! ::handshake:: It feels very good in the hand...makes you want to start chopping things!!! ::groove::
Please visit my AAPK store: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... er_id=2383

They say, “Hard work never hurt anyone”, but I'm still not willing to risk it.
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cody6268
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by cody6268 »

Nice! And in really good condition as well!

I ended up buying a Condor Moonshiner, as I wanted something very close to this design that I could use for heavy woods use for clearing paths and chopping around the fence lines. Originals are VERY expensive, as are most reproductions. And very few of the reproductions are actually intended to be used as tools. They're quite often not sharpened and are mostly aimed at reenactors.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by kootenay joe »

Is 1917 the year it was issued ? Or, a model number ?
kj
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by doglegg »

Maybe even 4 thumbs up. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by Gunsil »

kootenay joe wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:10 pm Is 1917 the year it was issued ? Or, a model number ?
kj
Roland the model is 1917 as that is when the military approved the design. The one posted has 1918 on it which is the year it was made. These were issued to machine gun crews to clear lines of fire. They were issued in WW1 and kept in store after WW1 and issued again in early WWI.

Ed, I have never heard them referred to as "smatchet" which were only ever made by Case here in the USA and although both are large knives they don't really look alike. The M1917 is more like a Phillipine bol or Indian kukri, the smatchet does not.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by eveled »

http://arms2armor.com/Knives/1917bolo.htm

You are of course right. But I’m not the first person to call it one.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by kootenay joe »

Thank you Gene. In the OP pictures it looks like a thick & heavy blade, quite a work out swinging it for a few hours of brush clearing.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by zzyzzogeton »

Frequently, you see them with a "1917 CT" on the pile side ricasso instead of MOD 1917. The CT refers to "Civilian Tolerances".

The M1917 is the M1910 Bolo made by Plumb of St Louis and American Cutlery Company of Chicago during WW1 because the Springfield Armory was busy making other items. The shape and dimensions of the 2 are identical.

The primary purpose of the M1910/M1917 was for machine gun crews to clear firing lanes. A secondary purpose was use as anchors for the machine gun legs.

The small differences are that the 1917 is more simply finished and rougher in appearance.

The major difference is that the M1917 lacks the scabbard latch found on the M1910.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

cody6268 wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:54 pm Nice! And in really good condition as well!

I ended up buying a Condor Moonshiner, as I wanted something very close to this design that I could use for heavy woods use for clearing paths and chopping around the fence lines. Originals are VERY expensive, as are most reproductions. And very few of the reproductions are actually intended to be used as tools. They're quite often not sharpened and are mostly aimed at reenactors.
I bought a Condor Moonshiner, awhile back and I love it, it is a great value for the money.
Please visit my AAPK store: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... er_id=2383

They say, “Hard work never hurt anyone”, but I'm still not willing to risk it.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

zzyzzogeton wrote: Sat Apr 17, 2021 2:57 am Frequently, you see them with a "1917 CT"
The small differences are that the 1917 is more simply finished and rougher in appearance. The major difference is that the M1917 lacks the scabbard latch found on the M1910.
Thanks for your input!!! ::handshake::
Please visit my AAPK store: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... er_id=2383

They say, “Hard work never hurt anyone”, but I'm still not willing to risk it.
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Re: Plumb Crazy for PLUMB!!! M 1917

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

Another great "Bolo" type of chopping knife is the Tops Power Eagle. I have one and it is a BEAST! ::tu::
Please visit my AAPK store: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... er_id=2383

They say, “Hard work never hurt anyone”, but I'm still not willing to risk it.
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