US M1917 BOLO Knife Mfg by American Cutlery Co

THE WORLD WAR I BOLO with scabbard

The Model 1917 was the contractor-made version of the scarcer arsenal-made Model 1910 bolo. The wartime Model 1917 is simpler made and slightly rougher finished than the peacetime Model 1910, but its profile and important dimensions are identical.

The only obvious difference is that the Model 1917
lacks the scabbard latch which is present on the Model 1910.

For all practical purposes, to soldiers in World War I, the two bolos were identical.

This World War 1 Bolo was manufactured by the American Cutlery Co. Chicago 1918

So many Model 1917 bolos were made during 1917 and 1918 that they were still available for issue in limited
quantities throughout World War II.

Army machine gunners used their bolos to clear brush and small trees out of the fields of fire in front of their emplacements.