Gilbert Islands Shark Tooth Knuckle Knife
This knife was brought back from the Pacific Theater by W. E. Wichman, US Army at the end of WWII. The knife was hand forged with engraving on the blade with native mahogany slabs pinned in place with brass. A leather hand sewn neck scabbard with a similar pattern to the blade incised in the external leather. Stone’s Glossary p. 365 shows the use of the shark tooth in knuckledusters in the Samoan and Gilbert Islands back to ancient times but this is more recent due to the steel replacing the actual shark tooth. Quite a formidable weapon in trained hands.
