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MODEL 1874 MESS UTENSIL SETS – COMPLETE SETS
OF SPOON, KNIFE, FORK
AND THE UTENSIL SCABBARDS:
These are complete Indian Wars Mess Utensil Sets -
consisting of a Model 1874 Fork, a Model 1874 Knife, and
most importantly, the scarce Model 1874 Spoon, and the
two utensil sheaths for the knife and fork.
Carried by every soldier in his haversack or in his
saddlebags, these sets were the most basic of his
equipment.
I have the
utensils described and pictured below.
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NO. 1
MODEL 1874 MESS UTENSIL SET: The fork has full
length sharp tines and the knife is full form with no
loss of form due to sharpening. The blade retains
a bright finish and has only minor age darkened spots.
The handles of both utensils still retain traces of the
original black lacquer finish, and the handle of the
fork is stamped with the patent information. The spoon is the
smaller variant which is original to the period, is of
the same shape and design, but three-quarters the size
of the larger mess spoon. Still correct, just a
variant. The spoon is full
form with no misshaping or bending as is so often
encountered and it retains the original bright tin
plating.
The sheaths are in
like new, unissued condition showing no wear and with
all the seams intact.
This is a very respectable set in very nice condition.
SOLD
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NO. 2
MODEL 1874 MESS KNIFE - "USA" MARKED:
This knife is one of the early pattern Model 1874 Mess
Knives, stamped on the blade "USA". The blade's
original sharp point profile was skillfully ground off,
probably intentionally done by the soldier and not the
result of breaking off the tip. The sharp tip was
prone to wear through the saddle bag liners and
haversacks - the reason the knife and fork were issued
with the leather sheaths - but for whatever reason, the
soldier removed the tip. The remainder of the
blade and handle are full form and the blade is overall
bright with no severe pitting. The handle retains
much of the original dark finish.
These early pattern knives are quite scarce, not having
survived in great numbers, and this is a particularly
nice specimen. (0402) $100
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