Given favorable reports from field trials in 1881, orders were placed at Springfield in 1883 for 5,000 more 1880 hunting knives. As an economy measure iron guards and handle sockets were dropped in favor of brass, which the armory could manufacture itself. Otherwise the design remained the same and soldiers had a utility knife that could double as an entrenching tool when necessary.

This one is a very good example. Measuring about 13 ½ inches overall, the knife has an 8 ½ inch blade. The turned oak handle is excellent, with no chips or cracks. The brass guard and handle socket has a nice aged patina and is clearly stamped “U.S./ Springfield” on one side and number “2616” on the other. The blade has a good point and edge with no nicks or chips. The metal is smooth, gray in color, with scattered darker, pewter-gray spots overall.

The scabbard is very good, with brown leather body, brass throat reinforcement and brass belt hook bearing a Watervliet Arsenal stamp on the reverse. The scabbard body has some minor scuffs, but good color and finish. The billet holding the belt hook naturally shows more finish loss from flexing. Several different belt attachments had been tried, but the simple brass belt hook was better able to fit cartridge belts and was adopted in 1888, with production starting in 1889.

This is a very nice example of the 1880 knife and would fit well in an Indian Wars or US military knife display.  [sr]

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