Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal Original Items

Item: ONJR26MABS101

Original U.S. Spanish-American War Era Army Model 1880 Hunting Knife by Springfield Armory with Leather Sheath by Rock Island Arsenal

In stock

$895.00

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Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is one of the few examples of these hunting knives that we have had! Developed during the same period of American "multi-use" military experimentation that produced the Springfield Trapdoor ramrod and trowel bayonets, the Springfield Model 1880 "Hunting Knife" was quite similar in size and appearance to the entrenching tool developed in the same year. The handle and bolster design is very similar, though it is fitted with brass, and not steel.

The M-1880 Hunting Knife was designed for concurrent use with the M- 1881 and the M-1888 Rod Bayonet Rifles also manufactured at the Springfield Armory. The first 1002 knives were made in 1881 and had iron guards. Subsequently another 9,000 or 10,000 were made with brass guards (records vary). In 1883, the first 4,000 or 5,000 M-1880 Hunting Knives were made with brass guards and another 5,000 were made in 1885.

All M-1880 Hunting Knives were serial numbered. This one is numbered 3259 and is also marked U.S. / SPRINGFIELD on the top brass portion. The knife was used heavily in western outposts, accounting for the wide distribution and usually sharpened or pitted condition found by collectors. This one is fortunately not pitted throughout the blade and doesn’t have any real nicks! The purposes of the knife included skinning game, digging shallow trenches, and clearing brush.

Reproductions of this sought after knife are common, as are finding legitimate ones with replacement handles. Collectors should use caution. This knife is 100% genuine with an original lovely condition wood handle. All of the factory ribbing is intact with minor chipping around the base. The brass fitting for the handle has a lovely aged patina. These were typically used, abused, and in some cases thrown away by the troops they were issued to, so examples in any condition are rare.

Several variants of leather scabbards were designed for the M-1880 Hunting Knife, including experimental versions, and many still exist today. Some are more rare than the knife. Scabbard designations include the leather long- and short-loop, two versions of the brass hook, and the Varney scabbards.

The scabbard is still in solid condition and still has visible markings for RIA, or Rock Island Arsenal. The brass hook is retained but the leather holding it is now loose and heavily cracked, so exercise caution when handling it.

In very nice service used condition, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 ½”
Overall length: 13 ½”
Crossguard: 2 ½”
Scabbard Length: 8 ½” inches

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