Original Item: Only One Available: This is a fantastic find, and we have only ever had a few of these in the past! The M-1904 Hospital Corps Knife was the first of the modern Springfield Armory made edged weapon to carry a serial number. Designed for use by the U. S. Army Medical Corps, over 40,000 Hospital Corps Knives were made at the Springfield Armory, Springfield, MA between 1904 and 1914. Like all of the "bolo" knives, these were heavy knives intended for use both as brush clearing devices, as well as weapons. It was designed to aid US soldiers with jungle foliage that they found themselves in with incursions into Cuba and the Philippines, where natives used similar sized machetes.

According to archive correspondence, the first 236 knives were issued without serial numbers, but at the request of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, the Springfield Armory began the serial numbering process with number 237 and continuing upward. Contrary to many stories, the knife was not designed for "field expedient amputations", but the look in the novice's eyes often makes the tale worth the telling.

The M-1904 features a 12" heavy curved back blade, with a curved cutting edge with a big belly near the "non-threatening" rounded tip.  It is marked near the cross guard with S A / (Flaming bomb) / 1908 on one side, and U.S. / 8049 on the reverse. The heavy ended blade made these very effective for clearing brush and jungle debris, as well as making them excellent hand weapons in close combat. The edge is single beveled, which helps with strength and ease of sharpening. 

This example looks to have seen serious use in the field, as it has been sharpened several times at least, which has somewhat altered the profile of the blade. It was sharpened correctly, only from one edge, and has only light staining, so it was well cared for. The wooden handle has a beautiful color, and is free from any major defects, with the brass rivets and end cap still secure. 

The original scabbard is also in good condition, and is probably rarer than the Bolo Knife itself. This example unfortunately has leather surface deterioration on the back, so the original markings cannot be read. This is a later version of the scabbard, as earlier ones had a leather belt loop. This has the Springfield/Krag style metal belt loop clip with swivel, attached to a sturdy aluminum throat. The stitching is almost entirely intact, and the leather is still mostly soft, with some finish cracking and wear on th ereverse.

A very scarce edged weapon dating back to before WWI in very good condition, complete with an original scabbard. A great addition to any collection!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 11 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge "Bolo" Machete Style
Overall length: 17“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 12"