Springfield 1880 hunting knife

[Sld1959]

Presented for your enjoyment and enlightenment, The first widely distributed military issue knife was the Springfield 1880 Hunting Knife. It was one of the first issued knives which had little fighting utility to it's design as it was designed for westward expansion where one of the primary sources of meat sans refrigeration was domestic cattle in forts and hunting wild game. It was made in several variants with different guard and sheath materials.

By today's standards it would be considered a very large and clumsy hunting knife.

MODEL 1880 HUNTING KNIFE — Horse Soldier

 

[javbike]

Pretty cool

 

[Belt Fed]

That looks like a knife from medieval times

 

[Sld1959]

That looks like a knife from medieval times

It certainly does not resemble our current view of a hunting knife style. It does in fact have a rather ancient vibe to it indeed.

 

[javbike]

That old of a knife the Springfield logo and model number still intact one would think it’s worth more than what it sold for

 

[Sld1959]

Meant to link this link rather than a sales link.

The Springfield Edge: M-1880 Hunting Knife

 

[Inusuit]

The 1880 knives with brass bolsters are more common than the first 1000 with iron. The sheath is missing the belt attachment which hurt the value. The blades were thin and somewhat fragile if used as an entrenching tool.

 

[Recusant]

An 1873 Trowel Bayonet made to fit a 45/70 Trapdoor Springfield Rifle. From what I've read the wood handle was to discourage troops from actually digging with the bayonet attached to their rifle. I wonder how many rifle barrels were bent by troops trying to use these as a shovel.

 

[Inusuit]

Correct about the wooden handle on the trowel bayonet. It's not attached so often missing from surviving specimens. The handle also gave a more comfortable grip in use. Soldiers were expressly forbidden from using the bayonet for digging while attached to the rifle but you know some did.

Marcus Reno of Little Bighorn battle was on the Ordnance Committee considering adoption of the Model 1873. He stated for the record that more of his command might have survived on Reno Hill if they had these bayonets. Instead, they attempted to dig in with pocket knives and tin cups. Of course bayonets were not issued to cavalry at the time.

 

[ex13F]

Looks like the knives in the movie "Hostiles". Sorry I couldn't find a better picture.

 

[Sld1959]

Looks like the knives in the movie "Hostiles". Sorry I couldn't find a better picture.

To me that actually looks like Beavertail trade dagger commonly used by the native Americans. There were various handle configurations.