Rare Iron Hilted US Model 1880 Hunting Knife with Varney Scabbard
- Product Code: EWSK-LG124-SOLD
- Availability: Out Of Stock
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$0.00
In 1880 the US military adopted a new multi-use edged weapon for issue to the troops serving on the western frontier, the US Model 1880 Hunting Knife. The knife was designed as a multipurpose implement that could be used as a traditional knife, as well as a makeshift entrenching tool, and for other light tool or small camp axe type duties. The first 1,000 knives were produced at Springfield Armory in 1881 and were produced with iron crossguards. These are exceptionally scarce knives and are rarely encountered these days. The second variant was produced in 1882 between 1885 and approximately 10,000 of those knives were produced for widespread issue. These second variant knives utilized a brass guard rather than iron. The knives were carried in brown leather scabbards, which were produced at either the Rock Island Arsenal or the Watervliet Arsenal. The earliest knives were issued with the brass mounted leather Varney scabbard that had along leather hanger attached to the scabbard with a brass swivel, similar to the early Trapdoor rifle bayonet scabbards that used the Hoffmann swivel. A pivoting brass bar that opened and closed over the 4.25” leather hanger was used to secure the knife to the waistbelt and allowed the scabbard to be added or removed from the belt without taking the belt off. Later production scabbards used the brass hook handing system adopted for scabbards and other equipment to allow the items to be hung from the Prairie Belt. Many of the Varney scabbards were modified to the brass hanger, making them quite scarce today.
The Model 1880 Hunting Knife had an 8.5” long, 2” wide spear point blade with a prominent median ridge down the center of the blade and a .15” flat spine. The blade was mated with a 4” long turned maple hilt which was grooved for a secure grip. The blade and hilt were mated via a 2.4” wide crossguard and with a 2” long tang, with the blade pinned to the guard. As noted, the first 1,000 knives that were produced in 1881 had iron guards, while the majority of the production had brass guards. The guard was marked
US
SPRINGFIELD
on the reverse and a serial number was stamped on the obverse. The overall length of the hunting knife was nominally 13 ½”.
This rare Iron Hilted US Model 1880 Hunting Knife is in about FINE condition. The blade is full length and shows only some light sharpening along the edge. The blade retains some traces of its original arsenal bright polish but has mostly toned to a dull pewter patina. The metal shows scattered patches of lightly oxidized peppering and discoloration, with some more moderate oxidation and discoloration on the hilt. There are a few minor dings and tiny chips along the cutting edge of the blade, the result of real-world use. The guard is marked with the usual US / SPRINGFIELD on the reverse and has the serial number 266 on the obverse. The maple handle is in about FINE condition as well, and is free of any breaks or cracks, but does show a couple of minor chips missing from the pommel cap. There are scattered bumps, dings and mars in the wood. The top of the pommel cap is clearly marked with the block initials SWP over the italicized date 1881, the inspection mark of Springfield Arsenal’s Master Armorer Samuel W Porter. Rare Varney Pattern leather scabbard rates near VERY GOOD. The belt loop and hanger system are intact, and the rear of the belt loop is marked
WATERVLIET
ARSENAL
in two lines on the rear. The mark is hard to read due to crazing of the leather. The leather of the loop and hanger shows moderate wear, some weakness at the swivel junction and the leather of the loop and hanger is moderately crazed as well. The brass mountings have a rich butterscotch patina and are uncleaned. The main body of the scabbard is in nearly FINE condition and is solid and complete with some finish loss, scuffing and moderate wear. These Varney scabbards are rarely encountered, and this is a nice displaying, solid example. Like most surviving examples the junction between the belt loop hanger and the body is weak, so the scabbard should be handled with care.
Overall, this is a really very nice looking and far better than average example of a rare Iron Hilt US Model 1880 Hunting Knife with Varney Scabbard. As only 1,000 pf these knives were made, this is a hard US military knife to find and to add to any collection. The somewhat fragile Varney scabbards are even less common, so finding a nice set is quite difficult. This would be a fantastic addition to any advanced Indian Wars period militaria collection or any collection of US military knives. This set displays very well and is absolutely 100% complete and original.
SOLD
Tags: Rare, Iron, Hilted, US, Model, 1880, Hunting, Knife, with, Varney, Scabbard