Mc Pheeters Antique Militaria


	MODEL 1874 MESS UTENSIL SETS – COMPLETE SETS OF SPOON, KNIFE, FORK AND THE UTENSIL SCABBARDS AND INDIVIDUAL UTENSILS: These are complete Indian Wars Mess Utensil Sets - consisting of a Model 1874 Fork, a Model 1874 Knife, and most importantly, the scarce Model 1874 Spoon, and the two utensil sheaths for the knife and fork. Carried by every soldier in his haversack or in his saddlebags, these sets were the most basic of his equipment. I have the utensils described and pictured below - utensil sets listed first, and the individual utensils after that.
	NO. 1 MODEL 1874 MESS UTENSIL SET - SCARCE "US" MARKED SET: A very special set, both the fork and the knife are stamped "US". The fork, stamped "US" on the reverse of the tine shank, has full length sharp tines and the handle is stamped with the patent information. "US" stamped forks are particularly rare and are seldom encountered. The knife, stamped "US" on the blade, is full form with no loss of form due to sharpening. The blade retains a bright finish and has only minor age darkened spots. The knife is maker marked on the handle. The handles of both utensils still retain the full original black lacquer finish. The spoon is the full sized version and it retains the full form with no misshaping or bending as is so often encountered and it retains the original patinated tin plating. The sheaths are in like new, unissued condition showing no wear and with all the seams intact. This is a very respectable set in very nice condition. *SOLD - PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL SETS LISTED BELOW*

	NO. 2 MODEL 1874 MESS UTENSIL SET – A NICE SET IN VERY GOOD CONDITION: A very nice Indian Wars Mess Utensil Set including a Model 1874 Fork, a Model 1874 Knife, and the two utensil sheaths for the knife and fork. The fork has full length, sharp tines and the cast iron handle which retains some of the original black lacquer finish. The knife is full form, with no loss of form due to sharpening and no pitting. The handle of the knife retains traces of the original black lacquer finish. Both original leather scabbards are in excellent condition with the seams intact. This is a very nice set with all the pieces in very good condition. (0617) $200
	NO. 3 MODEL 1874 MESS KNIFE - "USA" MARKED: This knife is one of the early pattern Model 1874 Mess Knives, stamped on the blade "USA". The blade's original sharp point profile was skillfully ground off, probably intentionally done by the soldier and not the result of breaking off the tip. The sharp tip was prone to wear through the saddle bag liners and haversacks - the reason the knife and fork were issued with the leather sheaths - but for whatever reason, the soldier removed the tip. The remainder of the blade and handle are full form and the blade is overall bright with no severe pitting. The handle retains much of the original dark finish. These early pattern knives are quite scarce, not having survived in great numbers, and this is a particularly nice specimen. (0402) $100
	NO. 4 MODEL 1874 MESS FORK: These Model 1874 Mess Forks are in full form and present with a minimum of wear and aging. The three tines are intact and are still very sharp. The handle is full form with no severe pitting. I have a few of these forks, all are in similar condition as the one pictured and I will send the best of the lot for as long as they last. (0115) $100
	MODEL 1874 US ARMY MESS SPOON: These original Indian War Period US Army Issue Model 1874 Mess Spoons, standard issue to every soldier, were made of lightweight plated tin and were no where near as strong as the Model 1874 Knife and Fork. As a result the spoons did not survive in the same numbers as the other two utensils, and are often missing from an Indian War display. Unmarked as is common for these spoons, this is the exact pattern spoon chosen by the Ordnance Equipment Board in 1874 and produced by Lamson, Goodenew & Co. of New York. This same pattern spoon is shown is a number of different references to include Ordnance Memoranda No. 19, Infantry Equipment 1874. The spoon is a full sized specimen, 7 ¼ ” long and the same length as the Model 1874 Fork and Knife. This spoon is in excellent condition – full form with a majority of the original tin plating intact. Never particularly common, these spoons have become scarce on the market and it is difficult to find a decent one to complete your saddlebags or haversack in conjunction with the mess kit, cup, and ration bags. (0338) $75
	MODEL 1874 US ARMY MESS SPOON – INTERESTING VARIANT: Smaller than the standard issue Indian War Period US Army Issue M1874 Mess Spoon, but identical to the standard pattern, the first small quantity of these smaller versions I obtained were found years ago in a box tucked away in an old wooden barracks building on Fort Sam Houston, here in San Antonio, Texas. The recognized Model 1874 Mess Spoon pattern was roughly the same length as the fork and knife, approximately 6 ½ - 7” long. These smaller versions, while having the identical embossed pattern as the larger spoons, are only 5 ½” long, like the smaller teaspoons in a normal silver service. There is no known record of the army’s use of this smaller version, however there is no doubt they were found in a context that ties them to the Frontier Army. Lightweight in construction like the standard issue tin spoons, they were no where near as strong as the Model 1874 Knife and Fork. As a result, the Mess spoon did not survive in the same numbers as the other two utensils, and is often missing from an Indian War display. I’ve recently obtained a limited second quantity of these spoons, identical in every way to the first lot found on Ft. Sam Houston. These are unmarked as was common for all but the earliest production of the Model 1874 Spoons. Except for the size, these spoons are the exact pattern spoon chosen by the Ordnance Equipment Board in 1874 and produced by Lamson, Goodenew & Co. of New York. This same pattern spoon is shown is a number of different references to include Ordnance Memoranda No. 19, Infantry Equipment 1874 and one of these spoons is photographed against the diagram plate of Ordnance Memoranda No. 19 which contains the line drawing of the utensils. The spoons are in very good condition with a considerable amount of the original tin plating remaining. Never particularly common, the Model 1874 Mess spoons have become scarce on the market and it is difficult to find a decent one to complete your saddlebags or haversack in conjunction with the mess kit, cup, and ration bags. These smaller examples will serve nicely or be an unusual addition to your mess equipment collection. $50
	MODEL 1874 US ARMY MESS SPOON – MARKED “US” – A RARE OFFERING: The recognized Model 1874 Mess Spoon, roughly the same length as the fork and knife, approximately 7 ½” long, is a difficult piece of Indian War period mess gear to find, marked or not. This Model 1874 Spoon is one of the rare specimens that is plainly stamped “US” on the base of the handle. These spoons are shown is a number of different references to include Ordnance Memoranda No. 19, Infantry Equipment 1874, and were produced by Lamson, Goodenew & Co. of New York. Light-weight in construction, these standard issue tin spoons were no where near as strong as the Model 1874 Knife and Fork and simply did not survive in the same numbers as the other two utensils, and is often missing from an Indian War display. When they are found, they are usually unmarked and those that are marked appear to make up less than 1% of the total that survives today. Full form, though showing some aging, this spoon retains its full profile, measuring 7 ½” long, retains a good percentage of the original tin plating, and the stamped “US” is plainly legible. Never particularly common, all Model 1874 Mess spoons have become scarce on the market, making it difficult to find a decent one to complete your saddlebags or haversack in conjunction with the mess kit, cup, and ration bags. Finding a M1874 Spoon that is marked “US” is a notable discovery. SOLD