US Army troops out on the Plains in the Indian Wars faced the constant challenge of obtaining sufficient fresh and nutritious rations for their arduous campaigns. They were frequently issued old crates of salt pork dating back to the Civil War, often more dangerous to the men than Indian arrows or bullets. Hunting parties brought in fresh buffalo meat to augment the frontier Army's staple: beans, which alone were expected to sustain a unit through the leanest times. The soldiers were issued the M-1880 hunting knife to assist in taking and preparing that game, and the knife was carried in a sturdy black leather scabbard worn on the belt. This US Army Indian Wars Springfield Armory M-1880 Hunting Knife is in Very Good Condition, with some sharpening to the blade edge, some light nicking to the middle blade edge, some cleaning, scratching, pitting, and patina at each side of the blade, some pitting and casting marks to the guard, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 8 3/8” single edge spearpoint blade with a pronounced fuller running nearly the length at each side, sports the classic turned and grooved oak handle, and is “U.S.” stamped with serifs at the left side of the cast brass full guard, along with its maker, the famous “SPRINGFIELD”. It’s marked with the serial number “3905” at the right side of the guard, and is complete with the original US Army Indian Wars 2nd Pattern M-1880 Hunting Knife Black Leather Scabbard in Good Condition, with heavy weakening and surface cracking along the middle front and back of the leather belt hanger, some scattered drying, wrinkling, crazing, scratching, and edge nicking to the rest of the leather body, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it’s faintly marked “VLIET / ARSENAL” at the upper front leather belt hanger, which once read “WATERVLIET ARSENAL”, denoting this scabbard was modified from a 1st Pattern (with a simple folded over leather belt loop) to a 2nd Pattern by removing the folded over portion and riveting a brass belt hanger to the upper back, which was done at Rock Island Arsenal, who then produced all of the factory made 2nd Pattern sheaths. It carries a brass reinforced throat that houses the knife securely with a tension system, bears a fully intact brass belt hanger riveted to the upper back, which is stamped with its maker, “R.I.A”, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original US Army Indian Wars Springfield Armory M-1880 Hunting Knife.