During the Civil War, the Union Army had formed a dedicated Hospital Corps to retrieve wounded from the battlefield, stabilize them, and transport them to ad hoc field hospitals behind the lines. That organization and process largely carried over into the Indian Wars as well. With casualties only movable by litter or wagon, often many hours passed between the time a man was wounded and when he received medical attention from a trained surgeon. It was paramount that hospital corpsmen do all they could to stop bleeding and dress the wounds. Hospital Corpsmen late in the Indian Wars were issued the M-1887 Hospital Corps knife to cut saplings for splints and litters, clear brush, cut away uniforms, and prepare bandages. This US Army Indian Wars Springfield Armory M-1887 Hospital Corps Knife is in Good Condition, with some light rightward bending to the blade tip, some light finish abrading at the left side of the blade tip, three small spots of bending and three small nicks to the upper blade edge, three more spots of bending in the middle blade edge, some cleaning, scratching, pitting, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some light cleaning, finish abrading, and pitting to the guard, ferrule, and pommel, a 3/4” jagged hairline surface crack in the upper left side of the handle, a 3” vertical hairline surface crack running down the inner left edge of the handle, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features an 11 1/2” bright plated swell point blade with a large etched panel reading “HOSPITAL CORPS. / U.S. ARMY.” in elegant font and with decorative trim at the lower left side, sports the classic turned and grooved oak handle, and boasts an elegant nickel plated brass full guard with “ball” ends, along with a matching nickel plated brass ferrule and pommel. It’s unmarked as to its maker, though all of these M-1887 Hospital Corps knives were produced by the legendary Springfield Armory, and is complete with the original US Army Indian Wars 2nd Pattern M-1887 Hospital Corps 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 deep wrinkling to the front and back end tip, three deep spot scuffs at the middle front body, moderate crazing to the leather body, some scattered scratching throughout, the top line of the “ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL” maker’s mark at the lower back having mostly faded away to the point that it now reads “R— —LAND”, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it bears a fully intact brass belt hanger riveted to the upper back, distinguishing it as the 2nd Pattern, carries a brass reinforced throat that houses the knife securely with a tension system, and is stamped at the middle back leather body with a good sized remnant of the original “ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL” maker’s mark, above the inspector initials “W.T.G.” and “BW”. The scabbard is also marked “NGSM” along the lower back body, denoting additional service with either the National Guard of the State of Minnesota or Maine, shows the number “13” stamped at the lower back of the brass belt hanger, and exhibits “R.I.A.” stamped with serifs along the upper back of the brass belt hanger. The set is a fine example of a very rare, original US Army Indian Wars Springfield Armory M-1887 Hospital Corps Knife.