RARE COMPLETE AMES 1861 PATENT MESS SET, EX-JOHN HENRY KURTZ COLLECTION

$825.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 809-112

This is about the scarcest of the Civil War combination mess sets that were marketed by inventors and retailers to replace army mess gear issued by the various recruiting services. Nathan Ames described the invention as, “constructing a knife blade with a fork, spoon, or forked spoon continuation on its back, or at such and angle with the cutting edge that it may be used for conveying food to the mouth…,” which, we suppose, sums it up.

As produced, he combined the spoon and knife in one implement and provided a separate fork that would lock into it. The spoon-knife has key-hole slot in the blade near the handle into which a button-top stud on the fork is inserted, and a small hole on one of the two wood grip panels into which a second stud or pin on the fork is inserted, which keeps the fork from pivoting or sliding backwards in the keyhole slot. The fork has an “Ames’ Patent / Sept 17 1861” mark on the end, and also proudly proclaims in two places that it is made of “cast steel,” a term that distinguished crucible steel from “puddled” or “natural” steel in the 18th century, but by this time was more of a marketing ploy. The knife-spoon has an “Ame’s Patent / Sept 17 1861 / Cast Steel” stamp as well. In both cases portions of the patent stamp are light, but there is no doubt about what they are.

The metal shows a mix of gray and dark gray, but also has good portions of the tin coating. The letters “A.B.” are carved on one side of the wood handle, certainly the initials of the soldier who spent good money on this modern convenience and was determined not to lose it to a sticky-fingered comrade. This was formerly in the collection of John Henry Kurtz, a well-known and well-liked figure on the Civil War collecting scene for many years, with wonderful enthusiasm and good taste. It does not get much better for collector provenance.

There are a number of Civil War patented mess sets. This is a very, very hard one to find, and especially so with both pieces together and intact.  [SR]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About RARE COMPLETE AMES 1861 PATENT MESS SET, EX-JOHN HENRY KURTZ COLLECTION

For inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

featured item

VERY RARE 1834 ENGINEER AND MEDICAL STAFF SWORD BY HENRY BOKER, BELONGING TO BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN HENDRICKSON, WHO LOST A LEG AT FREDERICKSBURG, 83rd NEW YORK VOLS (9th NYSM) AND 13th V.R.C.

New patterns of swords for the U.S. army were developed from 1832 to 1834. This elegant smallsword pattern (variously called by collectors the 1832 or 1834 pattern) was designated for officers of Engineers and Medical Staff (and Pay Department as… (870-325). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

29
Mar

April 13-14: Spring Gettysburg Military Antiques Show Learn More »

Instagram