During the Civil War the commercial market was filled with devices and gadgets promoted as making life easier for the soldier in camp and field. Combination mess utensils were a category of their own, mostly sold with the pitch that they would be easier to find and harder to lose than army-issue separate utensils in the contents of a haversack at the end of a march. These wood-handle versions, constructed like a pocket knife, have been excavated in camps and even show up proudly displayed by soldiers in period photographs.

Divided lengthwise, the two sections interlock, one half containing a knife with potential use as a separate jackknife and the other half with a two-tine fork and alloy spoon, all of which fold up into a compact and easily carried unit (we can hear the peddler’s sales pitch as he canvases army camps.) Knife blade has New York maker’s name.

These display nicely with canteens, cups and other mess gear that was as essential to a soldier as his rifle musket.  [jet]

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