online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

RICHARDS PATENT MESS SET

Hover to zoom

William Richards stated in his patent application, "the object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient knife fork and spoon for camp purposes at small cost and which, when not in use, can be so put together as to occupy but little space in a soldier's knapsack so as to inconvenience him as little as possible." The set consists of two pieces: a combination fork and spoon, and a knife. Each is about 7 7/8 inches long and has down-turned flanges on the side to form a handle and to enable them to slide into one another. Both pieces are marked: the knife on the upper side of the blade near the handle and the spoon/fork on the underside near the fork end. The marking reads "W. H. Richards / Patent July 23, 1861 / Boston." (On the knife blade this rebounded a bit, producing a slight chatter to the lettering.) The metal is smooth and has a largely silver gray tone with some darker gray spots.

Recruiting services issued a variety of different mess gear. Much of it was pretty flimsy. When pushed together these sturdy utensils also did away with the problem of loose knives and forks poking through the fabric of one’s haversack on the march. This was one of the more popular combination mess sets purchased by new soldiers, friends, families and well-wishers to make army life easier, and also catered to the desire to have the newest, cleverly designed gadget. We note that Richards, or his manufacturers, used several different forms of his marking. We suspect this might be the earliest form because of its simplicity. This would be a great addition to a display of camp and soldier’s personal gear.    [SR][ph:L]

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »