UNION Naugatuck Slot Knife...Age?

[98src]

Bought this slot knife at auction and I am wondering if the 1868 date on the wooden handle could be the date the knife was made. Goins says 1854 to 1885. If I am reading the stamp on the fork correctly it says ARMY KNIFE over UNION. Would this have been a model used in the Civil War (not this knife but the same model)?

union-3.jpg (52.92 KiB) Viewed 918 times

[ea42]

I believe that refers to the Hamburg Rolling Mill in PA. It was a steel rolling mill. There's mention of a John Miller's passing in 1891 in the Dec. 1891 edition of the Engineering and Mining Journal. Possibly the knife was some kind of employee award.

Eric

[just bob]

Thank you for posting pics of your knife. I've enjoyed looked at them. Also learned a little in the process. Only speculation on my part, but he may have served in the civil war and was given this as an honor by his company.

[btrwtr]

Resource books date Union Knife Company Naugatuck, 1851-1885.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Are we sure that’s a date, 1868?

If read in line with the rest on that side, it’s “8981” and I have no idea what that could possibly mean.