Need help with a Russell Navy Knife

[jljr1944]

I thought someone with more knowledge than me(shouldn't be to hard) could tell me the approximate age of this Navy knife. Good looking knife, I just don't know the age of it.
Thanks in advance.

[Paladin]

Jerry,
According to Goins, that stamp dates from 1884 to 1941. That is confirmed by Silvey in his book Pocket Knives of the United States Military. Silvey adds that he doubts the pattern was ever an offical issue since it lacks the 'US' designation.
By the way, yours is in much better condition than the one pictured in his book.

Ray

[elbertson]

Nice knife! Looks like someone replaced the original bail with a smaller one and modified the handle to fit it?

[Paladin]

Here is a shot of the knife in the Silvey book. You can compare 'em.
Sorry about the poor quality of the scan but I don't often use it thus not very good at it.

Ray

[elbertson]

I reckon that bail setup is normal, then...just don't understand it.

[Owd Wullie]

Is it wrong to covet jljr1944's NAVY KNIFE?

VERY nice knife!

[Bret888]

That is a beauty! We have one similar to it, but ebony, and not nearly as nice.