I bought a box of old forks. Some have stamps on them. Anybody have any idea of when these were used? Some are stamped U.S. others stamped U.S.N.

Just a guess but perhaps officers mess kit. It was a big box with enough stuff for about 12 officers to eat with. Or another guess Mess Hall utensils.

Bob

One butter knife is stamped U.S.V.A. and the other U.S.N. Some forks are engraved U.S.A.M.D. and others stamped U.S.A.M.D.

The other forks kind of look like the others, but are not stamped.

Just a guess but perhaps officers mess kit. It was a big box with enough stuff for about 12 officers to eat with. Or another guess Mess Hall utensils.

Bob

Thanks Bob, In the photo of the Navy forks the bottom one looks to be "newer" than the others. The time frame is unknown to me.

All of the U.S. forks except one were stamped Silco. The one other stamp was Modernware1.

This is the only fork stamped with Med Dept U.S.. It has no makers stamp.

About half the forks with a U.S.A.M.D. were stamped REED&BARTON

The other half of the forks with a U.S.A.M.D. stamp had a "1877 N.F. CO."-S stamp.

The other half of the forks with a U.S.A.M.D. stamp had a "1877 N.F. CO."-S stamp.

Of the forks stamped U.S.N. two were also stamped "1877 N.F. CO,"-S with an "A" in a circle after that. One of these forks has what looks like "S?C" stamped on it. The rest of the U.S.N. forks were made by REED&BARTON. Note the "A" stamped after the name.

"N.F.CO" is the Niagara Falls Company. I see nothing for U.S.N. forks though.

USAMD is US Army Medical Department. These would have been used in a fixed facility, such as a hospital.

Lots of forks is the most accurate topic title I have ever seen! You can stick a fork in that collection, it's done! Sorry I couldn't resist that. That's a cool collection. Hours of fun cataloging and researching there.

Mikie

Lots of forks is the most accurate topic title I have ever seen! You can stick a fork in that collection, it's done! Sorry I couldn't resist that. That's a cool collection. Hours of fun cataloging and researching there.

Mikie

Hey Mikie, LOL! I was hoping to avoid untold hours of hunting down information. The net isn't being as helpful as I had hoped. Happy New Year!!!!!

You could recreate your own mess hall with all those forks! Thanks for sharing!

Hunt

Yes, a fortune of forks. I have the same problem but mine are U.S. mess kit cutlery. Bought a whole box years ago at a yard sale,(for $2 no less) and they have been kicking around ever since. A couple or three can be used as kitchen utensils but the rest? Just gathering dust.

Too bad you didn't get more knives, one of those I could have used.

Nice forking collection.

 

OK, I had to.... Sorry.

LOLLLL Forking A buddy! ( I had to say that and I'M NOT SORRY! : )

IMG_3788.JPG Yes, a fortune of forks. I have the same problem but mine are U.S. mess kit cutlery. Bought a whole box years ago at a yard sale,(for $2 no less) and they have been kicking around ever since. A couple or three can be used as kitchen utensils but the rest? Just gathering dust.

Thank God I am not the only one, Yours I have seen on line. Nice!

IMG_3789.JPG Too bad you didn't get more knives, one of those I could have used.

From what I have seen on line the top two are with out a doubt WW2. They simplified production or went to a different table service pattern. I am not sure of when they did that. As for the bottom one...older?

So far as I understand it from on line reading not every single knife fork and spoon was stamped. It seems if they ran short they would order more of the same pattern. Its possible the other forks with out stamps, but of the same pattern were indeed used by one or more of of the agency's stamped on the items. If I had to guess I would think the USAMD state side would have done this.

I'm guessing it's older, it even has a little silver content according to the makers mark and the corrosion on the handle.

I would say....you forked yourself.