Only 1,000 of these knives were purchased by the Ordnance Department from the Ames Manufacturing Co. in 1849 for issue to the U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. The Model 1849 Rifleman's Knife has the distinction of being the first knife officially designed and purchased by the U.S. Army. The massive knife is 18 inches long and has an 11 7/8 inch spear point blade, cast brass cross guard with "WD" (William Dickinson) and "J.W.R." (General James Wolfe Ripley) inspection marks, and slab-sided walnut grips with a distinctive brass lined thong hole in the pommel and three steel rivets. The knife is complete with the original black leather scabbard with brass throat and tip. The throat has a round frog stud. The obverse ricasso of the blade is stamped with a "US" property mark over "WD," and the reverse is roll-stamped "AMES MFG. CO./CABOTVILLE/1849" in three lines. Between 1842 and 1854, Ripley was superintendent of the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, and he was later the head of the Ordnance Department at the beginning of the Civil War. The U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen were primarily armed with Colt Dragoon revolvers and U.S. Model 1841 rifles. Because the Model 1841 rifles did not have provisions for bayonets and they did not carry traditional cavalry sabers, the men needed suitable blades. The Model 1849 has similarities to other fighting knives from the era and were very well made. The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was authorized by an Act of Congress on December 1, 1845. They were organized in the fall of 1846 and fought during the Mexican-American War. The Mounted Riflemen were sent to the Oregon Territory in 1849 and were subsequently assigned to garrisons in California. Many of the men deserted during the California Gold Rush that was then at its peak. The unit was redesignated the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the start of the Civil War and many of the Model 1849 Rifleman's Knives that were still serviceable saw use during the conflict. The 3rd Cavalry has been part of many of the most important moments in U.S. military history since its creation. The 4th Squadron is still known as "Longknife."