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MODEL 1885 CARBINE
BOOTS – VERY GOOD SPECIMENS – UNIT IDENTIFIED TO 4TH
AND 9TH CAVALRY REGIMENTS:
These Model 1885 Carbine Boots were adopted as a result
of the 1884 Cavalry Equipments Board, and placed into
service prior to the publication of Ordnance Memoranda
No. 29 in 1891 by which time the longer, brass throated
Model 1887 Carbine Boot supplanted these shorter boots.
As discussed in detail
on pages 137-156 of Indian War Cartridge Pouches,
Boxes, and Carbine Boots by R. Stephen Dorsey, the
Model 1885 Carbine Boot was subjected to several
modifications of the original pattern once the boots
were issued to the troops in the field.
Purchased directly from
Dorsey’s research collection, the following boots are
all in very solid condition and complete with all straps
and buckles. Each is individually described below with
accompanying photographs.
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#1 MODEL 1885
CARBINE BOOT – FIRST PATTERN – IDENTIFIED TO 9TH
CAVALRY, COMPANY E:
A very interesting example on several different levels,
this boot is in the original configuration as
manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal – albeit
assembled incorrectly. A well documented anomaly,
apparently either through an incorrectly executed
drawing, or a error on the part of the bench workers in
viewing the drawing, a significant number of these first
pattern boots were assembled at the arsenal in reverse.
As this piece presents, the boot was assembled as if it
were designed to hang on the left side of the saddle,
instead of as it was designed to hang on right hand
side. That these incorrectly assembled boots passed
inspection and were issued to the cavalry companies on
the frontier is evidenced by the unit applied inventory
stamps along the crest of the boot’s opening, “E 9 5”,
indicating E Company, 9Th Cavalry Regiment,
No. 5. This stamp also indicates that this boot was
accepted into inventory and was stamped with the unit
inventory number in preparation for being issued to a
soldier without anyone questioning the design flaw. The
inventory number “5” was also stamped on the suspension
strap.
This boot is in full
form and in excellent condition with a bright, smooth
shiny leather surface overall, and all of the straps
full length and the buckles present with their original
black japanned finish intact. The “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL”
stamp is fully legible as are the unit inventory stamps,
and the inspector’s stamp on the end of the upper
suspension strap. The straps are in the original
configuration as depicted in the 1886 Ordnance
Department drawing, never having been subjected to any
of the field modifications common to other existing
specimens.
This Model 1885 Carbine
Boot is a historical specimen not only with the unit
markings from the famous 9Th Cavalry
Regiment, but also as an example of one of the more
interesting episodes of Rock Island Arsenal history.
(0126) $275
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