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1850s DRAGOON BRIDLE FEATURING HORSESHOE
SHAPED BRASS FACED BUCKLES w/ A LARGE SIZE MODEL 1847
BRASS FACED DRAGOON BIT:
A very special set, and one that is not present in any
known museum collection, this early US Dragoon Bridle
and Large Model 1847 Dragoon Brass-faced Curb Bit is
definitely a show piece of exceptionally rarity and
quality. Complete with the full headstall, featuring
brass-faced horseshoe shaped buckles, brass Heart
rosettes on the brow band, and a beautiful brass-faced
Dragoon Curb Bit, this set would never need to be
upgraded.
The headstall
is complete and made in substantial proportions of stout
leather, obviously intended to survive the rigors of
field use. The brow band is made of two layers of
russet leather with a semi-rounded profile. The crown is
stamped in two places 49 and 46 likely the stamp
which doubled for the six and the nine was improperly
applied and the number had to be restruck these
numbers serving to identify this bridle in the unit
inventory to a specific dragoon in the company. At the
juncture of the crown and brow band on each side, there
is a brass over steel rosette featuring a raised heart,
a design associated with the early dragoons and relic
medallions and breast strap decorations bearing this
heart have been found at known dragoon area forts.
Measuring 2 Ό in diameter, the matching rosettes are
full form, showing only minor evidence of wear, no
damage, and they have a very nice unpolished patina. The
equally strong cheek pieces are full length, the billets
have not been trimmed as is commonly seen on early
headstalls, the standing loops are intact, and the
straps are fitted with the proper brass-faced buckles,
all of which retain a nice aged patina. The only weak
point in the leather is a confined point on the throat
latch, an area of wear that is stable and will not be a
problem on display if handled properly. The balance of
the leather is strong and pliable with a nice finish.
Suspended from the headstall is the larger version of
the Model 1847 Dragoon Bit, the same pattern as is shown
on page 370 of The American Military Saddle,
1776-1945. An exceptional specimen, this bit shows
little evidence of use or wear, and it features a
beautiful, unpolished patina on the surface of the
brass-faced sidebars, rings and lower bar. The
brass-facing is 98% intact on the sidebars, 70% on the
lower bar, and some traces of the brass is present on
the rings not unusual given the wear exerted on the
rings by the movement of the reins.
The bit is full form with
no damage, misshaping or other signs of heavy wear or
abuse, and the lower bar is intact with no misshaping.
The iron mouth piece, and the iron surfaces exposed on
the inside surfaces of the sidebars and rings are all
in likewise excellent condition with only some minor
spots of discoloration. Compared to the limited number
of surviving brass-faced bits of the Dragoon era that
were available for examination during the course of
researching the subject for the above named book, this
is one of the nicest examples Ive seen.
This early Dragoon set
is the type of special item that seldom comes along, and
when it does, it threatens to turn me into my own best
customer, requiring a certain amount of discipline to
remember that I cannot keep it all. A very nice
example, this set would be appropriate to display with
an early Dragoon Saddle, elevating the value of the
display dramatically. It would be equally
appropriate with a Civil War officer's saddle, as the
officers on both sides of the conflict had a decided
preference for the early brass faced bits and dragoon
equipment, and used them whenever they were available,
however as the dragoon equipment was never made in large
numbers, even by the time of the Civil War it had become
relatively scarce.
SOLD
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