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MODEL 1872 CAVALRY SABRE BELT FOR THE 1872 TRIAL
BRACE SYSTEM – A VERY NICE BELT SET COMPLETE WITH THE
MODEL 1872 HOLSTER WITH THE HOFFMAN SWIVEL AND WIPING
ROD POCKET FOR SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS AND THE REMINGTON
MODEL 1871 SINGLE SHOT PISTOL, THE MODEL 1872 DYER
CARBINE CARTRIDGE POUCH, THE MODEL 1875 PISTOL CARTRIDGE
POUCH AND BOTH SABER STRAPS:
Originally designed as part
of the 1872 Trial Brace System, a fully equipped Model
1872 Cavalry Sabre Belt is probably the scarcest of the
Indian War Cavalry sabre belts, and the most difficult
to find or assemble with all of the proper accoutrements
in decent condition. All of the components were
produced in relatively low numbers, and from the
condition of most surviving specimens, it appears the
majority of these accoutrements remained in service on
the frontier and were subjected to years of hard use –
most to destruction. While officially replaced after
the brief 1872 Trials by subsequent patterns such as the
Models 1874 and 1885 Sabre Belts and then the myriad of
cloth and woven cartridge belts, the Model 1872 Sabre
Belts and their unique accoutrements which were still in
the inventory of frontier serving units continued to be
issued by the frugal army until they disappeared into
history, leaving relatively few survivors in collections
today.
This is an unusual offering of a complete set of the
Model 1872 Sabre Belt, complete with all of its proper
accoutrements. Each piece is described individually
below, with accompanying photographs.
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MODEL 1872 CAVALRY SABRE BELT WITH THE SABRE
STRAPS:
Originally designed as part
of the 1872 Trial Brace System, this Model 1872 Cavalry
Sabre Belt is probably the scarcest of the Indian War
Cavalry belts, and the most difficult to find in decent
condition due to the relatively low production and long
use on the frontier. While the shoulder straps of the
brace system were quickly abandoned by the troops in the
field and eventually deleted from the equipment
inventory after the brief 1872 Trials, the sabre belts
continued to be issued by the frugal army and used into
the 1880’s.
This Model 1872 Cavalry Belt is complete with the two
leather sections that connect the belt plate and catch
to the front brass standing loops to which the front of
the brace system attached. These belts were made in two
sizes, marked on the front leather keepers “1” and “2”
respectively. The left hand keeper is lightly stamped
“1” on the outer surface and the inner surface is
stamped with the initials of the piece worker who
assembled it.
The brass catch is stamped
with an assembly number, evidence that any available
parts available in the stores of Civil War surplus were
utilized well into the Indian War period.
The balance of the belts
fittings: the brass squares and dismounted sabre hook;
the two rear brass standing loops to which the rear
brace system straps attached; and the two sliding
leather keepers, are all present and intact. The belt
is full length and there are no tears or weak points.
The leather surface is in overall very good condition,
with minor crazing and some minor flaking in the areas
subjected to bending over the fittings or the chafing by
the various fittings.
Completing the belt, and certainly the most difficult
component of these saber belts to locate, are both of
the leather saber straps, the front, shorter strap and
the longer rear strap. The straps are a matched pair,
full length, very solid and both have nice clear
finishes to the leather surfaces.
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MODEL 1872 HOLSTER WITH THE HOFFMAN SWIVEL FOR
SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS AND THE REMINGTON M1871 SINGLE
SHOT PISTOL – WITH WIPING ROD POCKET – A SCARCE EARLY
INDIAN WAR HOLSTER: As discussed in US
MILITARY HOLSTERS AND PISTOL CARTRIDGE BOXES by
Scott Meadows, pages 88 – 91, these Model 1872 Holsters
with the distinctive wiping rod pocket attached to the
body of the holster and featuring the Hoffman Pattern
Swivel Belt Loop were manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal
early in the post-Civil War Frontier period in very
limited numbers (estimated at just over 1300) and
survive today in very few collections - less than 20
specimens are known to exist.
These holsters were produced by modifying existing
stocks of surplus US Army Civil War revolver holsters by
removing the standard belt loop, evidenced by the line
of stitching that remains on this holster from where the
original belt loop was attached. The standard belt loop
was replaced with the Hoffman Swivel assembly with the
unrestricted stud which allowed the holster to swivel a
full 360 degrees around the belt loop assembly. The
modification was completed with the addition of the
wiping rod pocket, riveted to the length of the holster
body and the application of an embossed “US” in the oval
on the flap.
This particular specimen presents with a smooth even
finish to all the surfaces, showing only minimal
evidence of the expected wear and aging, and retaining
the shape and form that it should have. The surface of
the body and the flap are very smooth and bright.
The “US” on the flap is
very bright and fully legible – a nice feature as many
of these 1872 holsters were not embossed, and of those
that were, the “US” is often found lightly struck or
having faded through use.
The swivel assembly is complete, fully functional, and
moves freely without being loose. In service, these
swivel assemblies were prone to fail. As the swivel
would rotate a full 360 degrees and was made of soft
brass, the soldiers experienced the fairly regular, and
I would imagine disconcerting, event where the swivel
assembly subjected to the constant friction caused by
the movement when worn on horse back ultimately fatigued
and simply fell apart. That this holster has retained
its swivel in its original configuration is an added
value.
The seam along the length of the body had worn through
use and age just as so many of the scarce existing
specimens of this holster exhibit, likely the result of
these holsters carrying a pistol with larger dimensions,
such as the Richard’s Conversions or possibly a Colt
M1873 Single Action, than for what the holster body was
originally designed during the Civil War. This seam has
been nicely restored, is now full form and secure, and
doesn’t detract from the appearance or value of this
holster.
The wiping rod pocket, another distinctive feature of
these holsters, is full length and is attached to the
length of the holster body with two rivets.
This rare holster is in relatively overall excellent
condition. All of the components are present and intact
to include the closing tab and plug; and the flap, belt
loop and holster body all hold their shape and still
retain the characteristics of strong, live leather.
These early Indian War M1872 Holsters are recognized by
knowledgeable collectors as an important addition to an
Indian War Accoutrement collection, and as part of this
set, this holster will be the perfect addition to
display with your Colt Richard Conversion, Smith and
Wesson American, or M1871 Remington Single Shot Army
Pistol.
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VERY RARE MODEL 1872 DYER CARBINE CARTRIDGE POUCH
– A KEY EARLY INDIAN WARS PIECE – VERY GOOD CONDITION:
The successor to the Model 1870 Dyer “E” Pouch, the
Model 1872 Dyer Carbine Cartridge Pouch was manufactured
in very limited numbers as part of the Model 1872
(Trial) Cavalry Brace System, and like the Model 1870
Dyer Pouch, is seldom encountered. While it appears
there were more of the Model 1872 Dyers produced than
the 100 Model 1870 “E” Pouches, the 1872 pouches are
almost as rare as the sling mounted “E” pouches. It
appears that while the majority of the Dyer “E” Pouches
surviving the trials were recalled by the Ordnance
Department, the Model 1872 Dyers may have remained in
the hands of the troops for a longer period of time –
perhaps right up to the time the Model 1874 Dyers began
to be issued – and therefore the Model 1872 Dyers
suffered from a higher attrition.
The Model 1872 Cavalry Brace System proved to be very
unpopular with the soldiers, and although the shoulder
straps and integral carbine sling were abandoned, the
Model 1872 Cavalry Belt with its detachable sabre
straps, and the Model 1872 Dyer Carbine Pouch were very
well received and those concepts were retained as the
foundation of the Model 1874 Sabre Belt and Model 1874
Dyer Carbine Pouch.
The Model 1872 pouch featured over sized belt loops to
permit the pouch to pass over the brass standing loops
on the Model 1872 Brace System Belt, and it retained the
wide gusset design of the Model 1870 Dyer Pouch which
allowed the body of the pouch to expand and contract in
relation to the number of cartridges in the pouch. The
front of the body of the pouch was designed with a low
profile tool pouch secured with a brass button. The
pistol ammo pouch which was integral to the front of the
Model 1870 Dyer Pouch was eliminated and a separate
pistol ammo pouch was provided with the 1872 Brace
System.
This pouch is in very good condition. The embossed “US”
still bright and legible on the front cover and the
arsenal inspector’s stamp is faintly visible on the
point of the opening tab. There is some of the
normally light crazing on the surface of the leather,
however the leather is overall smooth and it remains
very pliable. The gusset is fully intact, and overall
smooth. There are some shallow worm tracks on the face
of the front of the pouch body. All of the seams and
the belt loops are intact, and this pouch presents as a
very strong specimen.
The rarity of the Model 1872 Dyer Carbine Pouches cannot
be overstated. These early Indian Wars era pouches
almost never appear on the market, and it is notable
that this pouch presents as part of this set.
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MODEL 1875 PISTOL CARTRIDGE POUCH: The
enforced frugality of the finance strapped Ordnance
Department, resulted in many of the Indian War
accoutrements being produced by modifying the remaining
stocks of Civil War surplus. As ordered in 1872, this
Model 1875 Pistol Cartridge Pouch was modified from one
of the thousands of Civil War Cap Pouches on hand. A
fairly simple modification, the cap pouch’s interior
flap was trimmed away, leaving an “ear” at each top
corner of the body. These ears were then sewn to the
top of the side edges of the body to limit the opening
and prevent the loss of the metallic pistol cartridges.
The outer flap, left in its full form was then embossed
with the large “US” in the oval, completing the
modification.
This pouch features a clear, legible “US” in the oval on
the front cover. The pouch is in full form with the
original integral tab intact and not torn, all of the
seams are intact, both belt loops are present and
intact, and the leather still very supple and pliable.
The leather surfaces are
overall smooth with no crazing or flaking. The belt
loops are very strong, and are well attached to the
body.
These Pistol Cartridge Pouches are fairly scarce on the
market, are heavily sought after by Indian War
accoutrement collectors and Colt collectors alike, and
are one of the accoutrements most often missing from an
Indian Wars period Cavalry Sabre Belt. Overall this is
a very good example and would be difficult to upgrade.
This is an excellent specimen of the fully equipped
Model 1872 Cavalry Sabre Belt as it would have been
issued to the early Indian Wars trooper and worn in the
field. A very historic Indian Wars accoutrement set,
ready to display with your Richard’s Conversion Colt and
Smith and Wesson American revolvers, the Model 1871
Remington Single Shot Pistol, or any of the 1871 Trial
Cavalry Carbines. (0615) $7500
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