MODEL 1885 CAVALRY CANTEEN w/ SCARCE SNAP HOOK
LEATHER SADDLE HANGER STRAP: One of the
scarcest of the Model 1885 Cavalry Equipments, this
Indian War period US Army issue Canteen, complete with
both of the triangular hangers that were attached as
part of the modification process the arsenals used to
convert the Civil War canteens to the 1878 Pattern, is
fitted with the Model 1885 Cavalry Canteen Strap.
These straps, introduced specifically for the mounted
soldiers as an alternative to the shoulder straps
previously issued to all soldiers, provided a shorter
doubled strap fitted with a steel snap hook which
enabled the soldiers to securely hang the canteen on any
of the equipment rings mounted on the saddle.
This strap was further modified by the soldier who used
it with the addition of a snap hook at each end of the
strap, which provided a means of detaching the canteen
from the strap without having to unbuckle and
disassemble the strap as it was originally designed by
the Ordnance Department. These soldier applied
modifications are always an added value as few of them
survived to appear on the collector’s market.
The strap is pliable, is full length and complete with
all the standing and sliding loops, and fully functional
original steel snap hooks – one for hanging the canteen
on the saddle, and the other two which snap onto to the
triangular loops on the canteen. The leather shows
evidence of use as expected, with some flexing, but
there are no weak points or excessive wear to the
leather.
The legible “US” stencil is present on the canteen
cover. As issued to the regular army in the west, this
canteen has no National Guard or State Militia unit
marks, a definite added value. There are the expected
mild soiling marks left on the cover by the years of
service and storage, however the canvas cover is solid
with no weak points and no wear spots, and the seam
around the canteen is fully intact. The original cork
stopper and chain are fully intact.
These Model 1885 Cavalry Canteens
are very scarce, as most were consumed by the hard use
on the frontier. Easily one of the most popular
canteens of the western Indian Wars, this set will
definitely be a nice addition to your Cavalry collection
and would be an excellent addition to display on your
Model 1885 McClellan Saddle. (0220) $650
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