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MODEL 1874 CLOTHING BAGS – TYPE 3 - w/ CHAMBERS SLING – EXCELLENT SPECIMENS:  These are excellent specimens of the Model 1874 Clothing Bag (Type 3), originally issued with the Model 1874 Infantry Brace System, and complete with the Chambers Brass Buckled Sling. 

This Type 3 Clothing Bag, differentiated from the Type 1 and Type 2 when the army discontinued the black rubberized front cover, and eliminated the leather reinforcement around the opening of the bag body, the leather buckle chapes for attaching the shoulder sling, and the leather billet that attaches to the “US” General Service Button to close the meat can pouch on the front of the bag body.  The Type 3 features canvas reinforcement around the bag opening, canvas buckle chapes for attaching the sling and a canvas billet to close over the button on the face of the bag body.   

I have the following bags, each described below and accompanied by photographs. 

 

No. 1  MODEL 1874 CLOTHING BAG – TYPE 3 - w/ CHAMBERS SLING:  This Model 1874 Clothing bag is in excellent condition showing little use and the only evidence of issue is the hand drawn sets of initials “CE” on the front and back panels of the body.  The front cover is legibly stenciled “US” and the inside of the front cover is stenciled "WATERVLIET ARSENAL".  All of the buckles, buttons and straps are intact, all of the seams are intact, and there are no holes, tears, or other damage to the bag.  

In addition to issue to the soldiers at the regiment level, these bags were also provided to the recruits as they graduated from the Jeffersonville Depot in order to carry their meager possessions to their first duty station.  As those particular bags issued to the recruits were the property of the depot, the intended system was that the commanding officer at the recruit’s first duty station would relieve the recruit of the Jeffersonville Depot’s bag, return it to the depot or an arsenal for reconditioning, and issue the new soldier a bag from the stores held by the regiment.  As you can imagine, this system had any number of flaws and apparently did not function as intended.  As a result, the depot began stenciling the bags they issued with “RECRUIT” within a split oval border, as a means of encouraging the return of the bags – the thinking being no soldier wanted to be carrying a bag that identified him in perpetuity as a mere recruit.  Whether this system worked or not is unknown, but does make for an interesting bit of Indian War Army trivia.  The “RECRUIT” stenciled on the front of this bag identifies it as one of these Jefferson Depot Bags.   

The Chambers Sling is likewise in excellent condition with no sign of wear or fraying, the material is full length, and both leather billets are intact and smooth.  Once the brace system was discontinued as an item of issue, the Chambers Cloth Sling with a brass adjustment buckle was issued to carry the Clothing Bag.   

This is a very nice example of the early Indian War soldier’s Clothing Bag, and one that would never need to be upgraded.  (0414)  $250

 

No. 2  MODEL 1874 CLOTHING BAG – TYPE 3 - w/ CHAMBERS SLING – UNIT IDENTIFIED:  This Model 1874 Clothing bag is in excellent condition showing little use.  The front cover is legibly stenciled “US” and the inside of the front cover is stenciled "US” and “WATERVLIET ARSENAL".  The only evidence of issue is the unit applied identification stencil applied faintly above the “US” for the 6TH Infantry Regiment, Company E.  All of the buckles, buttons and straps are intact, all of the seams are intact, and there are no holes, tears, or other damage to the bag.   

The Chambers Sling is likewise in excellent condition with no sign of wear or fraying, the material is full length, and both leather billets are intact and smooth.  Once the brace system was discontinued as an item of issue, the Chambers Cloth Sling with a brass adjustment buckle was issued to carry the Clothing Bag.   

This is a very nice example of the early Indian War soldier’s Clothing Bag, and one that would never need to be upgraded.  SOLD

 
 
 
 
 
 

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