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MODEL 1876 US ARMY BARRACKS BEDDING BLANKETS – VERY
NICE EARLY SPECIMENS: Dating from the Custer
era, these Indian Wars Model 1876 Bedding Blankets, as
described on page 152 of
Randy Stephen’s “The Horse
Soldier 1776-1943, Volume II”, feature the correct blue
gray body with 2 ˝” dark blue stripes at each end.
One of the most basic
pieces of the standard equipment issued to each frontier
soldier, these blankets saw heavy service in both the
barracks and in the field, and then as they passed on as
surplus to the multitude of post-army agencies,
charities and retail stores where they were simply used
up with little or no regard for their historical value.
As you can imagine, these blankets did not survive in
great numbers, and today an early Indian Wars
era bedding blanket is a scarce item, particularly when
found in the condition of these offered here.
These blankets will certainly add to
your collection, displayed with a soldier’s field kit,
on a Model 1872 Barracks Bed, or rolled up on the cantle
of an Indian War saddle.
Each blanket is described
below with accompanying photographs.
NOTE: THE LIGHT STREAKS SHOWING ON THE BLANKET IN THE
PHOTOGRAPHS ARE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE BLANKET
AND NOT FADING, BLEACHED AREAS, OR DISCOLORATION IN THE
MATERIAL.
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1876 BLANKET
NO. 1:
The blanket measures 71” long and 62 ˝” wide, very close
to the original dimensions and well within the range of
shrinkage normally encountered in these blankets as
caused by the aging of the wool and repeated washings
through the years. Overall in very good to excellent
condition, this blanket has a small patch of moth
tracks, a small stain and a small notch in one edge –
all shown in the photographs below. None of these small
flaws affect the integrity of the weave nor do they
detract from the quality of the blanket on display.
When originally issued, these blankets had a “U.S.”
stenciled with ink or paint in the center of the
blanket, but as with this specimen, this marking soon
wore away with use and cleaning and is seldom found
intact. (0424)
$525
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1876 BLANKET
NO. 2:
The blanket measures 76” long and 66” wide, very close
to the original dimensions and well within the range of
shrinkage normally encountered in these blankets as
caused by the aging of the wool and repeated washings
through the years. Overall in very good to excellent
condition, this blanket is as close to "like new" as you
are likely to encounter. It is overall clean with
no stains, it has no distinct mothing, and only a small
wear point along the edge at one end shown in the photographs below. When originally issued, these blankets had a “U.S.”
stenciled with ink or paint in the center of the
blanket, but as with this specimen, this marking soon
wore away with use and cleaning and is seldom found
intact. This
specimen will display quite well and is an exceptional
example of the early Indian War era blankets.
(1050) $595
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