The 1 7/16" wide red Moroccan leather belt is faced with elaborate gold bullion tape. Red Moroccan leather sword suspension pad, brass adjusting buckle, and bullion faced loop with D-ring. The 41mm x 75mm two-piece interlocking plate uses a heavy cast 23mm tongue, faced with a pre-war Virginia staff button, which is ingeniously attached to the cast tongue with copper wires and solder. The tongue is composed of laurel leaves with a floral rosette at the top and ribbon at the bottom. The belt attachment loops are deeply cast with leaf and scroll motifs. The face of the plate retains 80% of the original gilt, while the back of the plate retains 40% of the original black enamel finish, including nearly all of the original finish on the back of the tongue. Entirely hand finished and fitted the plate is doubtless the work of a Virginia jeweler and is unquestionably Civil War period or earlier. The belt, which is cored with burlap, exhibits a couple of edge cracks and some minor damage at the sword suspension pad but is very pliable and sound. Absolutely unique in our experience and a very attractive Virginia officer's sword belt.
(541-04) $3,250.00
This rare and desirable uniform accoutrement is a fine, original specimen of a 'Richmond Pattern' Confederate russet leather sword belt rig complete with its original, classic two-piece CS 'tongue and wreath' brass sword belt plate tightly sewn to the belt.
This Southern enlisted man's sword belt is in excellent original condition and is typical of the wartime output of the Richmond Arsenal in Virginia. Our thick, russet leather belt still retains both leather sword hangers, each with a brass sword drop, one brass sword hook and two leather belt loop adjusters. Leather belt, which measures approximately 29" long x 1½" wide, wears single-line tooling along the belt's top and bottom edges. Belt also exhibits the original telltale 'spear point' shaped stitch pattern that holds the wreath portion of the plate to the leather.
The handsome, brass CS tongue, a.k.a. centerpiece, and its wreath are slightly different in color with the centerpiece showing a reddish hue against the wreath. The cast, two-piece plate used the sand mold construction method. Plate measures approximately 1.9" x 3.2" and exhibits a fine and mellow bronze patina overall. Casting detail on the wreath is rather rough finished and worn but the centerpiece letters "C S" are strong and sharp. When the sword belt was worn, the CS tongue fastened directly into the corresponding wreath's center opening and the excess length of belt was kept trim by means of the leather adjusters which are semi-permanently looped on the ends of belt.
Belt's exterior leather surface is strong save for scattered areas of flaking and crazing. Slight creasing also shows on the leather. No maker's marks visible. Sword straps are intact and sewn to the belt proper, but both straps suffer from flaking and bear weak spots with leather torn. Sword drops are secured to the strap loops via large brass rivets.
This wonderful original specimen of a Confederate soldier's 'Richmond Pattern' leather sword belt complete with its original CS two-piece 'tongue and wreath' plate would greatly enhance any leather collection or Civil War soldier display.
(282-50) ORIGINALLY $10,500.00 REDUCED TO $9,500.00 FURTHER REDUCED TO $8,950.00
An extraordinary early-war issue EM belt & accoutrements, from 1960s Shenandoah Valley estate sale. Brown bridal leather belt, measuring 40" in length and 2.125" in width, painted black, 7" inner strap w/buckle. Standard CSA cap box w/finial, though without fleece or pick, is rear-looped to belt. Brown black-painted leather bayonet frog is sewn into the belt, just as the scabbard is sewn into the frog. Frog & scabbard measure 16.75" in length, the scabbard 14.25".
Belt leather & buckle-strap leather strong and pliable though cracked & flaking. Have been treated w/Picard once over lightly and is holding up well. Cap box & belt loop lea. vg, w/some earlier flaking over patches now smooth & solid. Cap-box stitching is tight, w/loop stitching slightly loose at top. While the frog leather remains supple, the black painted scabbard is dry and its tip somewhat fragile. One slight tear at the juncture of frog & scabbard has been professionally repaired & is scarcely noticeable. Though no markings are discernable, which is not uncommon, this set exhibits all the early-war CS characteristics. Very rare to find a set as intact and as solid as this one. Superb display piece for serious Confederate collectors.
(M17967) ORIGINALLY $3,950.00 REDUCED TO $2,250.00
This artifact of original Civil War memorabilia is an outstanding early war specimen of a high quality black bridle leather sword belt mated with a corresponding regulation 1851 pattern, enlisted brass eagle belt plate and keeper. In excellent condition, this handsome sword belt is made of fine black bridle leather that features a strong and smooth finished surface with no flaking, creasing or crazing at all. The rectangular M1851 belt plate is secured by being looped through the plate loop and clasped to the leather belt by means of a brass hook. A leather adjuster loop also secures the plate. The brass keeper is sewn to the leather belt. Constructed of strong supple black leather, this handsome belt measures 39" long, 2" wide and exhibits a finely tanned, satiny, black exterior with a buff / light brown interior color. Sewn to the sword belt is a pair of 2" long sword strap loops, upper and lower, each fitted with an oval brass ring. Each of these rings suspends a leather sword hanger strap. The upper sword hanger strap measures almost 11" long with its both ends looped back on themselves and secured with a large brass rivet. Upper brass ring also suspends a brass sword hook. The lower sword hanger strap measures almost 28" long with its both ends looped back on themselves and secured with a large brass rivet. The far end of each leather sword hanger attaches to the suspension rings mounted on the sword's scabbard. The rectangular eagle waist belt plate is a Regulation 1851 Pattern enlisted man's plate, circa 1861. This standard, unmarked early-war plate measures 80 x 52 mm and is constructed of cast brass and features an integral eagle motif and tongue. Strongly secured to the plate face is an applied, three-piece, nickel-silver wreath with the tips reaching above the eagle's wings. Plate is nicely detailed and exhibits strong edges with even wear on all the high spots including shield device, stars and wing edges. Both the plate and its keeper, a.k.a. the hasp, are devoid of benchmarks. Cast tongue is integral to the plate. This fine leather sword belt rig with its pleasing rectangular M1851 eagle belt plate is as nice as they come. A very fine addition that would enhance any Civil War leather collection or soldier's display.
(400-549) ORIGINALLY $1,950.00 REDUCED TO $1,695.00
Mullinax plate #305. Circa 1860-65. Cast brass, then impressed into a metal die for detail. Tongue brazed on. Shortly before the war, some of Baltimore's uniformed companies purchased from Emerson Gaylord a quantity of these belt plates affixed to sword belts. At that time, there was no state funding or control of the volunteer militia. Many of these plates went south with Maryland volunteers and are occasionally excavated in Confederate sites.
This non-excavated example has no benchmarks. The detail is amazing. The belt although probably not original to the plate fits nicely. The belt is buff leather dyed brown. Stenciled in ink "No. 6" on the underside. The brass tongue keeper is benchmarked "741". Scarce state plate.
(M18819) Originally $3,950.00 REDUCED TO $3,650.00 FURTHER REDUCED TO $3,500.00
(See Todd, vol. 1, p.224) Black bridal lea. belt, measuring 1.75" & 37" in length; rectangular spread-eagled buckle w/ German silvered wreath & keeper. Belt is stiff & cracking (though not flaking) and has snapped twelve inches from buckle end. Both brass loop sword belt attachments in place, but only the shorter forward strap is present, and is broken at the bottom. The buckle and keeper are somewhat tarnished & grimed, but the German silver shines through sharply. Belt & buckle clasp easily and, despite its broken leather, the combination still makes for an attractive display piece.
(M19364) $695.00
Offered is an 1851 pattern officers belt buckle and leather belt. The belt is made of soft black leather and is 32 inches in length and 1 5/8 inches wide. On the inside it has a small iron buckle sewn to it with an attached 10inch piece of leather. Some of the stitching is missing where the seam runs down the middle of the inside. The buckle is an 1851 pattern. It has no markings and fits the keeper very well. Nice unpolished patina. Will display well in any collection.
(M19012) ORIGINALLY $450.00 REDUCED TO $365.00
Ca 1863 - 1865. Offered is an infantry pattern US buckle in fine condition. The brass die struck rolled brass buckle has a semi-bright patina with some darker stains that may have been caused by chemicals used to remove corrosion. The unmarked buckle is lead filled with brass arrow belt hooks. The 42-inch long and 1¾-inch wide belt is made from black bridle leather with a buff inside. It has six evenly spaced holes. Attached on the end is a brass belt keeper. The leather is very flexible and strong.
(362-190) $400.00
Standard oval CW plate w/nice semi-bright coppery face w/a few minor dings & surface blemishes. Arrow hooks w/clean lead backing. Bridal leather belt, maker marked " "Moores & Sons, Cinn., Oh.", measuring 34" in length, by 2.125" in width, w/buckle attached on one end & holes at opposite end. Belt leather is supple, & though the black dye has faded some w/age, is in very good shape. Excellent maker marked display set. display set.
(M19559) $795.00
Standard issue leather belt in fair condition. Surface shows some light flaking in spots. There are two minor tears in the belt. One is from the center of a size hole to the edge of the belt. This meas. approx. .50 inch long. The other is in the center of the back and again goes from the center to the edge. This is also approx. .50 inches in length. The brass keeper is attached to one end. The belt plate is a very nice one with a smooth surface patina to match the keeper. The back of the plate has 100% of its lead with arrow hooks and tongue. This is a nice representative piece that has not been fooled with. This plate and keeper have been on this belt from the beginning.
(241-18) ORIGINALLY $475.00 REDUCED TO $400.00
Standard oval plate, w/arrow-hooks and lead backing. Plate exhibits medium dark patina w/one small .25 ding in center of "S". Lead backing clean w/some scratching. Arrow hooks solid. Plate VG overall. Black bridle leather belt measures 1.875" in width and 39" in width, w/4-pronged 1" brass hasp at the end opposite the belt plate. Belt is supple but fragile w/considerable flaking. Overall, a very solid plate on a fairly decent belt.
(258-66) $450.00
This original leather waist belt and its matching brass plate are typical of the type worn by Federal infantrymen during the Civil War. In good used condition, the black bridle leather belt follows the 1856 pattern and measures 40" long x 1 5/8" wide. This rugged veteran leather belt shows the maker's mark of "A.W. DECROW / MAKER / BANGOR ME" stamped unto the exterior surface. During the Civil War, DeCrow had army contracts in 1862 and 1863 for a total of 8,000 sets of infantry accoutrements. Leather belt is in strong condition overall but it is a bit stiff and suffers from moderate cracking and crazing to the entire surface. Edges show a few minor tears. Belt is void of its original loop adjuster. The brass, oval waist belt plate attached to the belt is an original, regulation 1839 pattern, enlisted infantryman's accoutrement in very good condition. Plate construction is of sheet rolled, die-struck brass and slightly concave. The double-bordered, 53 x 85mm brass oval plate bears large letters "U.S." embossed on the face. Backside of plate is lead filled and retains the two arrowhead belt hooks and the single brass clasp hook. Back shows no maker's mark but lead surface is smooth with no erosion present. Lead bears a pleasing, dusky gray patina. This original, black bridle leather belt with its matching US oval belt plate constitutes a wonderful artifact in very good condition that would handsomely compliment any collection of Civil War accoutrements.
(123-5709) $450.00
This belt is made of black polished leather folded over an inner core material with brass fittings. Without the plate or catch it measures 28 inches long and 1 ¾ inches wide. It also has a uniform protector that is stamped. RAYMOLD & WITLOCK / 99 and 101 FOURTH AVE. N.Y. The 7/8-inch wide straps are adjustable on the belt. The longer strap is broken just below the belt. The eagle plate is a heavily cast brass plate with nice details.
(100A-22) $175.00
The belt is made from artificially -grained light polished Patent leather that is folded over an inner or core material. The overall length is 34 ¾ inches and 1 5/8 inches wide. All the fitting are made of brass. It has a Navy Officer's regulation 1876 pattern belt plate. Number 32 is stamped on the front of the belt plate uniform protector. The longest of the two sword hanger straps is broken at the top were it attaches to the belt but it is all there.
(258-70) $225.00
Ca. 1863-65. Patent black leather belt measuring 1.75" in width, 33" in width, w/ blue dyed and red stitched leather side trim, w/two brass chain link hanger straps. Finely crafted officer's gilt cast brass belt plate-See O'Donnell & Campbell, pl. 657, p. 396. Belt condition: Patent leather moderately scuffed & cracking, though not flaking. Blue dye somewhat faded, red side-trim loose, though still attached. Chain hanger straps attached and good. Buckle front exhibits dark coppery patina, reverse displays traces of verdigris. Else VG. Intriguing state belt rig. Invites further research.
(20-2293) $795.00
[See O'Donnell & Campbell, p.216, plate 329]. Plate made of gilt cast brass. An elaborate Victorian design worn extensively by independent companies, bands and firemen during the 1840s and 1850s; primarily Massachusetts troops and others in the New England area. This particular pattern, featuring an eagle with star in shield, was the most common style. Contemporary photographs confirm widespread use while numerous examples have been excavated in 1861-1865 sites-Tarred leather belt w/buff lea. underside w/tarred strip & small buckle., measuring 36" in length, 1.75" in width. Buckle exhibits bright gilt finish w/small spot of tarnish on the right keeper, & two inconsequential spots of grime rear frame piece. Belt leather supple & in very good shape w/some wear & minor flaking around the underside buckle. Magnificent display piece!
(M16129) Originally $1,500.00
Ca. 1890. Maker-Mark: (rear of buckle) "Shannon Miller & Crane/ New York". One piece circular gilt belt buckle w/no separate keeper. Brown pebble patent leather belt measuring 37.5" in length, 1.5" in width. Two strap hanger belt loops w/hooks and one unusual anchor keeper. Leather supple w/very slight patches of cracking in spots on underside and at the tip. Overall VG. Attractive 1890s naval piece.
(M18212) $225.00
Made of buff leather, measuring 1.75" in width, 42.5" in length, w/ 13 punch holes. Buckle measures 1.75 x 2.625". Stitched leather keeper present. Overall condition of leather very good, w/some staining of outer side, w/cracking visible in inner side. Buckle & keeper VG. Scarce naval belt. Fine display piece.
(241-155) $750.00