This is a very good regulation Civil War bridle leather US infantry waist belt clearly stamped by J.E. Condict of New Jersey and New York, and bearing his White Street, NYC, address. Jennings Condict, along with S.A. and S.H. Condict, had long experience in saddlery and their firms were major contractors during the Civil War for leather gear of all sorts, including cartridge boxes, gun slings, saber belts, and sets of accouterments. This is a nice mid-war example of the regulation infantryman’s belt using the flat C-clasp retainer at one end that came into use in 1862 to replace the early standing loop, and an 1839 pattern oval U.S. buckle with the  “arrowback” studs that were introduced around January 1863 (see Bazelon for the Condicts and O’Donnell and Campbell for the buckle.) The finish of the leather is excellent, black in color, oxidizing toward brown, in solid but flexible condition with just few minor rubs spots. The brass keeper and buckle are very good as well, with nice undisturbed, aged patina, and a good edge to the buckle with no dents or dings, just some minor verdigris in the recesses of the clasp and on the edges of the arrow studs, and a nice, even, lead-solder filled back.

This displays very nicely and is a key piece in a Civil War display as a basic piece of infantry gear. It has the bonus of a clear contractor’s mark as well.  [sr]

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