Schuylkill Arsenal produced “Shell” jacket trimmed in a scarlet colored wool worsted tape consisting of thirteen bars equally applied to both of the breast panels in a “Cage” pattern design. This cage pattern superceded the solid colored plastron breast designation of the 1851 regulations.

This particular specimen, being a Schuylkill Arsenal product, is thoroughly hand sewn, and is arsenal marked in the upper right sleeve with the number 2 located over the capital letters of SA and a two dot size marking. Also two (one wide and one narrow) possible inspector’s marks, which look to be a figure number 1, one of which is superimposed over the size marking of the number 2. The markings located within the left sleeve are also the two dots as in the previous right hand sleeve.

The body of this jacket is composed of four separate panels and two piece sleeves of a fine textured deep blue broadcloth wool. Body lining consists of five separate panels of a light brown twilled woven mixture of wool and cotton, described in the 19^th century as “jean cloth”.

Condition: Some small moth holes located on right lower sleeve near cuff chevron, one under same sleeve near the armpit. One on forth side panel, two on the second side panel and two on lower left sleeve, again above the cuff chevron. Finally, one located on the lower left front panel opposite the third button hole. Other losses are fragments of the worsted wool tape on the upper right breast near the collar on the first and second bars and on the outer boarder. Some abrasions to the center tape located between the ninth and eleventh buttonholes.

Coat body is sound and without visible seam separations. All original 20 small size Eagle buttons still present..Buttons have all plain unmarked brass backs. Both belt pillows intact as well.

A nice example of a pre-Civil War to Civil War period government issue jacket.

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