Offered is a stamped brass circular lead filled eagle plate on its original buff belt. This 2 1/2-inch diameter plate has three iron wire hooks on the reverse to facilitate belt adjustment. It has a mellow patina is a sharp striking and has 2 small dents on the face at 2 and 8 o'clock. There is a dent at 10 o'clock on the left edge. The circular eagle plates were introduced in 1826 for use on the bayonet holding shoulder belt for all enlisted ranks of the US infantry. When the bayonet was switched to wear on the waistbelt in the early 1840s these plates were relegated to use on the shoulder belts for the 1840 pattern non-commissioned officer sword, the musician's swords and the cartridge box over-the-shoulder straps. In the latter case they had 2 loops and were not adjustable.

This adjustable shoulder belt is made of buff leather (processed and whitened buffalo hide not to be mistaken for American bison). It is 2 1/8 inches wide. It is a little stiff from age and there is a hard to read name on the still white back. There is a leather receptacle called a "frog" (a pocket) for the 1840 Non-commissioned officer's sword and adjacent to this is one for the bayonet scabbard. Both are punched to accept fasteners (stud or hook). The first frog is for the sword and the slightly smaller loop is for the bayonet stud as found on the top mount of the British imported Pattern 1853 socket bayonet. Beginning in the 1850s all buff accoutrements were ordered to be blackened and by Civil War the practice was universal and trickled down to the militia.

The set has always been intact as you see it and is durable enough to hold both sword and bayonet both which we currently have in stock if you wish to complete this rare accoutrement.   [pe][ph:L]

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