VERY GOOD CIVIL WAR CONTRACTOR MARKED US INFANTRY BUFF BELT AND PLATE

VERY GOOD CIVIL WAR CONTRACTOR MARKED US INFANTRY BUFF BELT AND PLATE

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$550.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-9350

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

This is an unissued regulation Union infantryman’s waistbelt with its original 1839 pattern oval US belt plate and keeper in place. The belt is buff leather, full length, in pliable condition, with brown surface and undyed, cream color underside. The brown color is even and is the commonly encountered color on these belts from the use of iron mordants in dying the surface black, which then oxidized to brown, a process that took a relatively short time after manufacture and issue according to modern experiments and the number of belts that show attempts to re-black them at the time.

This carries the regulation stamped brass, solder-filled, oval US belt plate worn by infantry during the war. The pattern was proposed in 1837, finally adopted in 1839, and first produced in two sizes: the larger version in theory being for dragoon saber belts and waist belts for riflemen, and the smaller one use for the waist belts of line infantry, who carried their cartridge boxes and also their bayonets on shoulder slings at the time. The bayonet shifted to the waist belt in the early 1840s, though it was not until 1857 that the infantry officially changed to the larger plate. This version as arrowhead (or “snakehead”) points for attachment to the belt. A form that shows up on some very early plates, and was re-introduced beginning in 1863 by some makers, becoming the standard form soon after. The keeper on the other end of the belt is the flat brass C-clasp pattern that replaced the early war standing sewn loop, still keeping the end of the belt in place, but permitting it to be more quickly fastened and unfastened.

The plate shows age stains and about 20% of the gilt finish. It has very good definition to the letters and an undamaged edged. Fastening studs and hook are in place. The lead solder fill has a level surface. The keeper is secure. The belt is flexible and also has the partially visible wartime contractor stamp of S.H. Young of Newark, NJ. This is Stephen H. Young, who was a saddler and clothing dealer before the war. Bazelon’s Directory lists his wartime US contracts for accoutrements as including a Feb. 1865 contract for 10,000 sets of infantry gear.

This is a strong example of a key piece of Civil War Union infantry gear.  [stp][ph:L]

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