MINTY CIVIL WAR CONTRACTOR MARKED US INFANTRY BUFF BELT AND PLATE

MINTY CIVIL WAR CONTRACTOR MARKED US INFANTRY BUFF BELT AND PLATE

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$550.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-9349

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

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

This is the regulation waist belt for Union infantry enlistedmen, complete and in near excellent condition, carrying the regulation stamped brass, solder-filled, oval US 1839 pattern belt plate fitted with the arrowhead studs that came into use in 1863 and replaced the earlier war pattern using oval-headed studs. The plate retains 40% or better of its original gilt finish, has good definition to the lettering and edge, with just some rubbing to the raised portions and a few age stains, but no deep scratches or dings to the edge. The belt is buff leather, the surface showing a typical brown color caused by oxidation of the iron mordants used in the black dye, and the underside showing a natural cream color. Modern experiments have shown the color shift could occur within months of the belts’ issue, if not sooner with exposure to the elements. The flat brass keeper is in place on the other end of the belt, serving to keep the belt in place, with its open C-clasp design an improvement on the early war fixed leather loops, which made it more difficult to put on take of the belt. In addition, the belt shows the faint maker stamp of J.H. Young of Newark, NJ, a government contractor, whose contracts included a February 1865 contract for ten thousands sets of infantry accoutrements.

The pattern of belt plate 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 is a strong example of a key piece of Civil War Union infantry gear in near mint condition. For the full story of the development of this US belt plate and others of the period we strongly recommend O’Donnell & Campbell, “American Military Belt Plates.”   [sr][ph:L]

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