EXCELLENT CONDITION SCARCE SMITH PATENT INFANTRY MAJOR STRAPS WITH A SUBTLE, ELEGANT TOUCH

EXCELLENT CONDITION SCARCE SMITH PATENT INFANTRY MAJOR STRAPS WITH A SUBTLE, ELEGANT TOUCH

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$1,250.00

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Item Code: 410-907

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Infantry field officer’s straps are scarce simply from the numbers involved: only one colonel, lieutenant-colonel and major to thirty line officers in a regiment at a time, and far less turn-over. These are also a cut above the usual in quality and appearance in using a chevron twill weave fabric for the base material that produces alternating bands of color, now showing as a black and brown, along the edges that repeat the alternating bands of dead and bright false-embroidered bullion single row Smith patent borders.

Smith’s patent of June 18, 1861, involved the use of hollow gilt brass frames stamped to imitate embroidered bullion for the borders of the straps. The frames  use short pins on the reverse to secure the backing and the colored center panels indicating the branch of service and holding the rank insignia, likewise of stamped metal to imitate embroidered bullion and secured with pins. These straps were less expensive and faster to make, the essential pieces being interchangeable and the branch color and rank easily created or changed. They were also more durable than actual bullion embroidery that was subject to unraveling or snagging on something, and much easier for the owner to keep bright by simple polishing of the brass, as Smith pointed out in his patent application.

These are in excellent condition. The borders and gold oakleaves are bright and the alternating bands of dead and bright bullion and imitation jaceron wire edges are distinct and have no bends, creases or dents. We see only a few small dark, age spots and small bits of verdigris on the border and insignia of one strap. The short pins securing the borders and rank insignia are all there and un-messed with. The underlying base, chevron twill fabric and velvet centers show no moth nips or holes. The color of the centers is pretty much a teal, or greenish blue, certainly a slight age shift of the dye from a medium blue.

The use of the chevron weave fabric is an interesting touch we don’t recall seeing before, but other examples are likely out there. It could indicate they came from one of the major military goods suppliers, but many of them concentrated on offering multiple-row Smith borders in their “extra-rich” upgrades and this is a rather simple, understated, but nevertheless elegant upgrade, perhaps from a smaller military goods dealer punching above his weight class, so to speak. They would, in any case, make a great addition to an insignia collection on several grounds.    [sr][ph:L]

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