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MODEL 1874 CAVALRY BRIDLE – IDENTIFIED TO THE 10TH
US CAVALRY - COMPLETE SET w/ ALL THE COMPONENTS -
HEADSTALL, SHOEMAKER BIT, REINS, CURB STRAP, AND LINK
STRAP – A RARE SET IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
These are the same Cavalry
Bridle Sets issued with the Model 1874 Horse Equipments
as described and shown in Ordnance Memoranda No. 18. In
historical context, these were the bridles newly issued
when Custer’s troops rode onto the Little Big Horn, and
which continued as the standard cavalry bridle until the
adoption of the Model 1904 Bridle.
I have the following Model 1874 Bridle Sets available,
each listed below with an accompanying description and
photographs.
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NO. 1
MODEL
1874 CAVALRY BRIDLE – IDENTIFIED TO THE 10TH
US CAVALRY - COMPLETE SET w/ ALL THE COMPONENTS -
HEADSTALL, SHOEMAKER BIT, REINS, CURB STRAP, AND LINK
STRAP – A RARE SET IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
This Model 1874 Cavalry Bridle is a historic Indian War
piece as it is legibly stamped “G Co. 10. CAV.” on the
off side (right) cheek billet. The famous 10TH
US Cavalry Regiment recorded an impressive record of
service on the frontier and that this bridle set was in
use at any number of the regiment’s engagements
throughout the Western Frontier makes this a
particularly valuable set.
Complete with all the components as issued, this bridle
set includes the Model 1874 Headstall with the bullseye
rosettes, a Model 1874 Shoemaker Cavalry Curb Bit, a set
of Model 1874 Reins, a Model 1874 Curb Strap, and a
Model 1859 Link Strap. The use of a Civil War era Link
Strap is entirely correct with this set, indicative of
the army’s ongoing effort to control costs by continuing
to issue from the vast stocks of Civil War surplus still
held in inventory. Save for the underlying halter, this
bridle represents the full set of equipment which the
Custer-era cavalry horse wore on its head.
The Model 1874 Headstall is complete with the crown
piece, brow band with both bullseye rosettes, both cheek
pieces and the throat latch. The crown piece ends in
two billets on both sides – one billet is for the cheek
piece that attaches to the bit and the other billet is
for the throat latch that passes under the horse’s jaw -
and all four of the billets are full length – unusual to
find in the original length as many of these were
shortened by the soldiers in order to eliminate extra
lengths of leather to streamline their tack.
Complete with all the
proper brass frame buckles, the bridle is supple and
pliable. The top of the crown piece has a hand carved
set of initials, “HM” which were probably applied by the
soldier to whom this bridle was issued in order to
differentiate his bridle from all the others in the
company. The crown piece is also stamped with unit
applied inventory numbers, as is the off side cheek
billet.
The throat latch, often found to
be missing on these headstalls, is full length with both
correct buckles intact.
The leather surfaces of all
the components have a smooth and shiny surface, with no
heavy wear or surface loss.
All of the straps are
supple and strong with no weak points, breaks, or other
damage.
The Model 1874 Shoemaker Cavalry Bit is an excellent
example of this famous cavalry bit. This specimen is a
No. 1, indicated by the ˝” high arch in the mouthpiece.
It is legibly stamped “ROCK ISLAND” on the off side
(right) branch, indicating it was manufactured at the
Rock Island Arsenal. The use of the full arsenal name
as opposed to “RIA” indicates this bit is one of those
manufactured in one of the earlier production runs. The
bit is in excellent condition with no damage, nor any
sign of heavy wear or use. Both of the original brass
“US” bosses are present, as is the lower slobber bar.
The Model 1874 Cavalry Reins are full length with both
full length billets intact and both brass buckles are
present. As originally manufactured, the reins are made
of two equal lengths of leather strapping which were
sewn at the center point, providing a continuous loop
for the soldier to control the horse. At some point,
the stitched center joint was removed and the reins were
connected by a button-like stud fashioned by a rivet
over a layer of thick leather which then fed through a
slot in the end of other rein – the type of work which
would have been accomplished by the company level
saddler. This arrangement allowed the soldier to use the
reins in a continuous loop, or if he preferred, to
separate the reins into two separate lengths when the
situation called for it. This sort of altering of the
equipment by the soldiers was very common, and they
provide a unique and interesting view of how the
equipment was used, versus how it was originally
designed and issued. The leather is supple with no
breaks or weak points and the surface is very good with
no crazing and only minor flexing. There are some unit
applied inventory stamps to one of the reins just above
one of the buckles.
The Model 1874 Cavalry Curb Strap, which served to
retain the Model 1874 Shoemaker Bit in the horse’s
mouth, is complete with both brass buckles, and both
billets are full length. In excellent condition with
all of the stitching intact, the supple leather has a
smooth surface with no crazing.
As noted above, the use of a Civil War Model 1859 Link
Strap with this Model 1874 set is entirely correct, and
very typical of the mixture of equipment issued to the
Indian War era cavalry soldier. At the end of the war,
the army had massive amounts of surplus equipment in
“like new” condition, and most important to the
Depression the nation currently facing, all of that
surplus equipment had been paid for. Even as new
equipment was considered and the Ordnance boards
forwarded their recommendations to the chief of staff of
the army, his approval was always accompanied by the
admonition to continue issuing the Civil War surplus as
the opportunity presented in order to control cost.
This Model 1859 Link Strap is in like new condition with
a smooth leather surface, and both the buckle and snap
hook are intact.
This is an excellent specimen of the Model 1874 Cavalry
Bridle, complete and fully intact with the bit, curb
strap reins, and link strap. Such complete sets of
these Custer era bridles which are fully intact are very
scarce and difficult to find. A quality set such as the
one offered here in which the
components are in such remarkable condition are almost
impossible to find. This piece will be a notable
addition to your collection and would be a highlight in
any Indian War Cavalry display. (0506) $2550
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NO. 2
MODEL
1874 CAVALRY BRIDLE – VERY RARE VARIANT MANUFACTURED
WITH SURPLUS CIVIL WAR IRON BUCKLES - COMPLETE SET w/
ALL THE COMPONENTS - HEADSTALL, SHOEMAKER BIT, REINS,
CURB STRAP & LINK STRAP – A RARE SET IN VERY NICE
CONDITION: The Cavalry Bridle Set issued with
the Model 1874 Horse Equipments as described and shown
in Ordnance Memoranda No. 18 was a new pattern, and the
Model 1874 Horse Equipments – at least as they appeared
in the manual - were the first of the post-Civil War era
to be fitted with brass buckles and the brass bosses.
However, as is so often the case, financial reality
reared its ugly head. At the end of the war, the army
had massive amounts of surplus equipment in “like new”
condition, and most important to the nation then facing
a post-war Depression, all of that surplus equipment had
been paid for, and continuing to issue it would not
require any additional expense. Even as new equipment
designs were considered and the Ordnance boards
forwarded their recommendations to the chief of staff of
the army, his approval was always accompanied by the
admonition to continue issuing the Civil War surplus as
the opportunity presented in order to control costs – a
practice that continued well into the 1880’s. Through
the study of surviving examples of the Model 1874
Saddles and Bridles, modern collectors have found
specimens of both which were assembled by the arsenals
using the black japanned iron buckles and hardware which
had been used on the Model 1859 and Model 1864 McClellan
Saddles and the Model 1859 Bridles. While the use of
the earlier iron buckles on the newly made equipment
would have represented a considerable savings, it does
appear that the arsenals produced the new pattern
bridles and saddles with the brass buckles as called for
in Ordnance Memoranda No. 18, as well as using the iron
buckles. How, or why, the concurrent manufacture with
both types of hardware was managed has been lost to
history, but the surviving examples confirm that it
indeed happened.
It is worth noting that both brass and iron saddle and
bridle buckles have been located during the
archeological projects that have been conducted at the
Little Big Horn Battlefield, and these discoveries
confirm that equipment bearing the two types of buckles
were used concurrently within the 7TH Cavalry
Regiment at least at the time of that battle, and very
likely this same mixed issue was true throughout the
frontier army.
Complete with all the components as issued, this bridle
set includes the Model 1874 Headstall with the bullseye
rosettes, a Model 1874 Shoemaker Cavalry Curb Bit, a set
of Model 1874 Reins, a Model 1874 Curb Strap, and a
Model 1859 Link Strap. Save for the underlying halter,
this set represents the full set of equipment which the
Custer-era cavalry horse wore on its head.
The Model 1874 Headstall is complete with the crown
piece, brow band with both bullseye rosettes, both cheek
pieces and the throat latch. The crown piece ends in
two billets on both sides – one billet is for the cheek
piece that attaches to the bit and the other billet is
for the throat latch that passes under the horse’s jaw -
and all four of the billets are full length – not common
as many of these were shortened by the soldiers in order
to eliminate extra lengths of leather to streamline
their tack.
The throat latch and the cheek
straps are fitted with Model 1859 black japanned iron
buckles. Whether these dependant straps were acquired
from the surplus stocks of Model 1859 Bridle components,
or they were assembled as new straps after the adoption
of the Model 1874 Bridle is impossible to determine, but
from all appearances this bridle has been in this
configuration since it was issued to the soldiers.
Complete with all the buckles, the bridle is supple and
pliable. The top of the crown piece has some unit
applied numerals which were probably applied by or for
the soldier to whom this bridle was issued in order to
differentiate his bridle from all the others in the
company. The throat latch, often found to be missing on
these headstalls, is full length with both buckles
intact. The leather surfaces of all the components have
some crazing with some minor flaking, and the remainder
of the surfaces retains a smooth and shiny surface. All
of the straps are supple and strong with no weak points,
breaks, or other damage.
The Model 1874 Shoemaker Cavalry Bit is an excellent
example of this famous cavalry bit. This specimen is a
No. 2, indicated by the 1” high arch in the mouthpiece.
It is legibly stamped “ROCK ISLAND” on the off side
(right) branch, indicating it was manufactured at the
Rock Island Arsenal. The use of the full arsenal name
as opposed to “RIA” indicates this bit is one of those
manufactured in one of the earlier production runs. Of
particular note, is the nickel plating that was applied
to this bit. The Ordnance Department continued to
experiment through the Indian War period with tin and
nickel plating in an attempt to retard the effects of
corrosion on the equipment in the field, and this bit is
an example of those trials. The plating on this bit
survives with approximately 85% coverage.
The bit is in excellent
condition with no damage, nor any sign of heavy wear or
use. Both of the original brass “US” bosses are
present, as is the lower slobber bar.
The Model 1874 Cavalry Reins are full length with both
full length billets intact and both are fitted with the
Model 1874 brass buckles.
As originally manufactured,
the reins are made of two equal lengths of leather
strapping which are sewn at the center point, providing
a continuous loop for the soldier to control the horse.
At some point, the stitched center joint was carefully
separated leaving a riveted stud on one rein and a
matching hole in the other which would allow the rein
with the stud to pass through the hole. Reconfigured in
this manner, the soldier was able to use the reins in a
continuous loop, or if he preferred, to separate the
reins into two separate lengths when the situation
called for it. This sort of altering of the equipment
by the soldiers was very common, and they provide a
unique and interesting view of how the equipment was
used, versus how it was originally designed and
issued. The leather is supple with no breaks or weak
points and the surface is very good with minimal flexing
and crazing. There are unit applied identification
stamps on the straps and both billets are inscribed with
an “X”, again likely a soldier applied identification in
order to differentiate his equipment from the others in
the company.
The Model 1874 Cavalry Curb Strap, which served to
retain the Model 1874 Shoemaker Bit in the horse’s
mouth, is complete and both billets are full length.
This curb strap shows evidence of a unit saddler’s
modification or repair, having a one piece strap riveted
to the under side which provided both billet ends, and
the heavier frame buckles were replaced with the lighter
weight wire buckles used on the various saddle bag
patterns from 1874 through the 1880’s. In overall
excellent condition, all of the stitching intact and the
leather remains supple.
As noted above, the use of a Civil War Model 1859 Link
Strap with this Model 1874 set is entirely correct, is
very typical of the mixture of equipment issued to the
Indian War era cavalry soldier, and certainly presents
in the context of this entire set. This Model 1859 Link
Strap is in like new condition with a smooth leather
surface, and both the buckle and snap hook are intact.
This is an excellent specimen of the Model 1874 Cavalry
Bridle, complete and fully intact with the bit, curb
strap and reins, as well as being a very evocative
example of the manner in which the army utilized the
materials and equipment on hand to keep the soldiers
supplied in the field. This set is a prime example of
the bridles which were in use at the frontier forts and
on campaign. Any of these Custer era bridles which are
complete and fully intact are very scarce and difficult
to find. A quality set such as the one offered here in
which the components are in such remarkable condition
are almost impossible to find. This piece will be a
notable addition to your collection and would be a
highlight in any Indian War Cavalry display.
(0424) $2250
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