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MODEL
1872 HORSE BRUSH AND SHOE POUCH – EARLY INDIAN WAR
CAVALRY ACCOUTREMENT
– VERY GOOD SPECIMEN IN
SOLID CONDITION:
Introduced with the other newly designed and/or modified
Cavalry equipment described in Ordnance Memoranda No.
13, the Model 1872 Brush and Shoe Pouch was adopted to
meet the needs of the Frontier soldier in the years
following the Civil War. The Model 1859 Saddlebags had
been replaced by the larger Model 1872 Saddlebags, and
this Brush and Shoe Pouch was issued in addition to the
saddlebags, providing the soldier on campaign in the
West, far from any depots that could resupply his needs,
with a significant increase in his capability to carry
items necessary to maintain himself and his mount.
The Model 1872 Brush and
Shoe Pouch was specifically designed to carry the horse
brush in the larger pouch and a pair of pre-formed horse
shoes in the smaller pouch, with fifteen horse shoe
nails carried in the internal pocket of the shoe pouch.
In an effort to capitalize on the stocks of surplus
material on hand from the Civil War, these pouches were
made by converting Model 1859 Saddle Bags, and the
stitch lines remaining from the pattern of the former
bags can be seen in these pouches. Although made in
limited numbers and further manufacture was discontinued
by the arsenals after the adoption of the superseding
Model 1874 Horse Equipments, there is no doubt that the
units in the West continued to issue these handy pouches
to the troops as long as stocks existed, being used well
into the later Indian War years and likely the reason
that these survive in such low numbers today.
This set of pouches is
in very good condition, and while showing some evidence
of use, they are remarkable in that once in the hands of
a soldier, they survived that use to be available
today. The leather surfaces of the pouches are bright
and shiny with no crazing or flaking. All of the seams
are intact and all the billets, standing loops, internal
pocket lacing and flaps are present and intact. The
surface of the yoke has some light crazing, but is very
solid with no weak points and it is still legibly
stamped “US”. The outer flap of the larger brush pouch
has a small notch in the leading edge of the flap, and
there is an isolated wear point at the fold of the same
flap – both evidence of this set having been used on a
horse. The flap is not weakened nor is it in danger of
tearing with reasonable care in handling and display,
but is mentioned here in the interest of a full
description. In the overall scheme of rarity and
condition, I would rate this set well above average and
far better than is normally encountered.
A true milestone piece
of Indian War era horse equipment, this Model 1872 Brush
and Shoe Pouch is a significant addition to a cavalry
collection and is of such quality, there would few
opportunities to find a better example.
SOLD
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