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ORIGINAL COAT AND VALISE STRAP FOR THE MODEL 1844
RINGGOLD AND THE MODEL 1847 GRIMSLEY DRAGOON SADDLES –
VERY RARE OFFERING: These original coat and
valise straps which were issued with the Model 1844
Ringgold and Model 1847 Grimsley Dragoon Saddles are so
rare that most collectors have never seen one. These
equipment straps were the component of the Dragoon
saddles that suffered the most wear and were subject to
being broken off or removed from the saddle, and those
that did survive disappeared into the piles of
unidentified leather strapping in the surplus dealers’
warehouses.
This strap, measuring 28” long and ˝” wide, could have
been used to secure the overcoat across the pommel, or
to attach the distinctive dragoon valise to the rear of
the cantle. The strap is full length with an overall
smooth finish to the leather, is supple, and is complete
with the two opposing standing loops and buckle. The
buckle is the correct brass faced horse shoe-shaped
buckle which was characteristic of much of the dragoon
era horse equipment. The strap does show some evidence
of wear and age and while it would be an excellent
addition to display on your dragoon era saddle, no
weight should be exerted on the strap.
Original coat straps for any of the US Military saddles
are seldom found intact on the original saddles and they
are virtually non-existent in the collector’s market as
loose components to complete your saddle. That this
strap dates from the early, Mexican War Dragoon period
and has survived defies all odds, and it would be a
special addition to your saddle. (1111) $250
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