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U.S.
ARMY LINK STRAPS – PRE-CIVIL WAR DRAGOON PERIOD THROUGH
WORLD WAR ONE:
Issued to each mounted soldier as part of his standard
saddle equipment, the link strap was one of the few
pieces of unique equipment that survived with only minor
modifications from the earliest days of the Dragoons
through the end of the horse cavalry after World War
Two.
Issued to each
cavalryman as part of his standard saddle equipment,
the link
strap buckled to the horse’s halter which the horse wore
under the bridle, and the snap hook on the opposite end
of the link was snapped to one of the lower rein rings
of the curb bit. When the cavalrymen were ordered to
dismount to form a skirmish line, the order was given,
“Fours to the rear.” Prearranged in units of four,
three troopers would unsnap the link from his horse’s
bit and snap it onto the bit of the horse next to him
and then dismount, the fourth trooper remaining mounted
so that he could lead the now attached three horses of
his comrades to safety and hold them behind the skirmish
line.
Often
missing from collections, this small strap was an
important and integral piece of the cavalryman’s
equipment in order that the unit could properly deploy
its forces and maintain control of their mounts.
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NO. 1
PRE-CIVIL WAR LINK STRAP-EARLY DRAGOON PATTERN:
An early, pre-Civil War Link Strap featuring the less
common “horseshoe” shaped buckle rather than the more
common rectangular buckle seen on the Model 1859 Link
Straps. It is known that these were in use at the start
of the War and may date back to the Dragoon era of the
1840’s and 1850’s, these horseshoe shaped buckles being
common to the Dragoon Horse Equipment. This specimen is
in unissued condition, with a very faint, now illegible
maker’s stamp. The leather surface is bright and smooth
with minimal crazing and no flaking. The strap is full
length, and is complete with the buckle and snap. This
is a very good early example. (0140) $75
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NO. 2
PRE-CIVIL WAR LINK STRAP-EARLY DRAGOON PATTERN – MAKER
MARKED:
An early, pre-Civil War Link Strap featuring the less
common “horseshoe” shaped buckle rather than the more
common rectangular buckle seen on the Model 1859 Link
Straps. It is known that these were in use at the start
of the War and may date back to the Dragoon era of the
1840’s and 1850’s, these horseshoe shaped buckles being
common to the Dragoon Horse Equipment. This specimen
was issued and shows some evidence of use. There is a
partially legible maker’s stamp indicating this strap
was manufactured by “J. E. CONDICT” of New York. The
leather surface is crazed with some minimal flaking, but
the strap is solid with no weak points. The strap is
full length, and is complete with the buckle and snap.
This is a very good early example. (0139) $65
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NO. 3
CIVIL WAR LINK STRAP-EARLY DRAGOON PATTERN:
Although featuring a buckle differing from the more
common rectangular buckle seen on most of the standard
Model 1859 Link Straps, this strap was produced by a
civilian contractor and they were known to deviate from
the standard hardware when the supply of standard
buckles, etc. became a problem. Otherwise, this link
strap follows the standard pattern. The buckle on this
strap is a center bar frame buckle like the regulation
buckles, however instead of square corners, this buckle
is rounded on the top and bottom.
This specimen appears to have been buckled to a halter,
but if it saw any service, it was very minimal.
The leather surface is
smooth with no crazing, and the strap is solid with no
weak points. The strap is full length, and is complete
with the buckle and snap. This is a very good example.
(0138) $65
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NO. 4
ca. 1887-1892 LINK STRAP – VERY NICE, ARSENAL MARKED:
The last pattern change of this necessary piece of horse
equipment, this US Army Link Strap was introduced
sometime between the late 1880’s to the early 1890’s,
was the link strap in use at the time of the Spanish
American War, and remained in service through the end of
the horse cavalry after World War Two. The only
appreciable change was when the color of the leather
changed from black to russet in 1902. This strap is
full length and is complete with the leather keeper,
brass adjustment hook and iron snap. There is a legible
“ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp just above the brass hook,
and the inspector’s initials “ECW” stamped on the
reverse fold above the iron snap. There is also a unit
applied inventory stamp “F 1” on the strap indicating F
Troop, Number 1. The leather has a bright shiny surface
with no crazing, and overall the strap is very solid.
(0143) $35
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NO. 5
ca. 1887-1892 LINK STRAP – VERY NICE, ARSENAL MARKED:
The last pattern change of this necessary piece of horse
equipment, this US Army Link Strap was introduced
sometime between the late 1880’s to the early 1890’s,
was the link strap in use at the time of the Spanish
American War, and remained in service through the end of
the horse cavalry after World War Two. The only
appreciable change was when the color of the leather
changed from black to russet in 1902. This strap is
full length and is complete with the leather keeper,
brass adjustment hook and iron snap. There is a
partially legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp just above
the brass hook, and the inspector’s initials “JHK”
stamped on the reverse fold above the iron snap. The
leather has a bright shiny surface with no crazing, and
overall the strap is very solid. (0141) $35
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NO. 6
ca. 1887-1892 LINK STRAP:
The last pattern change of this necessary piece of horse
equipment, this US Army Link Strap was introduced
sometime between the late 1880’s to the early 1890’s,
was the link strap in use at the time of the Spanish
American War, and remained in service through the end of
the horse cavalry after World War Two. The only
appreciable change was when the color of the leather
changed from black to russet in 1902. This strap is
full length and is complete with the leather keeper,
brass adjustment hook and iron snap. There is a legible
inspector’s stamp “JHK” stamped on the reverse fold
above the iron snap, indicating this strap was made at
Rock Island Arsenal based on other straps where this
inspector’s initials appear. The leather has a bright
shiny surface with some minimal crazing, and overall the
strap is very solid. (0142) $30
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