|
ORIGINAL SET OF COAT AND VALISE STRAPS FOR THE
MODEL 1844 RINGGOLD AND THE MODEL 1847 GRIMSLEY DRAGOON
SADDLES – VERY RARE OFFERING - SET OF 4:
An extremely rare offering
that is not likely to be repeated, this is a set of 4
original coat and valise straps that were issued with
the Model 1844 Ringgold and Model 1847 Grimsley Dragoon
Saddles. So rare that most collectors have never seen
one, much less a set, 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. In fact, I discovered
these straps in the bottom of a large box of leather
strapping that was salvaged years ago from Bannerman’s
Castle before it was condemned. Nothing short of pure
chance was in play when this group of straps all found
their way into the same box, and I seriously doubt
another set exists in one group like this.
This set of four straps consist of two long straps
measuring 32” long that were used to secure the overcoat
and sleeping blanket, and a pair of shorter straps used
to attach the distinctive dragoon valise to the rear of
the cantle. All four straps are full length with an
overall smooth finish to the leather. They are supple,
show no excessive wear or any damage, and are complete
with all the complicated series of standing loops and
buckles. The longer set is a matched pair, with brass
horse shoe shaped buckles. The shorter set is of two
different lengths – one 18” long and the other 14 ˝”
long – but of the same pattern and weight. The longer
of the two has an iron buckle and the shorter strap has
a brass buckle with an iron tongue, both buckles horse
shoe shaped. The difference in buckles and length is a
function of the span of years these two famous saddles
were in use and the differences resulting from the
production of the different contractors, and saddler
executed repairs and replacements.
Original coat straps for any of the US Military saddles
are almost never 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 rare set dates from the early, pre-Civil War
Dragoon period and has survived together defies all
odds. I know of no other set of these straps, and
given the rarity of the saddles themselves, I believe
this set may well be a once in a lifetime offering.
SOLD
|
