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PATTERN 1885
ENLISTED MAN’S SPURS – NICE MATCHED PAIR MARKED ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL w/ ORIGINAL
PATTERN 1885 SPUR STRAPS – EXCELLENT SET:
As described
in The American Military Spur, by Dorsey on pages
61-64, the Pattern 1885 Enlisted Spur was introduced
with the other new cavalry equipment in Ordnance
Memoranda no. 29.
This matched pair shows
minimal signs of use, having survived in excellent
condition with an attractive naturally aged patina. The
spurs are full form with no misshaping, and the rowels
are intact and turn freely. Each spur is marked
immediately behind the outside pairs of strap slots
“R.I.A.” indicating they were manufactured at Rock
Island Arsenal.
The original spur straps
are complete with the correct brass buckles and the
standing loops. The straps have been shortened during
the period of use, a common adjustment executed by the
soldiers to eliminate unnecessary lengths of strap that
could snag or tangle in other equipment or debris on the
ground. Both straps show evidence of use, but are still
supple with no weak points. One strap appears to have
been exposed to less wear than the other, probably due
to the one strap being replaced by the soldier due to a
break.
Due to the lightweight
leather and the heavy use to which spurs straps were
subjected, they did not survive in significant numbers
and originals are quite scarce today.
This is a very nice
matched pair of Model 1885 Enlisted Man’s Spurs and
Straps which would be a nice addition to your Indian War
cavalry collection.
SOLD
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