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ca. 1902-1904 OFFICER’S RUSSET LEATHER SABER BELT
WITH MODEL 1851 OFFICER’S BELT PLATE – VERY EARLY 20TH
CENTURY SABRE BELT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION:
This ca. 1902-1904
Officer’s Sabre Belt predates the Model 1912 Sabre or
Garrison Belts which in fact were first published in the
Ordnance Department manual entitled “Horse Equipments
and Equipments for Officers and Enlisted Men” printed in
1905. The Model 1912 Belts were fitted with a standard
brass frame buckle, while this belt followed the
configuration in use by officers during the 19TH
Century, and it is fitted with the Model 1851 Officer’s
Belt Plate which had been in use since before the Civil
War.
The combination of the russet leather, which became the
regulation color in the change from black leather to
russet leather in 1902, and the Model 1851 Officer’s
Belt Plate which was in use prior to the introduction of
the brass frame buckle in 1904, serve to date this belt
as dating to the first few years of the 20TH
Century. This would have been the belt an officer wore
with his khaki uniform and his “undress” blue uniform
worn when the occasion called for it. The officer’s hat
brim and boots or shoes would also have been made of
russet leather, so this belt would match those pieces of
uniform as well. This belt would be appropriate
assembled with a pistol holster for the Model 1903 .38
caliber revolver, a pistol cartridge box, and a sabre
hanger for a very nice display.
This belt
measures 46” long measured at its full length, including
the section folded back, and 1 ½” wide, and is complete
with a Model 1851 Officer’s Belt Plate and an officer’s
pattern sabre strap slide. The surface of the leather
is overall smooth with some minor wear in isolated spots
along the edges. The leather retains the russet color,
correct for accoutrements produced after 1902, and the
underside of the belt still retains much of the original
standing nap.
This is a very nice example of a very early, and quite
scarce, 20TH Century officer’s sabre belt
that was made in very limited quantities over a very
short period of time.
(0204) $250
NOTE:
If you wish to build on this belt, the correct sabre
hangers are available via clicking on this link (05-73).
Holsters and cartridge pouches can be found in various
listings throughout the Accoutrement section of this
website.
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