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MODEL 1881 CAVALRY OFFICER’S DRESS HELMET – AN
ATTRACTIVE SPECIMEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
This Model 1881 Cavalry Officer’s Dress Helmet is a
particularly nice specimen in excellent condition,
having survived intact with all of the components.
This helmet is complete with all of the original correct
higher quality trimmings expected to be found on
officer’s helmets, to include the plume holder, socket
base, side buttons with the proper integral chin chain
hooks, rings, the proper two-piece cavalry eagle plate,
linked chin chain, and of course a very nice helmet
body.
The eagle plate is the correct two-piece cavalry
officer’s pattern – differing from the single piece
enlisted man’s plate – consisting of a separate center
piece featuring the shield and crossed sabres, which is
applied to the eagle resulting in a higher relief. The
German silver numeral 3 indicates the officer who wore
this helmet was assigned to the 3RD Cavalry
Regiment.
The body of the helmet is covered in black cloth and has
survived in full form with no crushing, breakage, loss
of finish or other damage. The inside surface of the
sweat band retains a legible maker’s embossed label –
“BENT & BUSH, BOSTON”, a well known source for military
headgear.
The original yellow buffalo or yak hair plume
is in excellent condition
and it falls gracefully over the helmet with no tangles.
The
full set of helmet and chest cords are complete and in
excellent condition, and still retain the majority of
their bright gilt color with only minor tarnishing. The
cords are in the two piece configuration commonly found
on officers’ helmets, and occasionally seen on enlisted
men's’ helmets. The cords on the helmet body are one
component and the chest cords are a separate piece,
joined at the left side scroll button with a gilt swivel
hook set into the top tassel of the chest cords. This
arrangement was quite practical, allowing the fully
dressed officer to remove his helmet when indoors,
detach the helmet from his chest cords, and leave the
chest cords arranged over his coat front in place. The
color of the bullion of the helmet cords and that from
which the chest cords are made are not a perfect match,
something that is not particularly uncommon. Since the
officers purchased their own uniforms and were
responsible for their upkeep, if one part or another of
the helmet - or any other part of his uniform - became
worn or damaged, he would be more likely to replace just
that one part rather than the entire set. The chin
chain is full length and still retains the original
black leather backing sewn to the chain.
This is a very attractive example of a relatively scarce
Model 1881 Cavalry Officer’s Dress Helmet of a quality
seldom encountered on today’s market and it is one that
would be a true show piece in your collection.
(0611)
$3550
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