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INDIAN WAR PERIOD PATTERN 1884
ENLISTED MAN’S TROUSERS – VERY SOLID SPECIMENS OF A
SCARCE UNIFORM PIECE:
Due to the prolonged periods of daily wear by the
soldiers and affects of the environment on the frontier,
and the obvious utilitarian value even after a soldier’s
discharge, 19TH Century US Army uniform
trousers have not survived in large numbers, and are in
fact, quite scarce. I was fortunate to be able to
acquire both of these pairs from a very old collection –
the first Indian Wars era trousers which I have had the
opportunity to buy in a very long time.
Both pairs of these trousers are the US
Army Pattern 1884, discernible by the unique peaked line
of stitching at the mouth of the front pockets as is
shown in the original Quartermaster Specification No. 99
drawing dated January 16, 1884.
The two pairs of trousers are being
offered as separate pieces here, and each is described
in detail below and accompanied by an individual set of
photographs.
NOTE:
To say that photographing wool cloth is a challenge
is an understatement. In order to highlight the
features, I have to adjust the contrast of the various
photos and at times the result makes the cloth appear to have faded
or discolored. The cloth making up these trousers is an even blue color as
is seen in the overall full views, the odd coloring
coming out when the smaller details of the coat are
photographed so as to be visible.
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NO. 1 PATTERN 1884
TROUSERS: This pair is
in overall very good to excellent condition. The
material is overall clean and strong with no weak
points. There is no severe mothing – no holes and only
very minor moth tracking on the surface of the material
in some isolated spots. None of which detract from the
overall appearance of the trousers. All of the fly
buttons are present and intact, and all of the seams are
intact.
This pair of trousers features
non-regulation belt loops rather than suspender
buttons. The loops are made of the same light blue
kersey wool as the trousers, definitely original to the
period of use.
Belt loops, while not
incorporated in the standard Quartermaster Department
pattern, nor were they considered regulation, had become
fashionable – and likely popular for utilitarian reasons
– at the time these trousers were issued. It is well
documented in a number of different sources that the
soldiers were inclined to tailor their uniforms for a
better fit and accommodate individual preferences. As
long as the alterations did not significantly alter the
appearance of the uniform, or the changes were not
readily visible when the clothing was worn, the officers
seem to have been inclined to ignore these personal
touches. Since the soldiers were not allowed to appear
in public in their shirt sleeves unless on a fatigue
detail, the belt loops would not have been noted in day
to day wear.
Both sides of the inner waist band and
the lining of both front pockets bears the name “POIST”,
most likely the surname of the soldier who wore these
trousers.
The overall length is 37”; the
inseam; measures 27”; and the waist measures
approximately 30”.
(1101) $1,500
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NO. 2 PATTERN 1884
TROUSERS: This pair is
in overall very good condition. A few shades darker
than the classic “sky blue”, the difference in the hue
is most likely nothing more than a function of this
particular dye lot as these are most certainly
regulation Pattern 1884 Enlisted Man’s Trousers. The
material is overall clean and strong with no weak
points. There is some minor mothing with a few small
(less than 1/8”) holes scattered about the trousers, but
nothing that neither weakens the cloth nor detracts
significantly from the appearance of the trousers. The
extent of this mothing is shown in the photographs
below. Despite these few holes, this pair is in far
better condition than most surviving specimens. All of
the fly and suspender buttons are present and intact,
and all of the seams are intact.
Of special note, the inside of the
cotton waist band bears a partially legible
Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot dated ink stamp (see
arrow in photograph below). While the entirety of the
stamp is not legible there is enough of the surviving
characters that I can recognize the stamp for what it is
from others I have seen.
The overall length is 38 ½”; the
inseam; measures 27”; and the waist measures
approximately 30”.
(1102) $1,250
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