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PATTERN 1907 US ARMY LEGGINGS – NICE MATCHED
PAIRS: Introduced shortly after the turn of the
Twentieth Century, these leggings were part of the
complete redesign of the army’s uniforms. From head to
toe, the army literally departed from the appearance of
the western frontier soldier made so famous by Remington
and Russell and adopted the style and cut of the more
cosmopolitan armies around the world. The blue shirted
trooper of the 19TH Century was now clad in
khaki. With this change the army left behind the high
top boots in favor of a universal three quarter height
boot or shoe topped with a series of canvas, canvas and
leather, and full leather leggings.
These Pattern 1907 Leggings were the first of that
series and were only in use for a very short period of
time before being eclipsed by the succeeding patterns,
hence they are quite scarce today.
One important historical note is worth mentioning here.
The uniform regulations directed that only soldiers in
the cavalry and artillery would be issued the full
leather Pattern 1907 Mounted Leggings. All other
soldiers would be issued these all canvas Pattern 1907
Dismounted Leggings. But as with every rule, there are
exceptions, and the issue of these leggings was no
different. In a footnote in the regulations, the army
allowed for the issue of the canvas Dismounted Leggings
to cavalry and artillery soldiers when they were not
mounted.
Courtesy of John Langellier’s well illustrated Hats
Off, Head Dress of the U.S. Army, 1872-1912, this
photograph shown on page 175 captures “Troopers Goodniss
and Simons of Company M, Tenth U.S. Cavalry
[regiment]…”. Note that while these soldiers are
cavalry troopers, both are wearing the Pattern 1907
Dismounted Canvas Leggings, documenting the army’s
exception as detailed above.
I have two pairs of these scarce
early leggings, each pair listed separately below with
accompanying photographs.
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NO.
1
PATTERN 1907 US ARMY LEGGINGS: This is no doubt
a matched pair, and worn together by the same soldier,
but oddly, both are leggings for the right leg. They
show the same exact coloring, wear patterns, and are
otherwise identical – definitely always mated with each
other – but strangely, worn as they present by the same
soldier. If I had to guess, he was either the last guy
in the uniform issue line, and two “rights” were all the
Quartermaster had to give him, or he was the Mortimer
Snerd of the company – every company dating back to the
Romans has had one - and he just didn’t notice.
This set has seen use, however they have survived in
very good condition. There is no wear along the upper
and low edges, nor long the vertical edges, and all of
the seams are intact. The canvas straps are full
length, showing no wear or tattering, and the metal tips
are both present and intact. The material is a light
khaki color. The metal stays that run the height of the
leggings along both vertical edges are present on one
legging, with one of the stay pockets open from wear at
the bottom of the legging. The second legging retains
one of the metal stays still fully captured in the
pocket, while the second stay is missing. The missing
stay will not be noticed when the leggings are
displayed. The buckles are present on both leggings and
retain the original black finish with no corrosion, and
both buckles are fully functional. There is some minor
staining to the canvas as can be seen in the
photographs, but nothing dramatic nor out of character
with the other indications of use. Both leggings bear
legible maker’s inked date stamps, a very nice feature.
This is an interesting matching set which illustrates
that nothing went to waste in the continuously
cash-strapped army, and they would display very well
with an early 20TH equipment grouping.
(0227) $45
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NO.
2
PATTERN 1907 US ARMY LEGGINGS: This matched
pair has seen very limited use, showing no wear along
the upper and low edges, and all of the seams are
intact. The canvas straps are full length, showing no
wear or tattering, and the tips are finished with the
line of stitching, and no metal tips were ever installed
on the straps. I suspect that these leggings made
without the metal tips on the wrapping straps were
probably the earliest production runs, the metal tips
being added later as the need for them was recognized.
The material has a yellow hue to the khaki dye which is
original to this set and not the result of aging or
discoloration. The metal stays that run the height of
the leggings along both vertical edges are present on
both leggings and still retained in their integral sewn
pockets. The buckles are present on both leggings and
retain the majority of the original black finish with
some minor corrosion to the sliding friction bar. Both
buckles are fully functional. There are some minor
stains as can be seen in the photographs with one
notable rust stain immediately next to the buckle on one
legging that resulted in a wear spot through the
material. When displayed this spot is covered by the
outer edge of the legging and would not be noticeable.
One legging bears a faint maker’s ink stamp.
This is a gently used
matching set which would display very well with an early
20TH equipment grouping.
SOLD
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