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PATTERN 1872 US ARMY MOUNTED TROOPER’S BOOTS –
EXCELLENT MATCHED PAIR SHOWING VERY LITTLE USE – BOTH
SOLES STAMPED “US”:
This pair of US Army
Pattern 1872 Boots, worn by the mounted enlisted men
and introduced with the
first significant uniform changes instituted in the
post-Civil War early Indian War years, has survived in
truly remarkable excellent condition, showing little
evidence of wear. These boots are in virtually “like
new” condition and present as close an example as any of
us are likely to see outside a museum collection of what
the boots looked like when first issued to a soldier on
the frontier.
These boots show such minimal evidence of having been
issued and worn that the original crease impressed into
the leather when the boots were being manufactured which
runs up the center line of the instep and the front of
the upper, is still visible on both boots. They are
manufactured of the proper “waxed calf” leather - that
is the rough side of the leather is outer surface of the
boot rather than the smooth finished side. The rough
nap was finished with a wax coating which prevented the
boots from hardening and subsequently cracking due to
repeated wetting and drying cycles as they were exposed
to wear in the field.
The leather remains live, supple, and smooth and retains
the original waxed finish, with some deposits of the
original wax coating visible in the crevasses of the
seams and where the uppers join the soles. The boots
are made with a one piece front and one piece back, sewn
along the sides with a reinforcing welt to protect the
stitches, and they are full length, with untrimmed tops
measuring the proper 15” tall at the front. The uppers
are free from any holes, cracks, splits, open seams or
other damage.
Both boots have the complete original soles attached
with the proper brass screws. Testifying to the
originality of the soles, and the minimal wear to which
these boots were subjected, both soles are stamped with
a legible “US” in the protected arch area of the sole,
immediately in front of the heel. The soles show some
evidence that the boots were worn, so we know they were
in fact issued, but the marks on the soles are very
minimal. The original heels are attached with large
headed iron nails to reduce the wear to the leather.
Both boots are complete with all components to include
both sets of boot pulls.
Soldiers’ footwear is generally
not something that survived his period of service, or
his post-military life, in great numbers – in most
cases, it was simply too utilitarian to be saved.
Comparatively little US Army 19th Century
footwear survives today and even fewer examples of
mounted soldier’s boots in any condition are available
for purchase by the private collector.
That this pair of Pattern
1872 Boots, the first style of true Indian War-era
Mounted Soldier’s footwear, has survived in this
condition is quite remarkable. Well marked as “US”
property, and with the historic significance of being
the very boots worn by the troopers in such famous
engagements in the West such as the Little Big Horn,
this extraordinarily attractive pair of boots will be a
dramatic addition to your Indian War Cavalry display.
SOLD
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