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PATTERN 1876 US ARMY MOUNTED TROOPER’S BOOTS – A
VERY ATTRACTIVE PAIR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH
ORIGINAL MODEL 1872 SPURS AND SPUR STRAPS: This
pair of US Army Pattern 1876 Boots, worn by the mounted
enlisted men during the height of the Indian War period,
was found with the
pair of Model 1872
Spurs and Model 1859 Spur Straps in place.
This set
presents as having been together forever, as if the
trooper just kicked them off at the end of the day.
And, I suspect that is exactly what happened. He
finished his final enlistment, and leaving his spurs in
place, packed the boots away. This pair was found many
years ago in New England – not surprising as the old
northeastern estates have been a consistent source for
this sort of treasure. That was where the population
centers were and many of the discharged or retired
soldiers went home where family and opportunity for
employment were to be found. And too, the old Indian
War vets may have had enough of the frontier.
The presence
of the Model 1872 Spurs mounted on these boots with the
Model 1859 Spur Straps is a considerable added value.
Matched pairs of Model 1872 Spurs are anything but
common, and Model 1859 Spur Straps are rare in their own
right. To find them in place, obviously original to the
period of use of the boots, is a coup of particular note
for the Indian Wars collector.
The Model 1872
Spurs are the correct model for wear with the Pattern
1876 Boot, being the spur issued from 1872 until the
adoption of the Model 1885 Spurs. The Model 1872 Spur
was in fact the Model 1859 Spur, except that the rough
cast surface of the Civil War production spurs was
polished smooth. When the decision was made to polish
out the existing 1859 spurs in inventory during the 1872
Cavalry Equipment Board, the polished spur received the
new designation. The use of the Model 1859 Spur Straps
is also correct, again a holdover from the War and
something that continued in use until the Model 1885
Spur Straps were introduced with the new spurs.
After only four years in service, the design of the
Pattern 1872 Boot was reviewed by the 1876 Uniform Board
and minor changes to the pattern were ordered. In
response to requests from the soldiers who wore them,
the boot front was increased from 15” to 15 ½” high, and
the circumference of the leg of the boot was increased
to more readily accommodate the trouser leg inside the
boot top. Compared side by each, the leg of the Pattern
1876 Boot is noticeably larger than that of the Pattern
1872 Boot. Although the tops of these boots have
relaxed due to being worn, and the leather has formed
the characteristic “wrinkles” around the ankle, when the
leather is expanded to its full height, the boot fronts
measure the proper 15 ½” high.
The boots 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 is very strong with no weak points, remains live
and supple, and retains much of the original waxed
finish. 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.
The boots are
in excellent condition, showing minimal wear to what
appear to be the soles and heels original to the
manufacture of the boots – that is they do not appear to
be later repairs or replacements such as the half soles
that are often seen. The uppers are fully intact with
none of the characteristic heavy wear around the toe
area, and the leather on both boots is supple, has not
hardened, and the finish is overall excellent. The only
fault is a minimal seam separation between the lower and
upper sections of the front of the left boot - not
noticeable, currently stable, and not something that
will increase, just a few stitches have pulled. In
fact, you really have to look for it to see it.
Other than that one point, the uppers are free
from any holes, cracks, splits, open seams or other
damage and wear. 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. While obviously worn by a cavalry trooper,
these Pattern 1876 Boots present as a prime example of
the footwear that bore the Frontier Army across the
American West on any of the famous campaigns during the
height of the Indian Wars. That this pair of boots
survives today in the condition they do is nothing short
of remarkable, and the presence of the original spurs
and straps make them a special pair indeed. Capturing
all of the character of the frontier soldier who wore
them, this pair of boots will be a historic addition to
your Indian War Cavalry display.
SOLD
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