US ARMY ca. 1880’S CAVALRY FLAG LANCE HARDWARE SET
FOR GUIDONS, REGIMENTAL STANDARDS, AND NATIONAL
COLORS – COMPLETE SET: One of the seldom
encountered items that were a mainstay of the 19TH
Century army, this complete set of cavalry flag lance
decorative hardware was originally found years ago in
one of the commercial militaria warehouses in Manhattan,
New York, and has since been held in a long established
collection.
Identifiable as the spear tip and ferrule used on
Cavalry guidons, regimental standards, and their
National Colors, this set differs in shape from the tips
used on infantry and artillery flag pikes (note the
difference even in the terminology – cavalry lance vs.
infantry and artillery pike).
The diagrams shown below
are from the Quartermaster General’s manual, U.S. ARMY
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT, 1889, which includes
descriptions and diagrams of the various guidons,
standards, National Colors, and the appropriate lances
and pikes. This manual is the only original reference I
am aware of which provides this information.
The brass spade-shaped spear tip measures 7 ¼” long and
3 ¼” at the widest point, with a socket ¾” in diameter.
The tip is full form with very little sign of wear and
no damage, and the brass has a nicely aged natural
patina. The ferrule measures 5 ¼” long and the socket
is 7/8” in diameter. The ferrule is nickel plated pot
metal and while retaining its full form, the plating has
suffered significant loss as can be seen in the
photographs below. The difference in diameter of the
two sockets allowed for the taper of the wooden lance
body.
Despite the age and obvious evidence of use, this
complete set is a scarce find and could be assembled
into a full lance on which to display a period cavalry
flag. (0132) $350
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