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PATTERN 1876 US ARMY BARRACKS BEDDING BLANKET –
VERY NICE EARLY SPECIMEN: Dating from the
Custer era, this Indian Wars Pattern 1876 Bedding
Blanket, as described on page 152 of Randy Stephen’s
The Horse Soldier 1776-1943, Volume II, features the
correct gray body with 2 ¾” wide indigo blue stripes at
each end. One of the most basic pieces of the standard
equipment issued to each frontier soldier, these
blankets saw heavy service in both the barracks and in
the field, surviving in very limited numbers today.
This blanket measures 74” long and 57” wide, very close
to the original dimensions and well within the range of
shrinkage normally encountered in these blankets as
caused by the aging of the wool and repeated washings
through the years. This blanket has a couple of small
stains, but otherwise has survived the years in overall
very good to excellent condition. The indigo stripes at
each end have faded a bit with time and age, but both
are fully discernable. When originally
issued, these blankets had a “U.S.” stenciled with ink
or paint in the center of the blanket, but as with this
specimen, this marking soon wore away with use and
cleaning and is seldom found intact. The ends of the
blanket are unbound as was common for 19TH
Century blankets. There is an old label sewn to one end
of the blanket, perhaps the maker’s tag or the soldier’s
identification, but the printing or writing is no longer
present.
As you can imagine, these blankets
did not survive in great numbers due to the hard use
they experienced in service and as they passed on as
surplus to the multitude of post-army agencies,
charities and retail stores they were simply used up
with little to no regard for their historical value.
This early Indian Wars bedding blanket is a scarce item,
particularly when found in this condition, and it will
certainly add to your collection, displayed with a
soldier’s field kit, on a Model 1872 Barracks Bed, or
rolled up on the cantle of an Indian War saddle.
SOLD
NOTE: THE LIGHT STREAKS SHOWING ON THE BLANKET
IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW ARE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT SHINING ON
THE BLANKET AND NOT FADING, BLEACHED AREAS, OR
DISCOLORATION IN THE MATERIAL.
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