[quote author=Hangtown Frye link=topic=41858.msg526940#msg526940 date=Thanks for posting that, Chris! What I find cool about it is that the saddler or whomever modified it used an Model 1874 bridle THAT is pretty nifty! I don't know if that hurts your "Infantry Sgt." theory, but I don't think it would be out of the question in that case, either. Very nifty belt!
Sadly, it's hard to get a decent woven belt anymore,
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Yes, most of the modified belts (and pre-1876 cartridge belts) I have handled in person or seen in books, pictures, catalogs, websites, auctions, etc. More often than not use buckles and parts of horse tack! Of course this is something that could be found at just about any military post (yes, even infantry had horses. For officer's, wagons, couriers, and for mounted patrols. For about two years in the late 1870's Co. E, 24th Infantry was fully mounted and armed with revolvers, sabers, and carbines on the Texas/Mexico border...elements of the 10th Infantry about the same time had a number of horses and Spencer Carbines signed to Regimental HQ and performed many mounted patrols against West Texas Indians).
As for good IWP stuff. Yeah, its kind of sad Hangtown Gordo. As you and I have discussed many times before, back in the late 1980's and early 1990's was a going time to do Indian Wars. There was F. Burgess (and Hank Kluin DBA F. Burgess later), Bill Laybourne of Ordnance Park (all three are no deceased I believe), and Mike Montgomery DBA O'dea and Company who had a bad divorce and lost interest and sold off all his patterns and research. There was even a company that made a bunch of M1872 Cavalry Officer's sabers to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Little Big Horn. Not a bad repro and they do show up from time to time, but every saber was etched on the blade " Lt. Col. George A. Custer 7th US Cavalry" on one side and " 110th year Little Bighorn Battle 1876-1986" on the other...but I digress.
Yeah, GREAT quality IWP stuff is pretty hard to find compared to what WAS out there.
Chris Fischer
F-Troop