December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
In 1818, the Army's Chief of Ordnance, Decius Wadsworth corresponded with Robert Dingee, a New York saddler and accoutrement makers, regarding a possible contract for NCO waist belts of buff leather for swords, to be "made with a Frog which will permit the Sword to hang nearly perpendicularly down the Thigh, inclining a little backwards" and specifying that "There must be a buckle behind" and a fastening system in front. Research by Fred Gaede shows that ultimately, at least 3,784 of these buff leather waist belts for swords were delivered to the Army by Dingee between 1819 and 1822 and issued out for use of NCOs, music and artillerymen to carry the M1818 Starr foot sword. This waistbelt, closed in front with an 1808 plate and brass adjusting buckle behind, is the only currently the only known example of the Pattern 1818 waist belt. It is made of buff leather approximately 2 1/4 inches wide and its frog measures 2 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches. A copy of Fred Gaede's research article accompanies this belt (published in the "Military Collector & Historian", v. 74, No. 2 (Summer 2022), pp. 157-167. PROVENANCE: Al Scipio Collection until 2015; when purchased from Dan Griffin in June of that year. CONDITION: Very good to excellent, the leather still supple, the plate and belt a pleasing, bronze patina.