GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
EXTREMELY RARE AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE 1876 INDIAN WAR "PROTOTYPE" PRAIRIE BELT, ALONG W/REGULATION MODEL 1874 SABER KNOT WHICH MAY BE THE ONLY SPECIMEN KNOWN, GREAT COLLECTION HISTORY1) Unique narrow prototype Prairie Belt. This unique prototype belt is 1-3/4" wide with a single bottom seam and sure appears to be an arsenal product as noted by Steven Dorsey in Gun Report article accompanying this lot. Dorsey had previously written an excellent six page article titled The Modified Prairie Belt in the December 1992 Gun Report. This belt surfaced after that article was written and this is thought to be the earliest example still utilizing the 1872 sword belt plate as opposed to the typical open prairie buckle. Read attached Dorsey articles for more information. 2) "Regulation 1874 Sabre Knot". Ordnance memo #13 in 1872 describes the 1872 sabre knot as black bridle leather - thin 0".625 wide 30" long, one end is fastened to a braided knot without tassels, 1".5 long and the other end passed through the knot after going around the guard of the sabre and to have one sliding loop. In ordnance memo #18 in 1874 the army adopted the 1872 sabre knot with one change, the addition of another sliding loop, and the knot is shown in the drawings. Interestingly Doug McChristian in his book The U.S. Army in The West 1870-1880 does not show the regulation knot but offers a photo of what may be an experimental but different sabre knot probably of the period. The knot is unmarked and undoubtedly made at Watervliet Arsenal,, though there is some question as to how many were made since there were C.W. Sabre knots left in inventory, this is the only recognized, surviving 1874 sabre knot and is in live and complete condition. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Howard Coles collection; Steven Dorsey collection; David Pierce collection. CONDITION: Belt is very good overall, canvas is soiled, leather is sound solid with some crazing. Sword knot solid with crazing. 52156-4 JS (4,000-6,000)