December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
Long in the collection of historical artist Don Troiani, I first studied and measured this belt in the late 1980s. We knew it was of British manufacture and likely a sword belt for a hanger, possibly made for issue to a British or Provincial corps in the French & Indian War or Revolutionary War, as the strap ends of a hanging frog were sewn and riveted in the exact manner as the British bayonet frogs excavated at Fort Ligonier and the buckle and brass slider found on it were identical to others excavated on sites associated with the two conflicts. It was not until artifacts from the 1798 wreck of the HMS DeBraak were conserved and studied by the Delaware State Museum that its use became certain, as a number were recovered from that ship: it was a waistbelt for the "Sea Service Sword" (cutlass). Another of these belts was recovered about 15 years ago by a Canadian diver from an 1812 context along the St. Lawrence River or Niagara River and fittings for others are among the 1812 excavated artifacts from Canada in another lot in this sale, so we now know that this belt pattern was in use well into the early 19th century. The frog was cut-down and reattached at some point in its history and based on its placement and short length, was probably readapted as a bayonet belt. The remains of a chain for brush and pick are attached to the bottom of the brass slider. The belt is 41 inches long and 1 3/4 inches wide. CONDITION: Much of the original grain face of the belting has worn away over time, but the leather remains supple. A highly important example, being the only known Royal Navy cutlass belt of this period NOT recovered from a water site and still with all brass mountings and original stitching.