Civil War Officer’s Sword Belt – Arsenal Marked. This is a Civil War era made officer’s sword belt made of black bridle leather, with a sweet 1851 belt plate, with matching keep, both being bench marked “378, and having rich gilt finish and silvered wreath.” The leather belt has a good deal of finish worn down from age, and poor storage perhaps as the condition of the supple leather shows light wear.
Sword hangers and belt slides are in same condition, and the gilt snap swivels have the most of the original finish, as does all gilt brass furniture.
The tongue is marked “ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL / E.H.S (Inspector).” This belt was not made at R.I.A., but per orders from the Ordnance Department in the mid Indian Wars era, all accoutrements were inventoried and marked with arsenal markings. So this belt, purchased during the Civil War era to have on hand for officer purchase, was still in inventory into 1870s -80s. It wasn’t until the early to mid 1870’s that Rock Island Arsenal began production of leather accoutrements for the army.
A nice example of a Civil War era belt remaining in stores for some after.
