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Rare Complete 1847 Dragoon Bridle Bit & Bridle
Price: 950
No museum I know of has a Dragoon set like this. The bridle bit is of the 1847 contractor types shown in Fig, 5 & 6, Page 21 and Fig. 7, Page 22 of BRIDLE BITS OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY, 1776-1945, by McPheeters & Dorsey. This particular Dragoon bit was faced with brass only on the outside of the branches, bar and rings. 98% of this original brass (unpolished) remains on the branches, 7% on the bar and only traces remain on one or two rings. This bridle bit measures exactly 9 inches in length, slightly longer than the bits on pg. 21 and slightly shorter than the ones shown on pg. 22. This is not an unusual variation for contractor-made bits of the time and it referred to in the referenced book.
The buckles on the bridle are brass-faced and horseshoe-shaped. One sewn-in buckle is an earlier, flatter horseshoe-shaped, black japanned buckle that was obviously what was on hand when it was originally assembled (waste not, want not). All leather is is live and supple. Overall, this set is in excellent condition but there is one cosmetically-repaired break on the throat strap and it is solid enough for display. The brow band is very solid but has some surface flaking in the center. The rosettes are personal purchase pieces and are wrapped over iron cores or backs. A little looking at tack sales, I believe, would turn up a set of reins that would be excellent replacements for this set and would complete it at a good savings. A few other views are available on request.
An extraordinary set that is correct for display with a Ringgold, Grimsley or early CW McClellan Officers' Saddle. The brass bits were considerably more flashy than the 1859 iron bits and officers used them when they could be obtained. And, too, many of the senior officers on both sides of the War were still using the earlier Dragoon bridle bits. If desired, a copy of the referenced book will be provided to the purchaser of this fine, rare set.
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