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Gold Bullion Field Officers' Dress Sword Belt, c. 1877-1890
Price: 450
From my personal research collection, a truly rare officers' sword belt from the Indian War period. This fine, gold bullion belt with its two gold bullion sword hangers and fine detail 1851 Sword Belt Plate is shown and discussed in AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL BELTS, 1812-1902, on pages 13 and 14. This belt was for high-ranking officers in the range of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel (remember that Custer was a colonel) and would have carried the 1872 Cavalry Officer's Sword, the 1872 Light Artillery Officer's Sword or the 1860 Staff and Field Officer's Sword.
The belt itself is black, folded construction with black leather backing to the belt body and the sword straps. There are several places on the top and bottom of the front of the belt and the sword hanger straps where the gold bullion is separating from the leather body. This is relatively minor and could be repaired if the owner felt it absolutely necessary by fine stitching with gold or yellow thread (as the original) or simple glueing with a flexible glue. I have not attempted any repairs in the 30 years I've owned this rare belt because its condition is, generally, so very good and the belt itself is rare. A complete, bullion dress sword belt from the Indian War period is a much more rare item than the swords it was intended to carry. It would make a dynamite display with an equally fine specimen of any of the listed swords. A copy of the referenced book will accompany the belt sale. A few other photos are available.
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