Civil War Cavalry Saber Belts: What to look for

These videos bring back lots of good memories. It sure was fun.

I can see by the “V” on the quality reproductions that you got some good Duvall leathers. It’s a shame he stopped making Civil War reproductions.But I managed to get a C.S. set from him one year before he called it quites. And I’ll never sale them. Great vid!

Actually I realized why the straps on the reproductions are longer while making a 3D replica of one of these belts recently. The ordnance manual does set them to 17 inches (front) and 34 inches ( rear) accordingly, but after I measured a well laid out picture of the original piece it became clear the ordnance manual means the lenght of the whole strap, before it's bent on both ends to be secured by these large rivets, which obviously makes them shorter. On the picture I measured and where all the other dimensions do fit the OM specifications, the factual lenght of straps is 9,9 front and 27 rear. On reverse side the lenght of spare material is about 3 inches on every side for both straps. Add there remaining inch for the lenght of bending, and there you have it. I suppose the reproduction makers checked the manual but didn't research this far.

This was a useful and interesting video on sabre belts. I have just "defarbed" my own from mainstream length to the more historically accurate 10" and 25". Huge difference in carrying the sabre.

Excellent

Thank you for all those details, I'm planning to make one for myself! Just a question, are Conferate Saber Belt similiar in the pattern? I guess the main difference, of course, will be the buckle.

Just bought a belt from blockade runner sutlery I’m real excited for it and I’m hoping it will be a good one

I've been wondering for some time now about the use of the "Sam brown" shoulder strap. Was it for enlisted cavalry only or can officers wear it out of preference?

could you explain how the belt buckle is to be mounted on the saber belt, for many of these belts have no buckle mounted on them

Now i am wiser and actually aware what to Look for dividing a good from a "mass" reproduction. Carry on Troopers!

Steve, you mentioned a lot of things about the saber belt but, the one thing I'm most interested in, you never touched. I have a fair quality saber belt which has the saber rings to hang it from the belt but it has no hook to hang the saber when dismounted. I can, of course, make one but does it go to the front of the saber ring or to the rear? I was closely watching the video and it seems there is one that has the hook located in front of the ring and another with the hook to the rear. Which is correct? Also, can you do a video on setting up the saber belt's hangers and all of that so that I can GET T RIGHT, the first time or do you already have a video on that that I have missed? I appreciate the videos and the knowledge as I am probably too old and also disabled to the point that I wouldn't be useful as a recruit. 68 and have a bone/cartilage disease that eats the cartilage from all the joints. So, I get used as one of the Generals at the signing of the Treaties between the US and the Eastern Shoshones in 1851 and 1868. 2 Different eras is problematic for correct uniforms for both time frames, though! So far, I have well over$400 in this little endeavor and the way things are going i may never get to do much with it! Thanks much for the information. Also, Do you have any Field or staff OFFICER videos??

Little difficult to see the width of the original strap for the saber. Am I correct in it being thinner width crossing over in the opposite direction as to the carbine rifle with a wider strap for the time period and originals? Thank you in advance should you or whoever responds. In mean time, I'll continue reading more on uniforms.

MORE VIDEOS!!!

Steve how long is the shoulder strap on the original saber belt.

Where did you buy your civil war reenactment gear from?

Did cavalry men carry percussion caps for their pistols in the same pouch as the carbine caps or where they carried in the pistol cartridge box?

Where did you get the saber belt from? I have some hand me downs sutler stuff that I got from my group to see if I would like it now I’m looking for some more historically accurate gear.

I really enjoy your run down on leathers, but remember you are not the only mounted service... us the kings of battle our also mounted, in my years of reacting I have actually seen more mounted artillery units actually mounted cavalry(north east America) our unit runs 3 original cannons. My guess is the reproductions are made more for unmounted user

Are you guys going to Cedar Creek?

do sadles next