MODEL 1859 "J.E.B. STUART" DETACHABLE SWORD HANGER - MARKED "US" / "FRANKFORD ARSENAL
Scarce, early pattern removable belt hanger for the cavalry saber. It's design is attributed to J.E.B. Stuart, who gained immortal fame as the commander of the Confederate cavalry during the Civil War. Sheet brass hook with an internal lock mechanism which prevents the hook from slipping out of a cavalry saddle equipment loop. Brass hanger is marked with an Old English "U.S." while the hinged clip is stamped "FRANKFORD ARSENAL". Overall very sound for its 150 year plus age. Original finish remains on the brass.
This is a rather uncommon accoutrement known as a Stuart saber hanger. J.E.B. Stuart, while serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, won a patent (#25,684 filed on October 4, 1859) for an improved sword hanger which he designed while recuperating from wounds received during a fight with the Cheyenne at Solomon River, Kansas on July 29, 1857.
Major General J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederacy's famed beau sabreur, justifiably is best known as the dashing commander of the Army of Northern Virginia's cavalry units. But in October 1859, while serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant and stationed at Fort Riley in the Kansas Territory, Stuart hit "pay dirt" as an inventor. The 26-year-old Virginian filed for and eventually received U.S. Patent #25,684: "Improved Method of Attaching Sabers to Belts." Stuart claimed that his new brass-and-leather saber hanger made it much easier for a cavalryman to quickly remove his saber, scabbard, and suspension straps from the standard army belt. The U.S. Army agreed, paid Stuart a "right to use" license fee of $5,000 ($143,000 today).
The detachable saber hanger was suspended from a standard belt, and enabled a cavalry trooper or officer to easily remove his sword, scabbard, and belt slings without unhooking the scabbard from his belt assembly and leaving the straps swinging loose at his side. Stuart applied for a contract with the US Army and was paid $5,000 by the Federal government for a "right to use" license. The US Army authorized manufacture of the device with Frankford Arsenal producing 10,000 in 1864. Each bears a Frankford Arsenal stamp on the keeper.
Scarce, early pattern removable belt hanger for the cavalry saber. It's design is attributed to J.E.B. Stuart, who gained immortal fame as the commander of the Confederate cavalry during the Civil War. Sheet brass hook with an internal lock mechanism which prevents the hook from slipping out of a cavalry saddle equipment loop. Brass hanger is marked with an Old English "U.S." while the hinged clip is stamped "FRANKFORD ARSENAL". Overall very sound for its 150 year plus age. Original finish remains on the brass.
This is a rather uncommon accoutrement known as a Stuart saber hanger. J.E.B. Stuart, while serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, won a patent (#25,684 filed on October 4, 1859) for an improved sword hanger which he designed while recuperating from wounds received during a fight with the Cheyenne at Solomon River, Kansas on July 29, 1857.
Major General J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederacy's famed beau sabreur, justifiably is best known as the dashing commander of the Army of Northern Virginia's cavalry units. But in October 1859, while serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant and stationed at Fort Riley in the Kansas Territory, Stuart hit "pay dirt" as an inventor. The 26-year-old Virginian filed for and eventually received U.S. Patent #25,684: "Improved Method of Attaching Sabers to Belts." Stuart claimed that his new brass-and-leather saber hanger made it much easier for a cavalryman to quickly remove his saber, scabbard, and suspension straps from the standard army belt. The U.S. Army agreed, paid Stuart a "right to use" license fee of $5,000 ($143,000 today).
The detachable saber hanger was suspended from a standard belt, and enabled a cavalry trooper or officer to easily remove his sword, scabbard, and belt slings without unhooking the scabbard from his belt assembly and leaving the straps swinging loose at his side. Stuart applied for a contract with the US Army and was paid $5,000 by the Federal government for a "right to use" license. The US Army authorized manufacture of the device with Frankford Arsenal producing 10,000 in 1864. Each bears a Frankford Arsenal stamp on the keeper.
Bringing the