Just for fun! The 1872 blouse!

[FTrooper]

Here is my friend at Fort McKavett Texas with two of the M1872 blouses he just made! We now have four regular makers and two possibles for these items! Sharp ain't they?

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

Here I am in mine a few years ago.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.509520949150638&type=1

Chris Fischer
F-Trooper

[Grapeshot]

That Uniform was the most hated uniform in the history of the US Army.  Well, right up to the abomination they called the ACU.  The uniform that looks like a loaf of moldy bread, or bowl of moldy fruit.

[Grenadier]

I'm conflicted on the '72 blouse. In some regards I think it's awesome, reminds me of 15th century dressing gowns for wearing over the cuirass. My other eye tells me it would be a great breeding ground for lice and other critters.

[FTrooper]

Grenadier...you are correct and that was a huge issue with it. It just collected dust and critters as well as looked bad!  The other side of the argument is they are unique in many ways, but the style dates back to the 1830's!  Also it was the most common blouse of the 1876 Sioux War and worn at the Little Big Horn. Both skeletons found at the site had 9 buttons in front, not a 4 button M1874 sack coat. The thing is that it takes two years for an item to get adopted, bugs worked out, and issued in enough quantity AFTER the old stuff is used up before we see it in the hands of the troops. As a result the 7th Cavalry (and most of the Army) got theirs in Spring 1876 just before going off on campaign. Theses were packed up and saved in footlockers at the fort untill their return since it would be another year before the new annual issue! Images of Cook's late 1876 starvation march shows the M1872 almost ti exclusion! So it IS ugly but also massively historic!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

To show the history, my living history group "The Centennial Boys" did an interesting survey. We've noticed Union and Confederate soldiers and a German Prince from the 1830's! and John Buford's statue at Gettysburg!

Chris Fischer
F Troop

[pony express]

Looks like it could almost be a "one size fits all" jacket.

[Major 2]

Maj. General William Mahone