Sword Belt adjustment

Fingers McGee · June 23, 2015, 11:12:35 PM

Swords are something new to me. To portray my GG Grandfather who was in K Co, 3rd Texas Cavalry, I have obtained a replica Tyler Texas Arsenal sword belt and a replica J McElroy CSA sword. In hooking the two together, the sword seems to hang way too low. How were the hanger straps sized for proper wear??

Major 2 · June 24, 2015, 04:45:14 AM

Assuming the Tyler Texas Arsenal sword belt follows the design of the M1851 sword belt, there is a hook hanger.
This was used to hang the saber from when dismounted, and the Saber was dropped on the straps when mounted.

Trailrider · June 24, 2015, 10:36:40 AM

Quote from: Major 2 on June 24, 2015, 04:45:14 AM
Assuming the Tyler Texas Arsenal sword belt follows the design of the M1851 sword belt, there is a hook hanger.
This was used to hang the saber from when dismounted, and the Saber was dropped on the straps when mounted.

Correct! The hook is that fishhook-looking brass thing hanging from the same Dee ring as the front sabre strap. When dismounted, the trooper hooked the top scabbard ring on the "fishhook", with the sabre's guard to the rear, so the sabre curved with the drag forward. Sometimes it wouldn't stay that way, so the trooper fregquently had to hold it that way with his left hand. When drawing the sabre while dismounted, the guard is turned to the front, and the sabre drawn with the right hand.

When mounting the horse, the sabre/scabbard was unhooked and allowed to hang to the length of the straps. To keep the sabre from banging against the left leg, the sabre/scabbard was sometime tucked between the rider's leg and the stirrup. When the sabre is drawn while mounted, care must be taken when swinging the blade from left to right (or visa versa) to keep the blade above the horse. My father was is ROTC in the early 1920's, and was giving directions with the sabre or sword. After he nearly cut his horse's ears off his TAC Officer told him to confine such actions dismounted!

Fingers McGee · June 24, 2015, 11:13:01 AM

Quote from: Major 2 on June 24, 2015, 04:45:14 AM
Assuming the Tyler Texas Arsenal sword belt follows the design of the M1851 sword belt, there is a hook hanger.
This was used to hang the saber from when dismounted, and the Saber was dropped on the straps when mounted.

The Tyler Texas belt is the same as the M1851 belt and I'm aware of the hook hanger & how it was used dismounted. While I don't have a mount to test it on, it seems that the hanger straps are long enough to drop the grip low enough to require bending over to grasp it.

S. Quentin Quale, Esq. · June 24, 2015, 02:59:20 PM

AFAIK there's no reason why a trooper can't modify the saber hanging straps to fit their "conformation." Like most arsenal items I'm sure this belt was made to a standard specification. But not every trooper was the same size; so you modified the gear so it worked.

I've modified my sword belt so it fits me and the horse. If I run into to some flag officer with wild hair up his nose about modified sword belts I'll give him Standard Answer #1: FUBIJAR!!!

G.

Fingers McGee · June 24, 2015, 06:44:51 PM

Quote from: S. Quentin Quale, Esq. on June 24, 2015, 02:59:20 PM
AFAIK there's no reason why a trooper can't modify the saber hanging straps to fit their "conformation." Like most arsenal items I'm sure this belt was made to a standard specification. But not every trooper was the same size; so you modified the gear so it worked.

I've modified my sword belt so it fits me and the horse. If I run into to some flag officer with wild hair up his nose about modified sword belts I'll give him Standard Answer #1: FUBIJAR!!!

G.

Thank you for the response. That's kinda where I was leaning.

ColonelFlashman · July 30, 2015, 05:01:17 PM

Quote from: Fingers McGee on June 23, 2015, 11:12:35 PM
Swords are something new to me. To portray my GG Grandfather who was in K Co, 3rd Texas Cavalry, I have obtained a replica Tyler Texas Arsenal sword belt and a replica J McElroy CSA sword. In hooking the two together, the sword seems to hang way too low. How were the hanger straps sized for proper wear??

There is a Dismounted Hook on the Foreward Suspension Ring that the sword is supposed to be hooked onto while walking about & to be unhooked only while Mounted on Horseback.

Drydock · July 30, 2015, 08:29:42 PM

Something many dismounted folks forget is how WIDE a horse is. Thus to have the sword hang the proper distance, the straps have to be made longer to account for lateral displacement. BUT! As I can't see Fingers mounted high on Windy Ridge, the straps can be modified for walking about. I have a JEB Stuart hanger with very short straps for this or any 55 gallon drum I might have to straddle.

Also, the sword belt is supposed to be worn at or just above the navel. Makes a difference as well!

OklaTom · August 05, 2015, 12:16:58 PM

I did a little cheating.

I shortened my straps just a bit, since my artificial knees no longer allow me to be mounted Cavalry. Shhhhhh. Don't tell anyone.

Fingers McGee · August 05, 2015, 06:28:51 PM

Quote from: OklaTom on August 05, 2015, 12:16:58 PM
I did a little cheating. I shortened my straps just a bit, since my artificial knees no longer allow me to be mounted Cavalry. Shhhhhh. Don't tell anyone.

Your secret's safe with me Tom.

I'm just gonna leave them long; since the sword will be hanging from the hook hanger anyhow and I won't be riding anytime soon.