Buttons for a M1884/87 Officer’s fatigue blouse?

Started by Captain Lee Bishop, October 25, 2009, 01:07:06 AM

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Captain Lee Bishop

I have what I think is a "US hist dot com" reproduction officer's converted M1884 fatigue blouse I scored off eBay some time back. I hadn't been able to find the collar Cavalry insignia for quite some time and just found a set and justgot them sewn on today so now it's looks correct for my Rough Rider impression, except for the buttons. What I need to know is what kinds of button that should be on the front. The period photos show that brass buttons on the pockets were common but apparently they used the issued main buttons for the front, which were black in color. What I have on mine is current Navy buttons. You can't really tell unless you get very close but it drives me nuts knowing that they're not correct and that they're... well... Navy. Ick! (Sorry, but I was Army in real life). Does anyone know a good source for the right buttons? I tried calling the vendor I think made it originally but they haven't been of much help. The blouse is the one to the left in this photo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/willysmb44/SpanAmUniform.jpg

Cowtown Scout

Lee
I have the book Cowboys in Uniform; Uniforms, Arms and Equipment of the Rough Riders.  There is a group photo of the officers in San Antonio that shows most have the 1884 converted to standing collars.  About half of those have brass buttons on the front and half have dark buttons on the front.  Some show the brass front pocket buttons and some show no front pockets at all.

On another page they have a photo of the only known surviving converted 1884 officer coat and it shows brass buttons on the front packets and plain dark buttons (with the 4 holes for sewing) on the front.

If you go by the group photo it appears you would be correct with either plain dark buttons or brass buttons because when they converted the uniforms each was a little unique.
Scout
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River City John

How serendipitous!
Captain Lee, I noticed in your picture that there is what looks like the Squadron/Rubin 54mm figure of the girl soldier of the 1967 Israeli Defense Force laying on the left breast of your coat.

I'm going to guess that, like myself, at one time you painted military miniatures as a way of expressing your interest in Military history? Do you still enjoy that hobby?

RCJ
"I was born by the river in a little tent, and just like the river I've been running ever since." - Sam Cooke
"He who will not look backward with reverence, will not look forward with hope." - Edmund Burke
". . .freedom is not everything or the only thing, perhaps we will put that discovery behind us and comprehend, before it's too late, that without freedom all else is nothing."- G. Warren Nutter
NCOWS #L146
GAF #275

Drydock

www.quartermastershop.com will sell you either the correct black or brass buttons.  I'd simply go with the brass myself.  You need the blue Mills belt to really complete the outfit then.  I've got one of those "Remember the Maine" pins myself, you can see it on my M1898.  I really need to put together an Officers M1884 some day, the enlisted version is my favorite shooting outfit.

Oh, RC John?  Ya might want to look a little closer at that figure.  Col. Roosevelt might not care for the interpretation . . .
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

River City John

Well . . . .
I guess those are puttees?- were mistaken for bare legs. That apparently pale desert-green fatigues and green o.d. belt threw me off, too

Actually, I STILL can't see too much detail. The pose is identical to the same figure I have, but she is wearing shorts that only come to mid-thigh, so these figures aren't the same. It could be anybody! Let's wait for Capt. Lee Bishop to give us a positive I.D. ;D

RCJ
"I was born by the river in a little tent, and just like the river I've been running ever since." - Sam Cooke
"He who will not look backward with reverence, will not look forward with hope." - Edmund Burke
". . .freedom is not everything or the only thing, perhaps we will put that discovery behind us and comprehend, before it's too late, that without freedom all else is nothing."- G. Warren Nutter
NCOWS #L146
GAF #275

Captain Lee Bishop

Quote from: River City John on October 25, 2009, 12:42:52 PMIt could be anybody! Let's wait for Capt. Lee Bishop to give us a positive I.D. ;D
Drydock is correct, it's a "King and Country" painted toy soldier of America's greatest President (in my opinion, anyway).

Captain Lee Bishop

Quote from: Drydock on October 25, 2009, 12:16:57 PMwww.quartermastershop.com will sell you either the correct black or brass buttons. 
Ah, just placed the order, going with the black buttons because the photos seem to show them being more common.
They want $29 for a officer's leg stripe for the pants, does anyone know a CW vendor who'd sell the officer stripe for less than that???

Drydock

Not the same width, (officer stripes increased 1/2" in width in 1872)  check with   www.cooncreekoldwest.com    
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

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