Description
This is a genuine U.S. Officer’s sword belt dating from the late Civil War into the early Indian Wars period, complete with a Federal Model 1872 Regulation Plate Buckle.
The belt itself is made of solid leather—not the cheaper leather-wrapped burlap versions sometimes encountered—showing quality construction and durability. The brass plate-style buckle retains much of its original gilding on both the front and back, a rare and desirable feature.
The Model 1872 differs from the earlier 1851 pattern in its simpler construction, omitting the silvered accents found on the 1851 version. This transitional style was standard for officers after the Civil War and throughout the Indian Wars era, making it an important artifact of U.S. military history.
