Teddy Needs Help!

Lynn O. Doughty · #11 05-31-2008, 11:15 AM

Claude you are definitely "The Man"! A thousand thanks. I think I will have the strap with the hook on his left line in the photo, have the back strap hooked to the belt hook and then put the gun on the left as in that photo but have it more to the side. I hope to have him holding the regimental flat with his right hand if things work out. Have to see if I can bend a piece of Tupelo to a waving flag once I've already painted it. Should be fun. Thanks again.

Kenny_S · #12 05-31-2008, 03:42 PM

Lynn, If u have a magnifier on your pc/laptop, try this photo. It makes it a little more clearer, I think.

Lynn O. Doughty · #13 05-31-2008, 03:47 PM

I tried to make the flag out of Tupelo but, while it would bend to the shape I wanted I'm afraid of it breaking once it left my shop. So I made it out of a sheet of tin. I know, everyone will say that it is deviating from the true meaning of woodcarving but I'll bet Teddy wouldn't mind. Besides, if the critics get too testy I'll just borrow his "Big Stick" and give them a good wapp!!

TopKnot · #14 05-31-2008, 09:01 PM

Lynn, I don't know if these will help. I enlarged and cropped to try and get a little more detail.

Chuck

Lynn O. Doughty · #15 06-01-2008, 07:20 AM

Chuck. Thanks for those. In the first pic I think I can see the backstrap coming around to clip to the front which was my biggest question and you just answered it with that enlargement. I wasn't going to attach a sword but just do him as he was in that one photo but with all this info I just might go ahead and hang one on him.

Kenny_S · #16 06-01-2008, 05:16 PM

Lynn, you would have kicked yourself iin the butt f you didn't put the saber on him. Heck, ya might like the pain. What do I know!

Claude · #17 06-01-2008, 08:20 PM

Found one more reference for you, Lynn.

Army Sabers/Swords Manual of Arms; Field Manual 3-21.5: Drill and Ceremonies, Appendix F

It shows how the officers wear the saber with the concave edge of the blade forward; when drawing the saber, the left hand rotates the scabbard so the concave edge faces aft, and the saber is drawn.
I've looked quite a bit but can't find a reference, but I believe the difference in length of the two straps is so that the sword/saber is unhooked from the belt hook when mounted, and the sword then hangs down at a 45-60 degree angle or so. The short strap on the front keeps the hilt higher than the tip, which is probably a good thing

claude

Ashbys · #18 06-02-2008, 10:24 AM

Lynn ,

Left side would be the pistol holster, six shot revolver , It was before the 1911 45's

The buckle was the US vol eagle slip across single back hook type .

The saber straps would be two length , one 8 inches the other 14 inches with snap swivles brass 1 inch long on each .

The loop connection is caused from a brass hook attached to saber strap designed to allow the saber ring to hang high to the side when dismounted from the horse, ( so the saber doesn't trip you ),you release the saber once mounted to hang along side the horse.

Sorry just got back , weekend with Pete to good to pass up.

Ash

Lynn O. Doughty · #19 06-02-2008, 11:42 AM

Ash....just to get clear in my feeble mind....the short 8 inch strap hooks to the first ring on the scabbard and the long strap hooks to the bottom ring? when mounted the sword is unhooked and rehooked when dismounted?

Ashbys · #20 06-02-2008, 12:33 PM

Lynn ,

Yes, the shorter strap has a U hook attached to the belt ring . I did a quick search of Spanish American war saber belts for re-enactors, as the 1860 model was changed slightly , by 1870.

Heres the link , They also show the Vol belt buckel. 19th century leathergoods, belts

The back strap looks to be about 16 inches, this would make practical as the Military had reverted to using set standards for horse height.

Short to the front , long to the back of the saber. When mounted the saber hangs free, to allow for the movement of the horse and to allow the saber to swing freely away from the horses legs. A hooked saber when mounted has a tendency to roll under the horse putting the saber betweeen the horses legs. If that happens , can we say rodeo ?

A floating saber will stay out from the horse legs as the strap will follow the curve of the horse placing the saber to the outside of the leg.

If you remember the movie Shenandoah , (with Jimmy Steward) there is a scene where two bums come to the well for water, one has a saber hanging down to his side. Remember the effect of the saber clanging as he went up the steps...
Great movie effect , but stupid and not likely , the saber scabbard has a enlarged section at the base of the scabbard , it is called a drag . This drag is designed for just that , to protect the scabbard from dragging the ground.
If it does drag the ground , it will cut a path in the dirt to roughly follow who ever is dragging it. The issuse becomes it inpeads motion. If you turn , it will trip you, if you try to back up it will block you, and if someone is behind you in formation they can and quite often do step on them , again jerking you at the waist , usally causing you to lose balance.

The scabbard is made with an end that locks the sword into the scabbard , some even contain screws. That is why in the manuals the command to draw sabers is given as a two part movement. At the command draw , the saber hilt is pulled out of the scabbard , to do this some of the sabers were so tight it could take both hands to pull it to free the hilt. It is not possible to free a saber quietly from a scabbard, as you free the hilt the saber will rub the scabbard.

The curve is the main difference between a sword and a saber. The cavalry saber curve is designed to at the charge be placed alongside the neck of the horse point to the center of the neck , then before impact to turn the pont in the direction of impact to allow the motion of the arm to maintain contol of the movement. As the rider moves forward the saber will pull free of the point of impact where it can again be return to placement along side the horses neck.

Well there I go rambleing

Ash