Blanket Straps? & Pistol lanyards

[Camp Little]

Joseph,exactly!

Ray, I don't think there is a mounted/dismounted differentiation. This item is listed in the Cavalry Equipment manuals for dismounted use. A case where Infantry Equipment was at the dismounted trooper's service. I don't have any Infantry manuals at my disposal to determine if the pre-1904 blanket rolls were issued without a strap with the strap hook. Often times the SAW pictures I have seen show the soldiers with string/twine/rope tying their "horseshoe" rolls together. I can't be sure when the powers that be decided that a standardized set of blanket straps was designed and issued. Somebody out there with Infantry knowledge/manuals needs to chime in.

[Pat Holscher]

I picked up a set of blanket straps that I thought were for the 1904 saddle however one of the straps has an additional short strap that has a spring/snap hook on it which I don't see on any period photos of the 1904 saddle. All the metal is browned japanned which I belive would indicate early 1900 issue. Can anyone help ID if these are correct blanket straps for the 1904 saddle or if for some other use.
I also have been looking for the early model 1903 revolver/pistol lanyards for my 1903 dated M1892 Colt 38 long and my 1909 Colt 45LC for years as they fairly scarce. They also used the lanyard on the 1911 automatic magazines with the lanyard ring. These lanyards were used by mounted troops so they wouldn't loose their revolvers or magazines if they had to drop them in emergencies. Anyway I found not one, but four of them at a military show over the weekend. The gentleman was selling out his collection. Couldn't resist, so I bought all four. Two dated 1903 and two 1905. It should be noted that the metal snap hook is brown jappaned also. Ray





RayG/Wisconsin