Blanket Straps? & Pistol lanyards

[rayg]

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

[rayg]

I just noticed that each strap has a "D" ring on it secured by a short billet with two rivets. I don't think the saddle blanket straps have the "D" rings but have the billet with the two rivets only. Also the ones I have seen, have larger buckles. What could my straps be for? The sellers tag stated, "blanket straps" Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[stablesgt]

I believe the blanket straps are solely an infantry item. The pistol lanyards are a major coup, they are rare, not to be confused with the WWI version which has no leather chape or braided cloth slide.

[Camp Little]

The blanket straps are shown in the early manuals (Horse Equipments & Cavalry Accoutrements, No. 1719 1905, 1908 revised) for dismounted use along with the haversack and haversack strap amongst other items.

Steve

[Joseph Sullivan]

Ray:

I have in my hand an unissued set of the same blanket straps. They fit together in a sort of harness. The snap hook connects to the D on the other strap with a D, so you have two matching straps on each end. I presume the fourth strap goes in the middle, or attaches the whole lot somewhere. My fourth strap does not have the riveted keeper or whatever it is on your pix.

Mine are stamped RIA 1904.

Frankly, I have never looked for a reference as to how they are used, but suspect Steve is right. They are a bit of an oddity.

RICHARD -- I have a lanyard like that with only a japanned metal snap and a slide. is that the WW1 version to which you refer? Once had several that I picked up as a lot for about $20.

Joe

[Camp Little]

Joseph pretty much hit the nail on the head on the use of the blanket straps. The middle stap as per specs didn't have the D. If you can imagine the pictures of SAW soldiers with their blanket rolls over their shoulders, you get the idea. In "They Came to Cordura", once the group was dismounted, they continued on with their blanket rolls over their shoulders.

Most of the WWI lanyard snaps have a date of 1917 stamped on them. One eBay wisenheimer tried to sell one that was lightly stamped as "an experimental 1913 model". I mentioned to the seller that it appeared to be a stamping problem, but he would hear nothing of it. Later on, the buyer posted a negative once he received the item and figured it for what it was.

The 1903 lanyard had a larger diameter hook that did not enter the shallow loop on the 1911 mainspring housing without a bit of prodding. The 1917 hook was smaller. That and the cost of producing the leather hook cover and the braided slide caused the military to adopt the 1917 issue lanyard with its bare hook and metal slide.

Nice score on the 03 lanyards, I'm one of those that paid dearly for one on eBay not so long ago, I'm envious.

Steve

[rayg]

Steve, I saw the M1903 lanyards on ebay also, as I mentioned, I have been looking for one for a long time. The ones I saw on ebay went between $225.00 - $250.00 if I'm not mistaken. I paid half of that for each of mine. Last year at the same show I picked up seven of the 1917 pat. dated lanyards for $18.00 each. Needed three, sold two to friends and have two left. Been a good show for lanyards. However I stopped looking to buy other items at the show as a friend of mine told me while I there, that he is selling some of his collection. Some of the items he was selling is a mint 1910 mounted belt, (the one with pockets for the 45 LC cartridges, (the one I have now is slightly faded), a M1912 Cavalry Bandoleer with eagle rimmed buttons and a M1912 pistol belt with a eagle button for the 45 mag. pouch. I told him I would take all of them. He also has two buckets for the M1912 Cav. belt system. The butt of the 03 rifle rides in the bucket while mounted. I've been after one of them from him for a year, never saw one for sale before, maybe I'll be able to talk him out of it now. I need one to complete my M1912 Cavalry belt. I'll keep the folks here posted on what I end up with, Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[rayg]

P.S. thanks for the info on the blanket straps fellows as I remember now that they are dismounted, and for the horsedshoe, over the shoulder, blanket roll. Duh, I should have known because I have a black leather set, with black japanned buckles, on one of my SAW manikin setups that has a blanket roll. Boy senior times setting in, Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[Trooper]

Ray,
Congratulations on another nice find with the lanyards. Have you ever seen one with TWO snaps at the pistol end? I am certain the earliest M1911 lanyards had to have had two snaps - one for the pistol and the other for the mag - but have never seen one or an illustration of one.


Dušan

[rayg]

Hi Dušan, I have never seen a two strap one but it sure makes sense to have the lanyards made with two straps/hooks, one for 1911 and one for the magazine. Something else to keep an eye out for. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[Jim Bewley]

As to the straps talked about here, I have no reference to quote but they look like they fit together to make a harness of sorts to hold a bed roll or sleeping bag to a pack. I believe that when the military makes something that that hooks together to do one thing it means that seperately thay can serve another purpose. In this case I have no idea what that is, but it would be interesdtering to find out.

Jim

[Camp Little]

The two straps with the D go around each end of the rolled shelter half/bedroll. The strap with the springhook loops through one D as shown in the photo and the springhook attaches to the other straps D, thus connecting both ends. The fourth strap (usually without a D) is wrapped around the middle of the bedroll. The entire "horseshoe" assembly is now placed over the left shoulder of the now dismounted trooper or infantryman, crossing his chest with the connected ends falling on the right hip. Now you're ready to march! That was the given use at the turn of the century until 1910.

[Jim Bewley]

Do you know if they had another use if the trooper was mounted?

Jim

[Camp Little]

No reference that I have ever seen. I suppose they would be stashed in the saddlebags or on the troop wagon with haversacks if dismounting for any period of time would be in the plans. I suppose they could have been adapted somehow to the M-1912 ration bags when those were used as a backpack, but that's pure speculation on my part.

[Jim Bewley]

I just went back a looked at the picture again. I'm going out on a limb here, but could the three straps have been used as "coat straps" while mounted leaving only the one with the clip to go in the saddle bag??

Jim

[Joseph Sullivan]

Does anyone know what the fourth strap was good for, or how it was used?

Joe

[Camp Little]

See my above reference 5 postings ago. It was strapped around the middle of the roll and kept the roll from opening up in the middle. Essentially the same items that were carried inside the cantle pack (tent poles, rope, spare clothing, personal items etc.) were also carried over the shoulder while on foot.

Steve

[rayg]

The SAW one I mentioned that I have on one of my SAW manikin display is black leather with black japanned buckles, this dates it to pre 1903. It has two straps with the "D" rings in the middle and a third strap with no "D" ring nor does it have the extra strap with the snap hook. So it seems that the extra strap with the snap hook was added post 1900. I'm not sure if I have it on the blanket roll correctly either. I have the two straps with the "D" rings tied around each end of the blanket roll and the third one passing through the "D" rings on each side strap and buckled. This seems to work out okay as it secures the blanket in the roll, Ray.

RayG/Wisconsin

[rayg]

"So it seems that the extra strap with the snap hook was added post 1900."

Oops, maybe not, have to correct myself, could be there were two patterns, one for mounted with the snap hook and one for dis-mounted. I just assumed because the black ones were earlier straps with no snap hook that all of the earlier pattern ones were made that way. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[Joseph Sullivan]

Aha!

Steve, I did read your post, but did not really grasp it, as I had a preconcieved notion that was wrong. Just went back, and NOW I get the horseshoe thing. The two D straps and the springhook strap hold the loose ends together, while the 4th strap is up at the shoulder or thereabouts. Is that about the picture?

Joe