Origin of the term "Buffalo Soldier"

[Pat Holscher]

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I've often looked at this photo over the years. At first, I thought it was a jumble of issue and private purchase equipment. Really, the only thing that wasn't issue is the cloth item over the saddle pommel. In looking closely at it, I think it is either a blanket lined slicker/duster or a blanket lined horse cover. Notice the leather straps and keepers on the forward edge of the item. The breast strap wasn't necessarily an item of issue, but troop saddlers of the period made them up as needed out of leather stock kept on hand. Everything else seems to be issue, including the holster, which is merely spun around to the side nearest the camera with the gun posed sticking out of the top which is fairly common to do during this period of military photos (other periods as well!). Great photo. The horse sure looks rangey for the winter. Surely they tried to put some weight on them before the onset of winter up there. I wonder what happened here.
Rick Throckmorton


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Rick, you have the keenest eyes, I believe, of anyone I know. I believe you are correct on all of your observations, although I think the campaign hat is probably a private purchase, as was very common. The condition of the horse is interesting, he is a thin rangey looking animal. I have a sneaking suspiscion that this horse's condition was probably about typical for one being actively used on an outpost in the winter however.

Pat

[Rick Throckmorton]

Pat,
I think you're right about the hat. The brim is pretty wide for an issue campaign hat.
Rick

[wwd]

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Dear Pat
With reference to your photograph.
I beleive they are armed with the French M1907/15 Berthier rifle and bayonet, they are probably one of the Black Regiments (369th,370th,317st,372nd)under the command of the french in World War One. Although they wore U.S. uniforms they used French equipment such as adrian helmets, gas masks, waterbottles etc
along with French belts and ammo pouches as seen in your photograph.
Although I connot be certain, I think the Officer is carrying the M1909 holster for the Colt and Smith and Wesson Model 1917 .45 revolver.
Kurt.


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wwd

[wwd]

[quote]


Hi
This is Cavalry equipment related...
Can anyone ID this holster?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2107552074


wwd

[Pat Holscher]

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Hi
This is Cavalry equipment related...
Can anyone ID this holster?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2107552074


wwd
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I see that you are the seller of the item, which is running up on the no commercial postings guideline. Also, while not to be picky about it, this query is pretty off topic for this thread, except that you can see a similar holster in a photo above. A new thread would have been a better way to go.

Anyhow, while I do not know the model number, this holster is one of the type used for .45 and .38 revolvers after the adoption of the russet color for leather. 1910 is the manufacture date, a not unusual date for that, and, of course, indicating that this was made prior to the adoption of the M1911 postol. The M1911 never completely supplanted revolvers, of course.

The pattern is not unique to cavalrymen, having been used by those issued pistols in any arm of the Army.

Pat