Forums at The Military Horse

With Memorial Day (US) coming up, I thought I would throw this thread up.

Taking Chance is an HBO movie based on a journal written by a Marine Corps Colonel who escorted the body of a Marine killed in Iraq to his family.

The film is quite moving and surprisingly has no political undertones about ...

Pat;

The off-the-shelf english saddles have premade trees and the flocking (padding) in the panels is foam on the inexpensive ones and, until recently, was wool on the high-end saddles. THe flocking can be adjusted by an experienced saddlemaker and new technology allows for thermal scans of a horse ...

I think Hanks was trying to throw a bone to the anti-GWOT folks out there. There are many arguments those types like to make regarding war in general. They claim that the US never would have used a nuclear weapon in Europe but it was ok in Asia because they look different. The US didn't inter German ...

Pat;

That is why Avian Flu is so scary. Your immune system will basically kill you. For most strains of flu it's not the flu that kills you, but the secondary infections (pneumonia being the most common).

My girlfriend treated the single case of confirmed swine flu in Nevada and mentioned that it ...

Might I suggest "SWORDS AND SABERS OF THE ARMORY AT SPRINGFIELD" by Burton A. Kellerstedt. It can be a bit hard to find, but the gift shop at SPingfield Armory usually has a few in stock. It covers all the swords from pre-civil war through the M1913 and even includes a mention of a replacement for ...

I suggested to my wife that a miniature horse would make a great companion for the dogs and help keep the grass trimmed in the back yard. That one didn't go over very well...

A lot of them are a pain in the rear to trim. I always feel so vunerable being on my knees next tothem since I'm never ...

Schipper stamps all of their stuff with TT&A (Talbert Tent and Awning) so anyone who does a little research will come up with that info as a company which never existed. WPG always marks and stamps their items WPG. I forsee fakes as being an issue for early 20th century items for the next 50-75 ...

Tom;

There are a few other vendors out there who have been better about clothing than Allen has been. Schipperfabrik and What Price Glory both offer nice pull-over shirts. Great War Militaria is the priciest but theirs has the nicest material I have seen.

--Brian

I'd agree about the origin of the garrison cap in US service. It's easy to carry, which is it's only real virtue. Otherwise, it fits in prefectly to this category.

I think garrison caps can be tied to the introduction of helmets to a degree. The US didn't field a combat helmet until WWI. When ...

Infantry did wrap from the bottom up, but there have been other threads where it was discussed that Cav wrapped fromt he top down. Come to think of it, you did mention he was mounted infantry which might explain this.

--Brian

Wow, he looks a little long in the toes. I also noticed that the puttees are wrapped from the bottom up. Great picture!!

--Brian

Entertaining if you ignore the historical inaccuracies.

Of interest here, has anyone looked at TR's uniform and equipment? I noticed the 1909 bridle and that at least some components of the saddle look original.

Robin Williams did do a great job as TR.



Brian S Colonna

Has anyone read this book? I picked it up while doing and event at Springfield Armory last month. It's quite an interesting read.

Burton A Kellerstedt does a pretty decent job going over the development of swords at the Armory from 1808 until 1928. He has really good coverage of the 1913 sword and ...

Slim and Dallas:

Thanks for your help, I have two bridle triangles on the way and the leather just came to make the quarter straps for my 1st pattern 1904.

My next question: Does anyone have a copy of the plans for the M-1909 Bridle? I thought I had it but the plans I have are for an M-1896 or ...

Last year I asked if anyone knew where I could get the triangles for the bridoon on the M-1909 Bridle and I can't remember who said he had some. Does anyone know where I can get some?

Also, does anyone happen to know how long the cantle strap of the 1st pattern M1904 was? I have orginal rigging ...

Merry Christmas, Guys. It's a long picture, but probably worth it



Hope everyone had a great year.



Brian S Colonna

No, it's not a cav film, but I started watching it today and noticed that there is a mounted cop at the beginning riding an M-1904 (The setting is NewYork City in 1917,) and when George Murphy is marching at Camp Upton, he's wearing a mounted cartridge belt. Just some interesting observations... It ...

It's tough to tell, but the saddle on the horse looks like it might have skirts on it. The stirrup hanger also looks like the more forward placed later style while the mule's saddle is definitely a first model 1904 as previously mentioned. Maybe I'm wrong, it could just be the blanket.....


Brian S ...

I wholeheartedly agree with pat about the unifroms. I have always been amazed at how sharp the German uniforms looked. They may have lost both wars, but boy did they look good doing it...

And, I too, see a red stripe on the legs of the breeches. I would love to know more about these guys.

Yr Svt ...