This item was turned up at an estate sale in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, 28 miles west of Gettysburg. The Rebels occupied Chambersburg three times. The first in October 1862, the second time in June of 1863 when much of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia passed through it and the third time was in July 1864 when a portion of the town was burned by Confederate cavalry under the command of Brigadier General John McCausland.

The rig consists of belt with plate and both sword drops, holster and pistol cartridge box. The waist belt is the standard mounted belt with re-enforced square brass ring on the back and sides for supporting sword drops. The leather is crackled on the surface but it is still soft and supple and does not have any flaking. It feels as though it was treated with some kind of leather preservative long ago and that has kept the crackled leather from flaking. The rectangular sword belt plate has the eagle with applied silver wreath. The wreath does not extend above the eagle’s wings. Both the plate and the keeper have a benchmark of 977. Plate and keeper have a matching patina. Both sword drops are present and are in good condition with leather keepers and brass rivets. The brass saber hook is also present.

Large holster for a .44 caliber weapon. Leather surfaces on the holster match the belt with some loss of surface material around the latch-hole and top of the flap. The flap starts out as wide as the holster but tapers down as it nears the latch-tab area. The sewn seams are good and the bottom of the holster retains its leather plug. Front has large round brass finial while back has leather loop anchored by 3 brass rivets. Pistol cartridge box is of the standard issue pattern and is in a condition that matches the belt and holster. Latch-tab is good, brass finial is present on bottom, back has both belt loops. Overall this rig is in used but good condition.