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CONFEDERATE OFFICER’S BELT WITH TWO-PIECE VIRGINIA PLATE AND DRAGOON REVOLVER HOLSTER

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The belt plate is a Viriginia two-piece interlocking plate of very good quality. Belt loops for tongue and wreath are plain, slightly beveled. The wreath is a laurel wreath with berries, secured with crossed ribbons at top and bottom. The leaves, berries, and ribbons, in relief, are detailed and very well defined. The gutter on the reverse is crisp and probably lathe turned. The disk is die-stamped brass and the tongue bar is flat on the reverse, not stepped. “VIRGINIA” and “SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS” are in raised letters bordered by raised lines inside and out. The center of the disk has a stippled ground and shows a well-armed goddess of Virtue standing with one foot resting on the slain figure of Tyranny, with upraised curved sword in her right hand and spear in her left, with the butt of the spear ending at about the ear of the recumbent figure and the horizon line of the ground on the left just below the level of his raised knee. The tyrant’s crown, lying beside his head, is rather elaborate. His sword is well defined. Along the lower edge are what appear to be links of chain, likely struck off from his subjects by Virtue. The high points show some slight wear from use. Given the quality of the work and lathe turning of the wreath gutter, this is likely a pre-war Virginia militia plate, many of which were shipped south by northern makers and saw wide use after the war began. The upper reverse of the stop plate of the wreath shows what seems to be a faint maker’s mark beginning with a “W” and ending with a “D.”

The belt is made of folded leather, 1-3/4” wide, black leather oxidized toward brown, with center seam on the inside and impressed border lines along the top and bottom edge on the exterior. The belt is full length, with the tongue and wreath still in place. The wreath is sewn in place and the leather safe is still present under it that would have shielded the uniform from wear. The other end of the belt is loose and would be cinched tight by a sliding leather loop still on the belt. The surface shows some cracks from folding and some wear spots on the edges. Both sword slings are still with the belt, though separated at the top from the belt loops, which are in place. Both slings have their brass snap swivel hooks in place and the small brass adjusting buckles. The forward, shorter, sling broke across a small hole that would have secured a carrying hook, for wearing the sword while on foot. The loop seems to have been fixed in position by a small rivet inside, concealed by the leather. The rear sling also broke just at the bottom of the belt loop, which is free floating. As with the forward sling, there is no leather missing at the break.

The holster is made of brownish black leather, nicely matching the belt, and is configured to wear the pistol with the butt to the rear. This is a fairly large holster that would fit a dragoon revolver, measuring a good 11” down the leading edge, which would account for the barrel, cylinder, recoil shield, etc. It is sturdily, if plainly, constructed. The flap fastens using a simple hole and slot over a short brass finial. The hole shows some stretching from use and repeated opening and closing, but is not torn. There is single belt loop on the reverse, of medium width, and firmly secured at the bottom by two rows of stitching with a single rivet at between them at center. The finish show typical cracking and crazing, but wear spots are pretty much confined to the lower edge of flap and top of fold from flexing and rubbing. The toe plug is in place and secure. The edge seam shows some wear and there is short open section about two-thirds of the way down, corresponding a wrinkled section on the flat of the holster, showing some wear on the reverse in the same spot indicating something may have been laid across it when empty. On the whole it has good form and body and well matches the belt.

The leather has not been treated with any polish, dressing or preservatives. The belt plate has an untouched, mellow patina. This belt rig and holster display very well and would make a great addition to a Virginia Confederate officer’s display, particularly one involving a mounted officer considering the hefty Colt dragoon, or something comparable, that he was carrying.  [jet][ph:L]

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