This item shows some light wear from being used and is missing two of the 3 straps that were attached to it. All the stitching on the piece is good and remains tight. There is a faint arsenal mark on one side that appears to read ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL but cannot tell for sure. Lightly stamped in the leather above the Arsenal mark is “51 F 10” in three lines with 51 at the top. This stamping stands for 51^st soldier or carbine of Company F, 10^th Cavalry.

The 10^th US Cavalry was made up of African-American troopers with white officers. They were part of the original “Buffalo Soldiers” of the Indian Wars of the 1870’s and 80’s. They also served in the Spanish-American War and were present at the Battle of San Juan Hill where future World War One US Commander-in-Chief John J. Pershing served as one of its officers.