This is a relic condition belt rig with Model 1855 bayonet and scabbard from the Civil War. This belt, with US belt plate and bayonet was recovered from inside a wall of an old being torn down in Prince George county, Virginia. The leather belt is approximately 30" in length, with a 1 1/2" width. The leather is dry, and not able to be laid out straight after being in this position for so long. The leather belt has a rough, pebbled surface but has surprisingly little loss of leather. At some point, long ago, you can see where the belt plate was switched from one end of the belt to the other. Somewhere along the line the bottom corner of the belt tore off and only one of the arrow hooks was securing the plate to the belt. So the wearer simply reattached the plate to the other end of the belt. The belt plate is the standard Pattern 1839 oval US plate the Union used throughout the war. The plate has a dark chocolate patina, retains the lead backing and has all three hooks. The two that attach the plate to the belt are of the arrow design. The bayonet has a dark brown, rusted appearance where the bayonet is visible. It has been in the scabbard so long it is now adhered to the leather scabbard. The scabbard has split open along the stitching on the back side for 7 1/2". The brass scabbard tip has achieved a dark chocolate patina. It goes without saying this thing hasn't seen the light of day for quite some time. The most usual part of the rig is this, when the belt is straightened out the bayonet is oriented upside down, unless you flip the belt over so the US is now SN. It's a known fact that Confederate relics have been found inside the walls of old houses for years, mainly weapons. Former Confederates were not allowed to have weapons or anything marked CS or CSA in their possession after the war. The facts that this was hidden in the wall of an old home in the Richmond area, the reuse of the torn leather belt and the orientation of the belt plate to spell out "Southern Nation" tend to make one think this is a Confederate used belt rig. This is fresh to the market, and came out of the same collection as the excavated Richmond three band rifle recently listed on the site.

Item # AA1737

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