Belt loops

[37thtenn]

I am just wondering.How authentic are belt loops on pants during the Civil War.I went to a living history and notice a gentleman with them on his pants.Is that authentic?

[Hank Trent]

Re: Belt loops

I am just wondering.How authentic are belt loops on pants during the Civil War.I went to a living history and notice a gentleman with them on his pants.Is that authentic?

Short answer: it was rare, but depends on context. The few examples I can recall in the period are on firemen's pants, and I think a boxer, in Currier and Ives images. Picture clothes made specifically for active movement where suspenders are impractical, such as firemen who need to do a lot of reaching upward with hoses and ladders, and pumping.

What was the gentleman wearing and portraying?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[37thtenn]

Re: Belt loops

he was portraying a common soldier and was wearing sky blues

[Hank Trent]

Re: Belt loops

Well, that leaves me out of the loop (hah!) as I don't know much about military stuff, but I'd be really surprised if adding belt loops to federal issue trousers was more common than wearing jaguar skin pants, and even more surprised if they were ever issued that way, but I'm curious what the military folks have to say.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Belt loops

Hallo!

Here we go loop the loop.... ;) :)

Short answer, and to generalize and be overly brief...

I don't know about "pants," but NUG (Normally, Usually, Generally) the older pattern and contract variations used for Federal trousers, and the "newer" Confederate pattern(s), as were common for the Period, do NOT have belt loops.

IMHO, it is NOT a good idea to look to what sees at reenactments as a basis for historical practice. (And may invite negative comments as being below the AC Forum standard...)

Curt

[37thtenn]

Re: Belt loops

thanks guys,i knew ya'll would know