Breast plate installation?

[Dutchman Dick]

Re: Breast plate installation?

Hallo!

"I'm guessing my belt plate came from the same die as the box flap plate (my belt, belt plate, and cartridge box plate all game from Regt. QM), as they are a perfect match for each other."

The more important question is how do the reproductions compare to the originals, not each other?

Not a reference to "Regt QM," but, there are some vendors that have been importing some really poor Indian/Pakistani versions, some going as far as going the hazardous lead material route and replacing the lead backing with gray epoxy.

Curt

Well, I just got a copy of CRRC2 yesterday. After looking at the article on belts and belt plates, I can find only one fault in my belt plate: it's flat, rather than having the correct "body curve".

Does anybody sell belt plates with the correct "bend" in them?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Breast plate installation?

Hallo!

"Well, I just got a copy of CRRC2 yesterday. After looking at the article on belts and belt plates, I can find only one fault in my belt plate: it's flat, rather than having the correct 'body curve.'

Does anybody sell belt plates with the correct "bend" in them?"


You may want to go through the SEARCH function and review the information on U.S. oval plates...

In brief and to over-generalize, and with arsenal and contractor variations so noted, NUG...

There are two plate "styles" or forms at work here. The "large," "flat," "block letter, "puppy stud" plates revised in the mid 1840's were used through roughly 1863ish. The other form is the "smaller," "convex," or "round," or "thick and thin," "arrowhead stud" plates that came out later in 1863.

While there were many variations during the War, for many years, the later, smaller rounded plates were the only ones available. A few years ago, the earlier, larger, flatter plates were introduced (so lads did not have to use 1863-1865 plates for 1861-mid 1863 impressions)..

(The "Dingee" or "Eagle" breastplate was omitted in 1864, and the cartridge box flap plate replaced by an embossed version in July 1864. The U.S. oval waistbelt managed to hang-on until replaced in 1874.)

Curt

[Dutchman Dick]

Re: Breast plate installation?

My belt plate is exactly the same shape and size as my cartridge box plate, and has the arrowhead-type fastening studs.

[Ken]

Re: Breast plate installation?

My original

Box plate


Strap Plate

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Breast plate installation?

Hallo!

As an aside, it was "expected" that some of the plates would be lost... ;)
The 3rd Edition of the U.S.Ordnance Manual (1861) listed spare parts for accoutrements for one year in the field to be:

For 1,000 Infantry Accoutrements.

25 cartridge-box plates
50 cartridge box belt-plates
100 waist-belt plates
100 cone-picks.

Curt