Federal sack coat buttons - 5/8" or 3/4" ???

[KentG]

I have searched the site, read all the sack coat articles I could find, but could not find the correct diameter for Federal blouse buttons. The regulations of 1861 don't mention them, and the 64 QM instructions bill of material for sack coats only mention "4 coat buttons" which implys the 7/8" coat button to me. Looking a pattern makers sites, I find both 5/8" and 3/4" buttons mentioned in their bill of materials.

Seems obvious, but not to me.

Kent Goff

https://www.mvep.org

[rpierson]

Re: Federal sack coat buttons - 5/8" or 3/4" ???

The answer is yes. Either 5/8" or 3/4" is technically correct as original buttons vary quite a bit in size. I wouldn't go with the 7/8" button as none of the originals I own are that large.

Hope this helps.

-Randall Pierson

[Jimmayo]

Re: Federal sack coat buttons - 5/8" or 3/4" ???

Did a quick measurmemt of a couple of dug ones and they were 3/4.

[KentG]

Re: Federal sack coat buttons - 5/8" or 3/4" ???

Thank you both for sharing from actual examples!

Kent Goff

https://www.mvep.org

[JimKindred]

Re: Federal sack coat buttons - 5/8" or 3/4" ???

Regulations for the Uniform & Dress of the Army of the United States June, 1851

33. For all enlisted men-yellow, to correspond with those of the officers of their respective corps, (28, 30, 31) large size, three-fourths of an inch in exterior diameter; small size fifty-five- hundreths of an inch.