These two curry combs were early excavations from the Atlanta battlefield. Given their simple, crude construction patterns and similarities to other CS type curry combs that I have seen over the years and,....their dis-similarity to common Federal patterns, I believe these to be of CS manufacture.
It is quite likely one or both are Augusta Arsenal patterns. The Augusta Arsenal was the South's largest provider of curry combs. From my research (limited by the surviving documents) I was able to document 17,500 combs provided to western armies with some 89% of these made through Augusta contracts (with lots of them going to/through Atlanta). Nevertheless, as one of the most "deficient" items of horse equipment as noted in CS Inspection Reports it is possible this figure may be more accurate than we realize.
Anyway, it is not often I am able to come across such well preserved specimens. These were apparently dug many years (maybe decades) ago but exhibit the simple, plain construction that typifies CS curry comb manufacture.
Ken R Knopp
It is quite likely one or both are Augusta Arsenal patterns. The Augusta Arsenal was the South's largest provider of curry combs. From my research (limited by the surviving documents) I was able to document 17,500 combs provided to western armies with some 89% of these made through Augusta contracts (with lots of them going to/through Atlanta). Nevertheless, as one of the most "deficient" items of horse equipment as noted in CS Inspection Reports it is possible this figure may be more accurate than we realize.
Anyway, it is not often I am able to come across such well preserved specimens. These were apparently dug many years (maybe decades) ago but exhibit the simple, plain construction that typifies CS curry comb manufacture.
Ken R Knopp
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