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Thought some of you might be interested in some other hand forged bits I came upon recently at the Nashville CW show............
#1: Here's another hand forged CS "Trooper's Bit". This pattern was used alot (east and west) by the Confederacy and is exemplified by its military "loose ring". It came in many variations, sizes and often with a cross bar (more likely for artillery). They were also made for civilian use. This one was found (excavated I understand) from one of the Atlanta battlefields. It measures 7 inches high with a 4 7/8 inch wide (interior width) port mouth piece.
#2: I call this the CS "Dragoon" style or, "59 McClellan copy" bit because it more approximates those Federal military patterns rather than the typical CS "trooper's Bit" pattern (above) that is so often associated with Confederate production. I believe them to be trooper's bits and don't believe these were typical CS officer's patterns as "in general", CS officer's bits (those of means anyway) were made of brass, sometimes brass or silver sheathed, early Dragoon patterns, imported British or otherwise "fancier". Remember, officers were not issued horse equipments but had to purchase their own. Note its military "S" curve cheek pieces. These hand forged copies also came in many variations including sizes, often with the loose ring and a cross bar. Sorry, could not find the measurements on this one.
#3: "Plain Bit" These non-military bits were simple, easy to make and a popular pre and post war blacksmith-made pattern apparently adopted to some extent by the Confederacy. This one came out of a Georgia antique shop in the Atlanta area. It measures 8 1/4 inches high with a 4 7/8 inch wide (interior width) port mouth piece.
Please understand the above are some of my "opinions" of CS bits. While nothing is "sacred", absolute or "hard n fast" in the world of Confederate military culture these are some fun bits for pondering I thought worth sharing. What do you think?
Ken R Knopp
#1: Here's another hand forged CS "Trooper's Bit". This pattern was used alot (east and west) by the Confederacy and is exemplified by its military "loose ring". It came in many variations, sizes and often with a cross bar (more likely for artillery). They were also made for civilian use. This one was found (excavated I understand) from one of the Atlanta battlefields. It measures 7 inches high with a 4 7/8 inch wide (interior width) port mouth piece.
#2: I call this the CS "Dragoon" style or, "59 McClellan copy" bit because it more approximates those Federal military patterns rather than the typical CS "trooper's Bit" pattern (above) that is so often associated with Confederate production. I believe them to be trooper's bits and don't believe these were typical CS officer's patterns as "in general", CS officer's bits (those of means anyway) were made of brass, sometimes brass or silver sheathed, early Dragoon patterns, imported British or otherwise "fancier". Remember, officers were not issued horse equipments but had to purchase their own. Note its military "S" curve cheek pieces. These hand forged copies also came in many variations including sizes, often with the loose ring and a cross bar. Sorry, could not find the measurements on this one.
#3: "Plain Bit" These non-military bits were simple, easy to make and a popular pre and post war blacksmith-made pattern apparently adopted to some extent by the Confederacy. This one came out of a Georgia antique shop in the Atlanta area. It measures 8 1/4 inches high with a 4 7/8 inch wide (interior width) port mouth piece.
Please understand the above are some of my "opinions" of CS bits. While nothing is "sacred", absolute or "hard n fast" in the world of Confederate military culture these are some fun bits for pondering I thought worth sharing. What do you think?
Ken R Knopp
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