possible trooper's bit

[malachi]

I can in no way speak to the history of this bit other than to tell you that it is hand forged, and that I found it in an antique shop in north Georgia. It was placed there by an antique dealer who shops from Florida up to Viginia. That is all I know. If you will notice the rein rings are different sizes and show their forge welds still. It just looked very much like the ones I've seen in confederate equipment books and I bought it so I would have a model to forge one by. So far as I know it could have been made in in the 20th century, but who knows.
with regards,
John Gregory Tucker

[Ken Knopp]

Re: possible trooper's bit

John, Nice bit!! Considering the syle, rein rings and cross bar it is very much in keeping with the style of CS cavalry or artillery. I have one very much like this.
Well, perhaps its intuition but it kinda looks more artillery to me. Why? I don't know. Nothing to go on really- just intuition but think about this....The pre war and war time Federal pattern cavalry bits usually had more curve to the bottom of the cheek piece. Like a Dragooon or M1859. While the Federal artillery pattern cheedk pieces were generally a bit more straight like the old M1841 or 1840's-50's Dragoon model artillery pattern bits. I know, it has no place for the double reins common to artillery but the straight cheek and the cross bar kinda has an artillery feel to it. The cross bar on artillery is to keep the reins of the two horses from tangling. However, I have often seen them on CS cavalry bits too.
When it comes to Confederate there are usually no rules and very little consistency but its just a "gut feeling". Maybe I am crazy.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Hank Trent]

Re: possible trooper's bit

Out of curiosity, what clues show that this may be a military bit, rather than a civilian bit?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Ken Knopp]

Re: possible trooper's bit

Hank,

Generally speaking, the loose ring and the lower cross bar were military features not common to civilian bits. This is not a blanket or "end-all" statement just a common observation. If one looks at military bits of the period you can often see (not always) a very common denominating feature- that of the loose ring. The loose ring reduced wear on the reins and continual pressure on the horses mouth. Both important considerations for extending the useful life of equipment and animals. The cross bar added stability and in the case of artillery bits prevented teams from entangling their reins.
A very common and easily made civilian pattern bit of the period (and still in use today) is the "Plain bit" which does not have these features. The loose ring and stable bar were not as necessary in most civilian usages and therefore not worth the extra efforts and costs to add them.
Again, these are not "hard & fast" rules just common applications. Bits, especially hand forged ones.....with and without loose rein rings and, with and without cross bars were also common and are found with Confederate provenance (or excavated from Confederate sites) and, sometimes in civilian manufacture.

The illustrations show the a small example of the variety of Plain bits. There are very many. The double rein bit is a cast bit but an identical pattern as one found on the Steamship Arabia.


Ken R Knopp

[Mark Choate]

Re: possible trooper's bit

Hank,

While it is not an absolute, the presence of the lower bar (cross bar) on the bit tends to give strong evidence that it is military in origin. As Ken said, these "cross bars" were favored by the Artillery as they prevented the bits/reins from tangling with animals who were harnessed in close proximity to one another. However, even outside of the Artillery, these lower bars were of value for added strength and rigidity of the bit. The typical stresses that were dished out in military activities exceeded those of standard civy lifestyles, so again, while not exclusive, it is a good indicator.

thx,
Mark

[Outrider]

Re: possible trooper's bit

I am wondering the same thing Hank.
Also, I always thought the cross bar on bits then, or now ,was to stabilize the cheek pieces thereby strengthening the bit. Hadn't heard that about keeping the reins from tangling up before though I guess I can see how that might work with a team side by side.

[Mark Choate]

Re: possible trooper's bit

Paddy,

If you have access to "The American Military Saddle, 1776-1945" by Dorsey and McPheeters, there is a really good description of this in the Bridle/bits section, page 356: "A metal rod, approximately 1/8th " in diameter, riveted into and connecting the lower most ends of a Curb or Pelham Bit. This was installed in the dragoon and cavalry bits primarily as a strengthening technique, to prevent the cheek pieces from being bent or twisted out of alignment. While this strengthening effect certainly helped keep the artillery bits in proper shape, the bar paid the additional dividend of preventing the cheek piece fone horse's bit from hooking the reins, bit or other equipment of another horse in the team. This bar is also referred to as the slobber bar or lip bar."

thx,
Mark

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: possible trooper's bit

On a western note... the cross bar can also keep a lariat from coming up a ripping the bit sideways in a horses mouth when a roped dadblamed mossyhorn tries to get around behind you... Saw it happen once, it was ugly... Many California bit have either a slobber bar or bit chains even today. Just another thought... Z

[Outrider]

Re: possible trooper's bit

On a western note... the cross bar can also keep a lariat from coming up a ripping the bit sideways in a horses mouth when a roped dadblamed mossyhorn tries to get around behind you... Saw it happen once, it was ugly... Many California bit have either a slobber bar or bit chains even today. Just another thought... Z

Yes. That is true too Zack.