civil war authenticity

countryboywithgun · February 2, 2008, 06:33 PM

I have heard several different things about holsters that are civil war style with flap. I know it is butt forward but do you wear them as cross draw or are they strong side twist???

and if the twist is correct i guess you grab the grip on the strong side with your hand twisted back after you unfasten the strat

that sounds painfully uncomfortable. the thing is i would like to be as authentic in the purchase of a holster as possible. did the north and south armies carry the possible bags too and just a belt with the revolver ??

**4V50 Gary** · February 2, 2008, 07:08 PM

No possible bags for the average Civil War soldier. They had cartridge boxes with gubmint rolled paper cartridges. Pistol shooters had a cartridge box that held prepared cartridges and caps.

CraigC · February 2, 2008, 07:31 PM

Cavalrymen carried their sidearm butt-forward on the strong side. The saber was considered their primary weapon, which was worn on the weak side. With the pistol on the right side of a right handed horseman with the butt forward, it could be drawn with either hand rather easily.

armedandsafe · February 2, 2008, 07:36 PM

Cav often had as many as 6 revolvers hanging about in various places on them and their mounts. Those who had LeMatts, were particularly well armed for close combat.

Pops

**4V50 Gary** · February 5, 2008, 11:40 PM

As to numerous revolvers carried by any single cavalryman, it depends. Most reenactors research their unit down to the firearm, uniform, actions. As far as I know, multiple revolvers were carried, but only by those who favored close range combat. A lot of cavalry action later in the war saw the carbine being used a lot.

Hawg · February 6, 2008, 06:53 PM

Some Confederate Cavalry and Rangers carried 4-6 revolvers and discarded the carbine in favor of a sawed off shotgun.

Tom2 · February 9, 2008, 08:55 PM

One of my ancestors was in the cav as first seargent. The copy of the unit history I have says they were issued Colt revolvers and Sharps carbines, as well as the sabre. The sabre and some other stuff have been handed down, but the Sharps is not there

Even though they were said to get Colts, the revolver handed down is a Whitney. My aunt has all the stuff including the holster. I need to get some good photos of the holster among other things.

**4V50 Gary** · February 10, 2008, 12:36 AM

Tom - get his service record and pension record (if any) from the National Archives. Go to Woodcraft and get some Rennaisance Wax to treat and preserve the gun and the leather.

Hawg · February 10, 2008, 01:03 AM

It would be easier, cheaper and quicker to get his records from the archive of the state in which he served.

James K · February 11, 2008, 10:22 PM

In spite of stories (probably true) about Confederate irregulars carrying as many as six revolvers, that was not the case in regular units on either side. The normal case was one revolver, carried butt forward on the right side, as CraigC says. Experienced cavalrymen in battle often carried the revolver in the left hand, the saber in the right, and controlled the horse with their knees. The carbine was carried in a boot on the right side of the saddle, but was usually used only when dismounted.

One argument for the saber was made by a cavalry sergeant of the time who told a reporter that he preferred the blade arm "cuz it don't run out of ammunition."

Jim

Gbro · February 12, 2008, 12:18 AM

Great Post!
I thought Track of the Wolf had made a mistake in the catalog with holsters.
Have seen many pictures, "just didn't get it".
Then some photos from that era were staged for the camera effect.
Like this one;

it reads ;
He wears his equipment backwards in an attempt to compensate for the reverse image of the "tintype" process.
(Ron Palm collection)

February 2, 2008, 06:33 PM	#1
countryboywithgun Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2008 Location: El Campo, TX Posts: 116	civil war authenticity I have heard several different things about holsters that are civil war style with flap. I know it is butt forward but do you wear them as cross draw or are they strong side twist??? and if the twist is correct i guess you grab the grip on the strong side with your hand twisted back after you unfasten the strat that sounds painfully uncomfortable. the thing is i would like to be as authentic in the purchase of a holster as possible. did the north and south armies carry the possible bags too and just a belt with the revolver ??

February 2, 2008, 07:08 PM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	No possible bags for the average Civil War soldier. They had cartridge boxes with gubmint rolled paper cartridges. Pistol shooters had a cartridge box that held prepared cartridges and caps. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 2, 2008, 07:36 PM	#4
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	Cav often had as many as 6 revolvers hanging about in various places on them and their mounts. Those who had LeMatts, were particularly well armed for close combat. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."

February 5, 2008, 11:40 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	As to numerous revolvers carried by any single cavalryman, it depends. Most reenactors research their unit down to the firearm, uniform, actions. As far as I know, multiple revolvers were carried, but only by those who favored close range combat. A lot of cavalry action later in the war saw the carbine being used a lot. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 9, 2008, 08:55 PM	#7
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	One of my ancestors was in the cav as first seargent. The copy of the unit history I have says they were issued Colt revolvers and Sharps carbines, as well as the sabre. The sabre and some other stuff have been handed down, but the Sharps is not there Even though they were said to get Colts, the revolver handed down is a Whitney. My aunt has all the stuff including the holster. I need to get some good photos of the holster among other things. __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

February 2, 2008, 07:31 PM	#3
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	Cavalrymen carried their sidearm butt-forward on the strong side. The saber was considered their primary weapon, which was worn on the weak side. With the pistol on the right side of a right handed horseman with the butt forward, it could be drawn with either hand rather easily.

February 6, 2008, 06:53 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Some Confederate Cavalry and Rangers carried 4-6 revolvers and discarded the carbine in favor of a sawed off shotgun.

February 10, 2008, 12:36 AM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Tom - get his service record and pension record (if any) from the National Archives. Go to Woodcraft and get some Rennaisance Wax to treat and preserve the gun and the leather. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 10, 2008, 01:03 AM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It would be easier, cheaper and quicker to get his records from the archive of the state in which he served.

February 11, 2008, 10:22 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	In spite of stories (probably true) about Confederate irregulars carrying as many as six revolvers, that was not the case in regular units on either side. The normal case was one revolver, carried butt forward on the right side, as CraigC says. Experienced cavalrymen in battle often carried the revolver in the left hand, the saber in the right, and controlled the horse with their knees. The carbine was carried in a boot on the right side of the saddle, but was usually used only when dismounted. One argument for the saber was made by a cavalry sergeant of the time who told a reporter that he preferred the blade arm "cuz it don't run out of ammunition." Jim

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