Help needed.

[Cannonball]

Can anyone help with the configuration of the scabbard and sabretache slings on the sword belt for a trooper of the 11th Hussars at the Battle of Balaclava? The figure I am doing has a sword belt with two metal rings on it- the query is
a) Is it just the scabbard slings that attach to the rings and the sabretache to the belt in between these rings?
b) Do the sabretache slings attach to the rings as well? The sabretache has three straps so is it one to the front ring and two to the back or should it only have two straps on the sabretache?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Neal.

 

[mick3272]

\Hi Neal.

Does this help

Mick

 

[mick3272]

 

[Cannonball]

Hi Mick, thanks for the reference pics. I had a quick look on the net myself before I posted this query. I saw some artwork covering the 11th and 8th Hussars from the period in question with a rear view of a trooper of the 8th showing just two straps on the sabretache and then a separate picture of 3 straps but attached to the belt between the two belt rings. Your top picture has the belt covered by the tunic bottom and I’m guessing it’s slightly later maybe 1860’s-1870’s. The bottom picture shows three rings on the belt which would imply one each which would be more simple. Thanks again for taking the time to reply Mick.

Neal

 

[mick3272]

This is a pic by Roger Fenton of the 11th Hussars at the Battle of Balaclava but his elbow is in the way will keep looking
Mick

 

[Cannonball]

Thanks Mick. Love the Roger Fenton pictures, very atmospheric.

 

[DaddyO]

Possibly in Fosten's 'Cut of the cloth' book? - I'll take a look later and see what I can find
Cheers
Paul

 

[Cannonball]

Thanks very much Paul. In the Osprey British Army on campaign covering the Crimea and Barthorp’s British Cavalry Uniforms since 1660 there are what appear to be contemporary etchings/lithographs suggesting two straps for trooper sabretaches. The net tends to show heavily ornate 3 strap versions which I’m presuming are more likely to be Officer quality. In the artwork with the kit it looks like they have kept three straps on the sabretache but taken two and attached them to the rear ring on the sword belt and one to the front ring. The pictures are quite dark. I’m leaning towards doing away with the centre strap on the sabretache and just having one each to front and rear belt rings to coincide with the two sword straps.

Neal

 

[DaddyO]

Okay Neal I've had a look in the book 'The thin Red Line' by DSV & BK Fosten. No illustration of the Hussars in the period you're after I'm afraid, but the slings for the Hussars (and other British cavalry of the Waterloo campaign) show two rings on the belt with two slings on each (one for the sabre and one for the sabretache)
Illustration of the 9th Light Dragoons of 1820 a similar arrangement, but with three slings for the sabretache (Possibly only Officers?) It looks like two attach to the front ring with the front sling of the sabre and the back ring has a sabre sling and one sabretache sling as previously.

The 2nd Dragoons of 1854 show a different arrangement entirely (!) Two rings in the belt as before used for the sabre with two smaller rings fitted between these and on the bottom edge of the belt supporting the two straps of the sabretache.

Clear as mud and probably not much help. I'll try and add a photo of the last one later for you since it's the only one shown of the period you're after.

Cheers
Paul

 

[Cannonball]

Thanks Paul, your efforts are really appreciated. I’ve actually got the book your referring to so you don’t need to bother with those last pictures. As you say, clear as mud! I think I’m going to go with a two and two set up and remove the centre sling from the sabretache, it just seems a little tidier I think.

Thanks again for your efforts,

Neal