US Indian Wars Era M1872 Enlisted Buckle & Benecia Arsenal Marked Leather Belt
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $245.00

Original era manufacture. Standard Infantry pattern cast brass buckle and 1878 pattern Infantry waistbelt. Benecia Arsenal stamped on the inside of the belt. The leather is pliable, no rot, with typical age crazing to the leather surface from age. Pleasing brass patina to the buckle surface. Benecia Arsenal was established in 1851 and was the western supply depot for many years. It also housed the short-lived US Army Camel Corps which saw service here in the southwest. In fact, Hi Jolly (Hadji Ali)a Jordanian camel driver, who served with this corps in Arizona has a monument erected to him at Quartzite. Benecia Arsenal provided much of the needed supplies for the US Army in the West, yet items marked by them are fairly scarce. It has been said that when the arsenal closed down much of their surplus equipment was burned rather than sold.