Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-03
ST. CAVALRY SCABBARD
Uncle sam's sofFaiers Taking Great Comfort
"a Il "''. '''''iI if tie New Device ',,' '1--
DSpGFtufe' ihiH TroOpefs'" Aeeourtefi
mefits 6ter Which Experts 9HEa
g C
Ases41n thu siastic. " sHitTr-

Inc Gays OF sine tlme-nOHOreQ cdTpiHe
boot, so lenso wern by the troopers OF the
United States cavalry. are numbered. Its
7 place is sheznly to be taken by the more
b modern carbdne; scabbard,- a step made
necessary by tfle,dntroduction into the SER
vice OF the improved magazine carbine!
Changes, however advantageous to the
service, come slowly in the regular army,
but the new 'carbine scabbard has been ap-
proved by Gen. Flagler, chief of ordnance
of the United States army, and as rapidly
as the new scabbards can be manufactured
!. they will be furnished to the troopers.
Immediately on the adoption of the mag
azife carbines for cavalry service, steps
were taken by the ordnance department
Of the army to supply more perfect
means of carrying and protecting the new
arm. The old boot permitted more or less
motion of the arm, which, in long and hur-
ried marches. became quite annoying to
both horse and rider. The barrel and STOCK
were also exposed to the weather.
The new scabbard, which is of thick har-
ness leather. thoroughly protects the car
| mits easy insertion or withdrawal. 1t can
! be suspended from either side OF the sad
die.
The front suspension strap passes around
the Scabbard and through two loops, then
| through a ring in the front saddle bar and
| over In front Of the pommel to. another
| ring on the other side. The rear suspension
| strap passes through a ring riveted in the
seam of the Scabbard, eighteen inches from
the lower end, and is fastened to a ring at
the back part of the cantle. ....
| When In position, with the trooper
| mounted. the small part of the scabbard
passes under the hollow of the leg just be-
low the knee, and thus, without discomfort
| to the rider the whole is securely held in
I position, without annoyance fatigue
| from the constant motion so troublesome
Y with the old method
| The cavalry service has from time to
7 time experimental with various forms OF
| this scabbard and 1t has always found
| favor with The trooper in hard service L,
! VIII DOUBTLESS be made rule that on dis.
| mounting for any purpose the trooper a,
| once remove the carbine from the scab.
| bard. SO that when separated from his
mount he VIII still be completely equipped
| and prepared for any emergency.
4 ~ With. the passing of the carbine boot, onf
OF the most picturesque. cumbersome ant
| th-producing accoutermeHtS of the
| mounted arm of the service will have gone
+ outof existence. The boot looked very bus
| lness-like, as it was carried sung down the
| side OF the saddle or from the shoulder OF
l. the fully equipped cavalryman, but to those
| who We're obliged to it it was u con
| slant source of annoyance ard of positive
| danger In action. in that it was not only
fastened to the saddle of the horse, but Il
the rider well, and many brave fellow
owes his death to the fact that, beins
slightly wounded, he fell from his horse
and was dragged to his death because O
his inability to free himself from the
I boot. For It he same reason, if the hors,
We're shot and fell. the rider had to fal
also. and If he escaped injury he ran an ex
| cellent chance OF being run down by SOM
I OF his charging comrades, or having hi
brains kicked out by his wounded horse
| This. however. will in the future b.
| AVOIDED, and the trooper will be in n,
danger OF going down with his mount.