A truly rare find: Original Wild West Show or Cavalry Officers brain-tanned Elk Hide trousers.
This is an original, antique pair of, smoke-colored, Indian brain-tanned elk hide CAVALRY OFFICERS BUCKSKIN FIELD TROUSERS. They are machine-sewn for the most part with beautiful fine stitches. NOT A SINGLE MACHINE SEWN STICH MISSING. The brain-tanned elk trousers are as soft and as flexible as the day they were made. In fact, they appear to have been worn only rarely. The buttonholes are hand cut with hand stitching to reinforce them. I found these great trousers, just as you see them. The original period metal buttons were still attached as they are. (see button pictures). The metal buttons are 5/8 inch across. The trousers show the buttons being sewn on with matching thread, so these buttons are likely the buttons that were originally used on this garment. These officers' frontier trousers were made sometime shortly after 1894 as witnessed by the waistband closer hook which shows that the patent date is 1894 (See photo) and likely made by a uniform company in the east. The waistband is outfitted with a buckle and belt to adjust waist size. The buckle is marked (High $ B Art) and the tine bar is marked AMERICA, The stitching is in remarkable shape for the age and I found no loose stitches.
Waist measures 40”.
These trousers are worthy of any Wild West show collection, Cavalry collection or as a compliment to an antique gun collection. Note that these have 2 side seam pockets 1 watch pocket and 2 hip pockets. Of course, I should not leave out the magnificent welting in the side seam, and the beautiful fringe running down each leg.
