The bullet-stitched two piece CS sword belt shown here is believed to have been manufactured in Richmond, Virginia and is only associated with the Army of Northern Virginia.  Both the buckle pattern and the belt pattern point to Richmond manufacture, more specifically, the Richmond Arsenal.

     This example is still on its original sword belt, as opposed to a waist belt, so it was no doubt a cavalry issued belt.  The belt has been through war and back and shows it.  Both the buckle and the belt have extreme wear.  A fascinating thing about this belt is that it was made up of two Confederate belts in a field repair.  One can see in the pictures that the textures of the two belts is slightly different.  The tongue side of the belt was broken at the sword hanger stitch line, because numerous perforations made for the stitching always leave a weak place in the belt.

     This seems to be a field repair made from two different belts of the same type.  Six inches of another identical belt with the wreath still sewn in place, was sewn to the tongue end, thus restoring it to a useful waist belt.  At first it looks like a repair, but close examination reveals that these are actually two different period belts! The overall work of this restoration is so crudely done that it had to have been done in the field as opposed to an arsenal reconstruction.  Part of the repair stitching has separated over the years, but half of it is still strong and tight with no chance of it separating further. The belt remains strong and supple throughout. 

     The two piece buckle was cast in a sand mold using brass that had a low zinc content which gives it a slight reddish tint.  This is more commonly known as “Red Brass” and is often seen in brass castings made in Richmond.  This particular pattern with exaggerated serifs on both the C and the S is one of the rarer and more attractive of the Confederate two piece buckles.  This cast buckle shows more wear than any I have encountered before.

     It is crude, worn and battered by extreme use and reuse; giving it a crude beauty all its own.