Civil War, U.S. Army, M1851, Noncommissioned and similar items

CIVIL WAR, U.S. ARMY, M1851, NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER, NCO, SHOULDER SCALE Non-Dug Civil War Shoulder Scale, Epaulette, three rows of six rivets. Introduced in 1851. Union Civil War soldiers went to the front decorated with brass scales on their shoulders as part of their uniforms. The metal shoulder scales were first issued to Federal enlisted cavalry. They were intended to ward off the blows of sabers by cavalrymen. It is doubtful they ever served such a purpose, and they were frequently discarded by soldiers as an impediment. Made of brass, the scales are attached to a pan, held together with a thin iron sheet, a brass strip soldered to the pan, and attached to the bottom with a thumb turn, would fit under a brass clip sewed onto the jacket. The thumb turns are missing. Most are usually found broken. In 1854/55 they became regulation for all branches of service and were supplied in three configurations: for privates, for sergeants, and for members of the non-commissioned staff: the regimental sergeant-major, etc. Brass scales, officially called "metallic scales", but often seen in Quartermaster correspondence as "shoulder scales " (brass)" (nicknamed 'frying pans') were issued to other enlisted men in addition to cavalry starting in 1854. Up to that time the scales were only issued to mounted troops. From 1851 to 1855 the shoulder scales were issued in to styles, one for non-commissioned officers staff personnel and one for dragoons and light artillery. In 1854-1872 they came in three styles, one for staff non-commissioned officers, one for sergeants and one for privates. This is a pair of private?s scales, with the brass half-crescents (sergeants had top and bottom sections) and separate, but plain, scales along the shoulder strap portion (non-commissioned staff had the full crescent and visible rivets along the top.) The side views will show the main difference between the sergeants scales and the corporal privates scales. The sergeants have a rounded underside, the privates have an sharper angle. This has a pleasing, uncleaned patina, and would display well in any Civil War collection. This will be shipped via United Parcel Service (UPS). International Buyers Please Note: We do not ship outside of the United States! No Exceptions. In addition, we will not ship to third party shippers or any other international shipping hubs such as International Shipping (EIS), EIS 110 INTERNATIONALE BLVD, GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL 60139-2080. If you place a bid, or make a purchase, we will cancel your bid, and or cancel your purchase! If you wish to make a purchase, you will have to find someone located within the United States to make the purchase for you. They would be responsible to send the package to you.