Smith Patent Straps
Upper one is considered suspect of being a fake. Lower more is typical of Smith straps, including
attributed ones in museum collections. The unusual feature of the upper strap is the manufacture
of the attachment to the underlay base material. It uses pointed projections
stamped as part of the border. This is a logical improvement but I have not noticed it on period
pieces before. Most Smith Patent straps have wires soldered to the underneath of the metal borders.
An X-ray image of a Smith Patent strap shows the placement of solder and wires.
Back to Howard Lanham's site on Civil War Uniforms