CIVIL WAR, M1859 CAVALRY CURB BIT, No.2, NON-EXCAVATED, VINTAGE The M1859 Cavalry Curb Bit was adopted by a board of officers convened in January 1859, that included Col. Philip St. George Cooke, Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Col. Joseph E. Johnston. The Board had been called to review several experimental pieces of horse equipment currently in service and select those patterns that would become the standard issue. It was this same board that selected the McClellan saddle. This simultaneous adoption of the M1859 Cavalry Curb Bit and the Pattern 1859 McClellan Saddle may serve to confirm the origin of this bit. The side bosses and the ?cricket? or ?roller?, the ribbed cylinder in the mouthpiece port is made of brass and are intact. Take note of the side bosses, they each have a period after the letter ?U? Earlier models did not have any periods. The ?cricket? or ?roller? acted as a pacifier, providing the horse with a distraction to occupy itself, as well as stimulating the horse to salivate and keep the bit lubricated. Unmarked, unknown maker. The hole that you can see centered on the mouthpiece port supported the ring which would have been riveted to this mouthpiece. In this case the ring was removed. These rings had the effect of causing the horse to become frenzied under a rough hand and were inhumane to use. A steel chain with two open hooks is attached to the two rings. The two chains are then connected to a steel horseshoe. A 27? chain is connected to the top of the horseshoe. Solid, non-excavated, minor surface rust/patina, both "U.S" brass bosses present and intact. All original components such as the slobber bar and rein rings are intact. Height of Arch: 2? Opening of Arch: 1.1? Distance of eye from axis mouthpiece: 2.25? This will shipped via United Parcel Service (UPS) with tracking and full insurance. Reference: Bridle Bits of the American Military, 1776-1945, Kenneth L. McPheeters R. Stephen Dorsey, pages 30-35 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, or ACI Express Shipping. No buying agents such as Intercommerce America. No international buyers, no freight forwarding companies, no gift addresses, no non U.S. citizen buyers, and no non U.S. based forms of payment. 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. We do ship to APO and FPO addresses.