Original pair of Civil War Shoulder Scales for Infantry and Cavalry

This is a pair of Civil War Shoulder Scales being offered. These brass scales were issued to Federal enlisted cavalry and some artillerymen (see period photograph). In addition to adornment, they were supposed to provide some protection to the men’s shoulders from strikes by a saber. The scales are attached to the pan and held with a thin iron sheet.

As the Civil War progressed, many soldiers did away with the scales, because they never really served a purpose, but were just another accoutrement they had to polish. They remain in good condition however there is some pitting and tarnishing of the scales from over 150 years of storage; they probably could be cleaned up a bit, but I like them the way they are with an untouched patina. This would make a nice addition to any Civil War collection.