Rare Antique US RIA 1903 German Silver? Stirrups *For A Military Cavalry Saddle

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Rare Antique US RIA 1903 German Silver? Stirrups *For A Military Cavalry Saddle:
$199.99

These are a pair of US Military stirrupsand both aremarked \"R.I.A. U-S 1903\" on the bottoms of their footrest, as shown in pictures #s 3,4 & 5. Please use the zoom feature to better see the markings.

(There are 12 pictures in all and the zoom feature is available. Also by clicking on the main picture you will enlarge it and then larger images of all of the other pictures can be seen as well).

The stirrups are quite tarnished almost making them look brassy, but underneath the tarnish their true color is that of silver and this can best be seen in picture #3 thru #5. I did lightly polish the bottoms of the stirrups some and the silver color really shows up there. A magnet will not stick to either stirrup.

These stirrups are very similar to whatis knownas theMilitary\'s \"1904 German Silver Stirrup\" (pg. 309 of Dorsey and McPheeters Military Saddle book) and perhaps these stirrupshereare made of German Silver--butI cannot find any reference to a US Military stirrup that was made of German Silver and marked with the year of 1903. The earliest year markingthat has been foundfor the Military\'s German Silver Stirrup is 1904, as stated in Dorsey\'s and McPheeters book. Also German Silver Stirrups have been found marked with the years of 1905, 1909 and 1911. But nothing that I can find refers to a pair marked 1903.

But then ......both of these stirrups have the unique marking of a dash between the letters of U and S. Normally there would be a dot there between the two letters. I have found reference on page 310 of Dorsey\'s and McPheeters Military Saddle book that the dash between the two letters has been found to be a earlier style of marking that was employed for the initial productions and issues of the Military\'s 1904 German Silver stirrups.

A picture of a 1904 German Silver stirrup is shown in Dorsey and McPheeters book and it also was made by R.I.A. \"Rock Island Arsenal\" (but it is marked with the year of 1905) --- so then there is the possibility thatthese stirrups offered here are early R.I.A. issues of what thenbecame to be known as the 1904s.If so then I do believe these stirrups to be quite rare as they are both marked 1903 and as I have mentioned earlier -- I have not been able to find reference to any others that are marked with the year of 1903.

The structures of both of the stirrups are solid. Neither stirrup has had any repairs and neither stirrup has any cracks.Although both dohave numerous little ding marks and scratches and both are tarnished.The black colored footpads on both show a lot of wear and this can best be seen in the very last picture (picture #12).

These unique U.S. Rock Island Arsenal Military stirrups are being sold \"no returns\" and I will be happy to answer any questions.

buyers from the lower 48 states only please and payment would be appreciated with-in 3 days after the sale ends. Thank-you.