Officer's Sabretache 1857-1901

In review order and levee order the sabretache was worn by officers of the Warwickshire Yeomanry. The face was of blue velvet and the lace around the edge was 9 bar silver vellum. The central bar of the lace being the widest. Both the Guelphic crown and WYC were embroidered in gold. The back of the sabretache had a black leather pocket, this being specified as a new item in 1877 which begs the question of what was there before. Although the earliest date for this pattern of sabretache is 1857 it is thought that it may have been worn earlier, with the scarlet jacket. The vellum lace may date from c1870 when it was adopted for the pouchbelt. The early sabretaches may have had the oak-leaf pattern. A photo of an Officer and Charger c1864 shows the sabretache being worn but it is too indistinct to see the lace pattern. In undress a plain black leather sabretache was worn as can be seen in the photo of Colonel Frank Dugdale but it is not known when this item was first used. Standing Orders of 1861 specify what had to be worn for various occasions like Divine Service and Dismounted Guard but no mention is made of an undress sabretache.