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General George Custer Family Military Pins

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
General George Custer Family Military Pins
SOLD
2,600.00USD+ (598.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2016 May 14 @ 14:57UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Lot of eight: These items have impeccable provenance from the Custer family to gun collector Dick Reyes. In the photograph, these start at the top and go in a counter clockwise direction.

1) George Custer’s Grand Army of the Republic pin. The Grand Army of the Republic (usually abbreviated GAR) was founded in 1866 to include all members of the US Army, Navy, Marines and Revenue Cutter Service who had served in the Civil War. Two years later, in 1868, the GAR’s first Commander-in-Chief, General John A. Logan, declared May 30 as “Memorial Day” which was later adopted by Congress. Although missing its US flag suspension ribbon, this medal clearly reflects Custer’s lengthy participation in the Civil War.

The following pieces are from the Custer family, and are likely from various family members serving the US Military over time, including Charles A. Custer. They came to Reyes from the Custer family.

2) Original brass hat pin for Company A, 8th Infantry. Created in 1838, Co. A was the first unit of the 8th Infantry to be formed. It served through the Mexican War, Civil War, Indians Wars, and then grew to fame as the “Fighting Eagles” in WWII, with four Presidential Unit Citations for A Company alone. However, the style of this insignia, with the center screw attachment on the back, is of the Spanish-American War era or later (post-Indian Wars).

3) US Army 38th Artillery hat pin. The 38th Field Artillery Regiment was formed at Camp Lewis, Washington, in August 1918 and disbanded in February 1919, until later reorganized in 1933. This style of hat pin, with the central screw fastener on the back, is typical of the type used in World War I.

4) Original brass hat pin for Company M, 6th Infantry. The Sixth Infantry was assigned to Fort Abraham Lincoln with Custer’s 7th Cavalry in 1876, and Company M was one of the few infantry units to fight with the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, although most were with Major Reno. The 6th Infantry was awarded a campaign streamer for its participation at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. However, the style of this insignia, with the center screw attachment on the back, is likely of the Spanish-American War era or later.

5) Collar disc of Troop D, Seventh Cavalry. Organized in 1866, Company D was reorganized as Troop D in 1883, then attached to the 15th Cavalry in 1917-1918. Troop D was officially renamed the Headquarters Troop of the 1st Cavalry in 1921. This style collar disc is very rare, and likely dates from the troop’s last years of 1918-1921, during the draw down period following World War I.

6) USS pin. This is a nickel hat pin for the United States Scouts, which was originally formed for Indians to serve as scouts for the US Army. However, the USS had no insignia until a simple crossed-arrow pin was adopted in 1890, and this style of pin with the USS above the arrows was not adopted until 1902, and was withdrawn from service in 1907. Ironically, this USS over crossed arrows pin is worn today by select US Special Forces. This example, because it has a lead-filled back, rather than just stamped metal, may be one of the original model 1902 pins.

7) Brass eagle pin. This large 3.75-inch eagle, missing the pin on the back, is unmarked. Definitely not military, this pin was likely produced in the 20th century.

8) Large late Civil War or early Indian Wars period enlisted man’s crossed sabers hat insignia. This is hollow stamped brass, and is not lead-filled as with earlier Civil War period insignia from the same die. All four affixing wires on the back have been removed. Two small remnants of an early-day glue are present on the back, likely indicating the later mounting of this piece on a display board. City: State: Date: ID# 38040