Having grown up in a family that worked in the movies westerns and who's farther had been in the 1st Cavalry division 7th cavalry during the war. One gets to know the Army of the west inside and out. Also as a kid one of the ways I made money was to clean Army saddles and equipment for movies. Most of it ranged from the 1870 to World War 11. My farther worked on every John Ford Western there was. So now to the Army. After the Civil War Congress cut the army just like there doing today. I do not know if any of you have been to the great planes or deserts of the southwest but they are vast and the Army soon learned that extra weight did not work on campaign. Sabers where issued, but where soon left behind when on campaign. Yes some office did take them along but not that many. Sabers would remain in the Cavalry all the way up to the start of World War II. I still like this set of flats and they can be used from 1866-1890 Willie