Sabretache, undress, Royal East Kent Yeomanry, 1840 (c)

The tight-fitting uniforms of the cavalry did not allow for pockets. Documents and other small items were carried in the sabretache. The German for pocket or pouch was 'tasche', thus the 'sabretache' was the pocket attached to the sword or the sabre. They were suspended from the sword belt, normally on three narrow slings.

Sabretaches were made in two main types - full dress and undress. Undress types like this one were made of leather with a metal badge affixed. Full dress examples were more expensive to produce and involved intricate designs being sewn with metal thread on a cloth back ground, mounted onto a morocco leather backing.

From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.