16 



decarbonized steel wire. The bits are made regularly in three sizes, 

 which dififer only in length of mouthpiece, the proportions being: 



■ I 



NuinlxT. Length of mouthpiece. ' ^'°P°S^^. """""" 



Inches. Per cent. 



1 4.5 15 



2 4.75 75 

 ■ 3 5. 10 



A larger size, No. 4, with mouthpiece 5.25 inches long, is occasion- 

 ally made to fill special requisitions. 



The curb chain, model of 1904, is a special steel chain with links 

 and hooks finished in dull nickel. 



The curb-chain hooks, model of 1904, are made right and left, of 

 spring-steel wire, 0.165-inch diameter, tempered, and have dull 

 nickel finish. The left hook is formed with the eye and hook in the 

 same plane, while the right hook has the eye twisted at a right angle 

 to the hook. The hooks are closed so as to offer a resistance of 10 

 to 16 pounds to disengaging from a ring of 0.134-inch diameter wire. 



All leather parts of the bridle are made from russet bridle leather 

 weighing 9J to 10^ ounces per square foot. 



The reins are made of two pieces of russet bridle leather sewed 

 together in the middle. One rein billet, with one |-inch bronze 

 center-bar buckle, is securely sewed to each end of rein. 



The cheek pieces are made of russet bridle leather. For officers' 

 bridles they are alike, but for enlisted men they are right and left. 

 They differ in that the right cheek piece has a f-inch bronze center- 

 bar buckle, while the left cheek piece has a f-inch bronze " Saalbach" 

 buckle securely sewed to upper end. This buckle has a loop at the 

 lower end which takes the snap of the link when the link is carried 

 on the bridle. Both cheek pieces have billets with |-inch bronze 

 center-bar buckles securely sewed to lower end. To admit fine 

 adjustments, the holes in the crownpiece for the cheek-piece buckles 

 are spaced | inch apart, while those in billets are | inch. 



The crownpiece is made of russet bridle leather with ends split for 

 a distance of 8 inches and a J-inch strip taken out of the center, form- 

 ing a cheek and throat strap billet on each end. 



The brow band is made of russet bridle leather. A loop is formed 

 on each end by doubling over and s-titching the ends of the piece. 



The throatlatch is made of russet bridle leather, and has a f-inch 

 bronze center-bar buckle securely sewed on each end. 



The brow-band ornaments are made from sheet copper 0.035 inch 

 thick for enlisted men and 0.109 inch thick for officers; both are 

 bronzed and bear the coat of arms of the United States in relief. 

 Loops of 0.109 inch soft brass wire, to receive the brow band, are 

 soldered to the rear sides. 



