Thanks.  For about 15 years I was quite serious about researching US Cavalry sabers.  Career, late-life law degree, and family have kept me away from it for several years, so finding stuff in my archives isn't as intuitive as it used to be.  All the info is still there, though.  Speaking of which, I found another that was mis-catalogued under an older file naming system:   #76  Last two digits of date obscured.  Dragoons-marked blade.  Number on scabbard drag.  Named to a J. Baker (?).  Ebay 2020:            

... more correctly, a Model 1889. Basically that's 95% a Model 1883 in wich the punched 'snowflake' vents had replaced the 1883's brass wire screens.  For what it counts, technically this hat would place the soldier not prior to year 1890, even better the early 1890s.   ps. As for the riding gloves, I permit myself to date them to 1896, even better somehow later, if they are buckskin (at least, so it looks to me). Mainly, the decorative stitching of the true Pattern 1884, 1886 and 1889 was quite different from the later ones. Lastly, all the first three pattern were made of different material    -     1884 and 1886 were goatskin, 1889 was calfskin.   Just for a comparison should it turn out useful, I'm posting my 1889 campaign hat and the 1884 / 1886 Cavalry gloves. Hues can change in the gloves, but the main features will stay the same up to the 1889 gauntlets Pattern.   Here the hat       here the 1884 gloves    

As a 26th infantry division collector. That's a really nice lid. E company was always in the thick of it and most of the times took the most casualties. I own some stuff from guys in the same company. Nice to see something like this come up!

Hello,   I was a Military Policeman (U.S. Army) from 1982-1987.  This is the nightstick I carried.   Take care,   Steve Bryson

Yep. Model 15. Carried it my entire enlistment.   

It seems that people are printing books in the public domain, or perhaps making copies of those that aren't, using a digital on-demand printer. I ordered a novel and had the same experience - 8.5 x 11 inch paper, poor reproduction, poorly photoshopped cover, etc. After that I try to look more carefully at what I'm ordering.

Nice picture…”MP” and AIR POLICE “AP”…joint service patrol……also MP carrying .45 automatic and AP armed with.38 revolver 

I was issued one in the 1970’s. All the branches used them. 

Yes.  Bullions can be VERY difficult to evaluate.    

I know that not all items donated to a museum can come out for public display. A lot of museums including the Smithsonian have some items come out only occasionally. My point with this item is that it is one of the most beautiful medals in existence and it looks like it stays locked up in a safe. Probably safe to say when Schleys wife loaned it then later donated it to the Smithsonian, she probably hoped it would be shared with the public and it just seems like such a historic and beautiful item should be at least occasionally, frayed ribbon and all.