These service stripes display a ½” wide buff wool cloth sewn onto a ¾ inch wide black wool cloth. Please review the attached images for the length. This is a matched set. Unissued, NOS condition.  Over 120 years old, no mothing or damage to the wool. 

The U.S. Army established the tradition of Service Stripes in 1855. The Army authorized length of service stripes (commonly called "hash marks" today) to be worn on the sleeves of the Dress Coats (Frockcoats or Shelljacket). 

Soldiers continued to wear 10-inch long service chevrons after1902, the changes being the elimination of gilt lace and the adoption of new color schemes. Due to stocks on hand the army issued soldiers gold lace chevrons until 1906, when they began to receive the 1902 style cloth service stripes.

Under the 1902 regulation a soldier wire a ½” wide wool stripe colored for the branch in which he has served while a ¾” wide branch-colored stripe with a ½” white center showed wartime service.

Reference: “U.S. Army Soldiers And Their Chevrons. An illustrate Catalog  and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. William K. Emerson, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army”

International Buyers Please Note: We do not ship outside of the United States! No Exceptions. In addition, we will not ship to third party shippers or any other international shipping hubs such as International Shipping (EIS), EIS 110 INTERNATIONALE BLVD, GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL 60139-2080. If you place a bid, or make a purchase, we will cancel your bid, and or cancel your purchase! If you wish to make a purchase, you will have to find someone located within the United States to make the purchase for you. They would be responsible to send the package to you.