Original Item: Only One Available. By 1881 the British hussar tunic was approaching its final form. Inspired by the German and Austrian Attila, the garment introduced in 1856 was long skirted and bore six loops of frogging across the front (Light dragoons had the same tunic but with five loops). In 1874 the skirts were shortened to nine inches, in line with all other cavalry regiments. Each of the thirteen hussar regiments that existed at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s wore essentially the same uniforms except for minor, but important details.

The 1883 regulations state that the tunic was of blue cloth, edged all round including the bottom of the collar with gold chain gimp. Across the breast were six loops of the same gold lace with caps and drops on each side and fastening with gold worked olivets. On the back seams a double line of lace forming a crow’s foot at each shoulder and an Austrian knot at the bottom of the skirt. The lace was traced all round with a thin line of lace. A netted cap upon the lace on each side of the waist. The shoulder-straps were of plaited gold chain gimp lined with blue and bore the rank badges in silver.

This is a wonderful example of Hussars Regiment Enlisted Man's Dress Tunic which is dated 1903 on the original paper label stuck to the inside of the coat. It is offered in very good condition. The interior lining has a War Department stamp with Broad Arrow as well as a West End Theatrical custom shop stamp from Leicester Square, London. it was very common for London costume shops to take real uniforms and use them in productions.

Approximate measurements:
Collar to shoulder: "7
Shoulder to sleeve: "24
Shoulder to shoulder: "15
Chest width: "16.5
Waist width: "16
Hip width: "18
Front length: "26.5