Template:Russian Cuirassiers Uniform Plates

Uniform

Acknowledgements for this section: Daniel Milekhin

Russian cuirassiers had three distinct uniforms:

• a parade uniform
• a service uniform
• a uniform while not on active duty

Our plate depict the service uniform.

The parade uniform was very similar but a leather jerkin (kollet) was worn instead of the coat and waistcoat. While not on active service, the heavy chamois coat made of thick leather was simply replaced by a more comfortable blue coat lined and edged in red with a red collar, red lapels and red cuffs.

Troopers

Service uniform in 1757 - Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne (reinforced with an iron skullcap for combat) laced gold, with a white cockade on the left side fastened with a white strap and a small copper button
Neckstock	black
Coat	chamois lined and edged in red; fastened with hooks and eyes Collar chamois laced red Shoulder straps none Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs chamois laced red Turnbacks chamois laced red
Gloves	buff
Waistcoat	sleeved red waistcoat fastened with hooks and eyes
Breeches	buff with white knee covers
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black with a copper plate carrying the regimental arms Scabbard black leather Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth black leather Housings black leather Blanket roll cornflower blue cape lined red with a red collar

In Russian regulatory documents, regulated description of the shape of the mustache dates back to 1755.

“Every cuirassier and dragoon should grow a mustache. When a private is in the ranks and on guard duty, a mustache should always be combed up, the mustache should be blackened… If you are still young and do not have a natural mustache, then you should get fake ones.”

Until the early 1760s, according to modern iconography and statutory documents, cuirassiers in the Russian army wore mustaches with long ends and without sideburns, according to the Prussian fashion that had existed since the 1730s.

Troopers were armed with a short carbine, two pistols and a sabre. Cuirassiers also wore a blackened iron breastplate decorated with a brass imperial cipher and bordered red. This breastplate was worn over the coat and waistcoat.

The horses of the troopers were mostly black or dark brown.

NCOs

Corporals, armourers, quartermasters and sergeants wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold stripes above the red lace on collar, lapels and cuffs (1 stripe for corporals, 2 stripes for armourers and quartermasters, 3 stripes for sergeants)

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers but made of fabric instead of leather and with the following distinctions:

• golden laced tricorne bordered with golden plumes
• gold stripes on the red lace of the coat edges, collar, lapels and cuffs (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red waistcoat edged with a chamois braid carrying a gold stripe (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red breeches
• black and gold silken sash worn over the breastplate
• red saddlecloth and housings laced gold (thin 1/2” stripe for subaltern officers, one thin 1/2” stripe and one wide 1” stripe for superior officers) carrying the imperial cipher

Sometimes, for sulbaltern officers, the holster caps were edged with blue lace.

Musicians

Nowadays, Viskovatov's work is not considered as very reliable for the period of the Seven Years' War. Consequently we tried to identify other sources.

Cuirassier trumpeters had two uniforms - parade and service. Both were red. The ceremonial uniform was trimmed with gold braid with coloured stripes, and the service uniform was trimmed with woollen braid. The trim was along the edges of the uniform, on the shoulders and on the back.

It is difficult to say exactly what the arrangements of braids on the trumpeter's uniform looked like. Approximately, the arrangement of braids on the uniform of trumpeters of the cuirassier regiments was the same as in the accompanying picture. However, the look of the braids and their arrangement in the cuirassier regiments depended on the tastes of each colonel.

The braid came in two sizes - wide and narrow. The trumpeters also had a hat with gold braiding and gilded buttons on their uniform.

Letin and Leonov cites a description of the uniforms of the trumpeters and kettle-drummers of the Leib Cuirassiers, which mentions: red coat, waistcoat and breeches. The coat and waistcoat were richly laced with braids (gold, silver and silk for the parade uniform, or coloured braid for the service uniform). The colour of the braid was chosen by the colonel of the regiment.

The ceremonial uniform was worn until completely worn out, and it was tailored at the expense of the treasury. The trumpeters ordered their service uniform at their own expense.

The horse saddle-cloths of the trumpeters were made of black leather, like that of the rest of the cuirassiers of the regiment. An attempt was made to standardize red saddle-cloths, but nothing came of it.