A 1915 Steel Military Elbow or Portsmouth Bit - Bit721 american Each arm of the heel

Each arm of the heel band ends in an engraved disc with a scalloped and two rectangular slots for straps

A hand forged steel spring or butterfly bit with a russet surface

The buckles on the curb headpiece and the neck rope are not the same as the rest

Williams who had a shop on Shrewsbury High Street around 1900

There is a sharp eight pointed rowel that still turns

A 1915 Steel Military Elbow or Portsmouth Bit - Bit721 american Each arm of the heelThis is an old military Portsmouth or Elbow horse bitIt is made of steel which is dark in places but could be burnished back to a shine. This design was used by the military because it was a "universal" bit they often had reversible mouthpieces and the choice of rein slots made it suitable for many different horses. Each cheek has two slots for the curb rein. One cheek is stamped with a a large "L" possibly "Q" a broad arrow or ordnance mark and "15".