Featured in this lot is a US Cavalry Civil War, circa 1860-1865, hoof branding iron set. This set consists of ten separate irons with these numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. During the Civil War more than 7 million horses and mules were in service. It became necessary to have a system for identification for each animal to be established, so that records could be maintained. Officers would also sell their horses, so it became custom for the officer to have to bring the horse's foot back to prove that is was incapable of further service. This set of irons has a copper iron and steel handle. The irons measure 21 3/4" long.