Early Rifle Cartridge Belts
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Second pattern M1903 rifle cartridge belts
The belt on the left was manufactured by Mills and features Mills' patent dates stamped on the brass hardware where the belt adjusts. The olive colored belt on the right was manufactured by Russell and bears no markings. Note the difference of the puckering on both belts' pockets. These 9 pocket cartridge belts were used by soldiers before the 1910 Cartridge belts were fielded. Many National Guard units and some regular army units used the M1903 cartridge belts during the Punitive Expedition, 1916-1917. Some National Guard units even shipped overseas with this older model belt. Note the rimless eagle snap buttons which were used on field gear up to 1914. Around 1914, rimmed eagle snaps were used on field gear. In 1917 the lift the dot snap became standard on accouterments, but rimmed eagle snaps are often seen on the enlisted and officers' medical belts manufactured by Mills in 1918.
Modified M1909 Cavalry rifle cartridge belt
With the exception of the saber ring on this belt, it is identical to the cartridge belt worn by Infantrymen. This belt is a modified M1909 Cavalry cartridge belt. The M1909 belt in it's original, unmodified configuration is a rare belt as many were modified such as this one. The original M1909 belt had four revolver ammunition pockets, two on each end of the belt, one ontop of the other. With the introduction of the M1911 Automatic .45 Pistol, many M1909 belts were modified after 1912 by the removal of the revolver clip pockets. The empty space could now hold an M1912 pistol magazine pocket.
M1910 dismounted rifle cartridge belt
This belt has rimless eagle snaps and was manufactured by the Mills company in 1913. The 10 pocket cartridge belt in both rimless and rimmed eagle snaps was worn by the first doughboys of the AEF who arrived in France, 1917. Each pocket could hold two 5 round stripper clips of .30-06 ammo for the M-1903 Springfield Rifle, the M-1917 Enfield, or the British Short Magazine Lee Enfield No. 1 Mark III. Belts made before 1917 had a retaining strap in each pocket to hold one of the two 5 round stripper clips. Belts manufactured from 1917-1918 eliminated the straps to cut costs and simplify production. The mounted version of the M1910 belt was similar to the M1909 Cavalry belt in that it had four revolver ammunition clip pockets.
New York Militia rifle cartridge belt
This unusual 8 pocket belt was provided to soldiers of New York's state militia who did not see duty on the Mexican Border or overseas. They were reserved for guard duty in the U.S. The belt is undated and does not bear a manufacturer's mark. The exact date of manufacturer is not known, but it's hardware suggests that it was made after 1912.Each pocket closes using a snap that bears the New York state seal. The construction of the belt is nothing but a pistol belt with two sets of four pockets secured to the belt by the grommets. Only accouterments can be attached to the bottom of the belt. The upper grommets serve no purpose other than securing the pockets to the belt. The position of the upper grommets in relation to pockets do not permit an M1910 haversack or suspenders to be worn. The brass ring on the rear of the belt is a curious addition and it's purpose is not known. This is the only belt I have seen that has that ring. Most New York belts encountered do not have the addition of the ring.
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