WWI US infantry bandolier

[surpman1911]

My other belt is also pea green. Any idea what it and my other WWI belt would retail for?

[browningautorifle]

The dye wouldn't quite cover the black ink mark. I believe they started in tan. Nice eagle snap Mills belt though. Very nice. Hayes Otoupalik This site has lots of examples for you to get an idea of current price.

[surpman1911]

I looked on there yesterday and didn't find anything like the belt that I have. All the infantry belts on there had 8 or 9 pockets and this has 10.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, they're not like yours, it just gives you an idea. http://www.aef-doughboys.com/cartridgebelts1.html Seek and ye shall find. http://www.stewartsmilitaryantiques....7.archive.html Here's another. Maybe here... http://www.militaryantiquesmuseum.co...neous+US+Items

Or this... M1910 Infantry Cartridge Belt Rimless Eagle Buttons 1913 Mills | eBay

[surpman1911]

under further inspection, with a very large magnifying glass to see all the small traces of ink, i realized that this is actually issued to the 40th infantry division. i looked them up and they were a california based national guard division. i found a very interesting history on them if anybody is interested. http://www.militarymuseum.org/division.html
Does anybody know what the 100 represents?

[RT Ellis]

Olive green was adopted as the standard color for infantry equipment in 1907. There was a delay in obtaining suitable dyes, and the olive green was introduced in 1908or 1909. Rock Island Arsenal concurrently manufactured field equipment in both OG and OD, the olive drab equipment apparently intended for the reserves and etc. Mills Equipment Company manufactured most of their products in olive green as was the subject cartridge belt. The information I have is that the dyes were obtained from Germany and after the declaration of War suitable dyes were no longer available. The Army then reverted to olive drab as the standard color for woven, web, and duck materials.

My opinion is that the cartridge belt (dismounted) M1910 subject of this thread, was manufactured of olive green material and was not dyed.

As to the identification of the belt to the 40th Division I don't see any markings that indicate the belt was used by any of the regiments or battalions organic to the 40th Division. If you are referring to a "40" over the crossed cannons it would represent the 40th Field Artillery Regiment, organized in August 1918, a component of the 14th Division.

The Army regulation marking for all field equipment except canteens and canteen covers consisted of regimental or battalion number, branch of service insignia, company letter, and "soldier's number" (which collectors usually refer to as the "rack number") Although this format was published in regulations it was not always followed and sometimes the company letter was applied above and the regimental or battalion number below. A wide variety of non-standard markings were applied by units that didn't fit the format. So a familiarity with he regiments and battalions organized at various times is valuable to "reading" the unit markings. Companies, cavalry troops, and artillery batteries generally were authorized 100 soldiers so the soldier's number will usually be in the range of 1 to 100, however greater numbers have been observed. As equipment was transferred from unit to unit, or as in some cases the unit was re-designated and reorganized, the stenciled markings became unsightly. As a consequence the Army adopted the equipment marking disks in 1919. Later the emphasis shifted to individual accountability and the marking became the first initial of the soldier's last name and the last four digits of his serial number i.e. A-1234. Occasionally field equipment marked with more than one of the methods may be examined which adds to the interest in the item.

Navy equipment was usually numbered for identification and sometimes marked with the identification of the ship.

[pickax]

I thought all WW1 canvas was khaki as well. You have a valid point about stencils and stitching though.
This forum may help. U.S. Militaria Forum

[Johnny Peppers]

Here is a 1914 dated Mills magazine pocket in the pea green color. Not sure where this fit into the military structure of the day. The pea green color was found on a variety of canvas equipment during that time period.

Also show in a Frankford Arsenal bandolier for the Model 1903 Springfield, dated May 27, 1908.

[Johnny Peppers]

The top cartridge belt is from unknown maker, and slightly different construction than the two Mills belts under it. All are 9 pocket dismounted.

[surpman1911]

As to the identification of the belt to the 40th Division I don't see any markings that indicate the belt was used by any of the regiments or battalions organic to the 40th Division. If you are referring to a "40" over the crossed cannons it would represent the 40th Field Artillery Regiment, organized in August 1918, a component of the 14th Division.

Ya that makes much more sense. It didn't much look like rifles to me but I just thought it was because it was faded. Thanks for all the information on the belts it was very helpful.