US pistol Belt Type and Age

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Originally Posted by USGI

Ever heard of die-cast zinc?

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I have but I have never worn or seen a military duty belt made from it. brass/bronze, steel, and plastic is all that I have ever seen.

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Originally Posted by USGI

Ever heard of die-cast zinc?

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=Mazak metal

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Originally Posted by usabaker

I have but I have never worn or seen a military duty belt made from it. brass/bronze, steel, and plastic is all that I have ever seen.

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Attachment 109222

Most of the ones pictured in this thread, including that one are die-cast zinc, which is often called pot-metal. - Bob

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Originally Posted by USGI

Most of the ones pictured in this thread, including that one are die-cast zinc

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Hmmm... I'm old so my brain is less than optimal but I don't recall it being die-cast, I going to have to dig through my old military boxes maybe I held on to one.

I would call the metal on my belt pot-metal. That was the impression it gave me. It's not steel. Seems in good shape other than the paint chipping off.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I would call the metal on my belt pot-metal. That was the impression it gave me.

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Because of the conversation, I took a closer look at the female and male latch on yours and although it looks nearly the same, it is not like the one I had. Your is much more square on the female connector. I found a picture on eBAY of the type I was issued in the 70's, I put arrows where these stupid things would break. It not pot metal, one of the breakpoints was at the welded joint. Pot metal is not welded.

Attachment 109223

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I would call the metal on my belt pot-metal. That was the impression it gave me.

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Because of the conversation, I took a closer look at the female and male latch on yours and although it looks nearly the same, it is not like the one I had. Your is much more square on the female connector. I found a picture of the one I had in the 70's, I put arrows where these stupid things would break. It not pot metal, one of the breakpoints was at the welded joint. Pot metal is not welded and it is not painted

Attachment 109223

That one does look different - wonder if it's an M1956? The keepers are different than mine, too. Does the eBay description give any details? Thanks! - Bob

It may seem obvious but the way to see if a metal is steel/iron is to test with a magnet.

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Originally Posted by USGI

That one does look different - wonder if it's an M1956? The keepers are different than mine, too. Does the eBay description give any details?

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Yes, he was listing it as an M1956, from digging around it looks like they were made in three flavors Brass, Steel, and Pot Metal all thee had the reinforced area on the female connector. Who knew...