US pistol Belt Type and Age

Picked up a US pistol belt today and have not had much luck identifying what type it is. I assumed it is Vietnam era as it came with a Nylon Alice suspender set. The belt is cotton with brass rivets and end hook. Only has one end hook. Connection is metal, steel or pot metal and of the type you twist, insert and untwist. Two metal rings to keep connection end tight. Stamped US on one side, small stamp I cannot read on inside. Has the magazine snap. Is there a site that outlines the history progression of these? When did the ends change from brass to the "grey" metal?

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...76&oe=5F0104D2

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e2&oe=5F011748

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ab&oe=5F0471DA

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4f&oe=5F03156D

I think it's WW2 but can't really prove it. There were about a dozen minor differences and the buckles changed from brass to steel or whatever that is to allow brass to be used for war effort. They literally changed the model number about every year during WW2... Somebody else should come along shortly...

I'm hoping someone can recognize the stamp on the inside. I know it's faint but the shape may be significant. It's one of those things that looks like it should just pop at any time if you turn it a certain way but I just can't make it out. it's in good shape probably size medium because it just fits me at the final hook stop and I'm a 37 inch waist.

If you set your camera to Macro you can get that snap inside, or hold your phone over the snap and zoom with a touch... I can't make any of it out.

I think I have one like it and was able to make out the marking. I'll take a look in the morning - believe I have some pictures of it. - Bob

I didn't have a picture, so just took this one. It's not identical to yours. I've had these, off and on since the 50's but never paid much attention to them until recently. I call this one a "M1936 Pistol Belt." The snap is marked "UNITED CARR" and the maker was NASCO. This one has diecast buckles. I've had the brass buckles before and used to think they were WWI. I know they were still being issued during WWII, but not sure when they stopped making them.

I ordered a UV torch yesterday in the hope that it will help read feint markings on webbing. I'll let you know if it does.

Mine isn't Nasco. It looks like it starts with a large O or C with smaller letters following.

I believe Bob is right, nasco. Here is a picture of the O stamping that looks a lot like yours on a M1936 pistol belt that is stamped NascO. At least the o looks very similar.I believe you're reading your stamping upside down and instead of beginning with an o, it ends with an o

Could be that one backwards like you say. I'll take another look in different light. I can't make out a large N however but the O looks good. Maybe knowing what to look for will help however. Numbers instead of letters for the one line.

Here is another nasco stamping that is not very clear, kind of like yours ,and the owner claims it says 1944

The U.V. torch arrived, a few days ago, and so far the results have proved disappointing for reading feint markings. It could be the type of U.V. torch that I purchased or the way in which I am using it or simply that U.V. torches are no help for reading feint markings.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

reading feint markings

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I've always found looking at an angle, different types of light from very bright artificial to natural... Sometimes not as close and you might want to be too helps.

Knowing what to look for, this is clearly a NascO marked belt. Looked at it in different light and at different angles and it is dated 1944. Looking straight down in bright light you can't see much more than the O but knowing it's an N you can also see that. Look at it at an angle from the end all letters and numbers become apparent.

Thanks for all your help.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I assumed it is Vietnam era as it came with a Nylon Alice suspender set

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Yup, I was using that style in the 70's / 80's when I was SEABEE the ends are the giveaway. Early one had different ends on them. [UPDATE] Although now that I think about it, there was a mixed batch early on. I remember the duty belts we used on guard duty some times had the older belts. Like this one that was my Dads for long before I joined. He was in Korea and Vietnam so not sure when he got it.

The one I was issued was like the one you have and they were junk, broke often. mid 80's it was switched to a better steel ends before they went to plastic

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Originally Posted by usabaker

The one I was issued was like the one you have and they were junk, broke often.

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You sure about that? Webbing or the buckles? - Bob

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Originally Posted by USGI

You sure about that? Webbing or the buckles? - Bob

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the buckles. The female section would eventually break, I remember getting a duty belt with a flat back steel buckle later in the 80's that was indestructible. But I'm sure there are differences is when things were released to different services. Being a SEABEE we depended on the Marines to provide our uniforms back then so we go most of the same gear.

ALSO, in my reserve years, it seemed like we always got leftovers.

Of course, this is 37 years ago so I could be blurrling belts.

Well they are "pot metal" - I wore a Korean made copy (1980's) of these as a tool belt at work, off an on, for over 30 years and it still hasn't broken - the rest of it's about worn out, though! - Bob

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Originally Posted by USGI

Well they are "pot metal"

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Ones we had were definitely NOT pot metal. Just not strong cracking at the joint.

---------- Post added at 12:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:54 AM ----------

Might be talking about Apples and Oranges, the ones we used looked like this, not pot metal....

https://dogadventurejournal.files.wo...5/02/image.jpg

Found it on this link about The History of the Military Pistol Belt

Ever heard of die-cast zinc? - Bob

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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...