M1 Garand Ammo/Pistol Belt Info Needed

[bulldog_mack13]

Pictures

[Darkwolfe]

Any marks on the snaps at all?

[bulldog_mack13]

Not that I can see. Heres pictures, Jay

[browningautorifle]

Look at the way the adjusting buckles are sewn to the back. That's not correct. They are folded over. The eyelets for the attatchments are too small and the wrong type. The stitching matches belts made by Long for WW1 but the belt's not even close to that by design. There's no gathers at the pouch bottoms. There's no snaps on the inside. It's not the belt designed for the M1 because they had twelve pouches and from what I know, they never were released. There's no date or manufacturer's marks of any kind. The verdigris on the snaps can be acheived by washing it and leaving it out wet. It's not new, but maybe only 20 years old. I would say it's a user. Or maybe a foreign manufacturer for local use. I'm still waiting for the two or three guys that will know for sure that are watching and waiting to wade in here.

[Bill Hollinger]

Seeing the more detailed photos tends to push me towards reproduction maybe a movie prop but there was a WWII manufacturer that made them in the two colors. Great thread!

[bulldog_mack13]

Yeah, I think its a good puzzle for us all.

If we can get someone to nail this thing in for sure I will know what I have and a value and we can all learn a little.

[Bob Seijas]

Bill Ricca can undoubtedly provide chapter and verse when he gets back from whatever gun show he is doing this weekend.

[Bill Ricca]

From the picture, it does not look right. However I think it was produced circa the mid to late 1943 time period, and probably would have been rejected if spotted and not added to storage upon arrival.

I have a few legit BAR belts that are missing the attachments for closing. They got through production that way. They were accepted and naturally never used.

I have seen many items, including gun parts that were accepted on contract and then when discovered to be far out of specification, released as surplus.

Another simple factor is when many items are being produced, it would be almost impossible and highly costly to inspect each one. Thus a percentage of items that do not work get into the system.

My guess is this was released surplus some time ago and never used due to its short comings.

[bulldog_mack13]

Bill ,
What would you value the belt at?

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I agree with Bill. The fittings and material, plus the 'age' looks period to me. I was wondering possibly foreign made using some U.S. stock(?)

Another thing is that most all of the reproductions out there will have nice clear '1943' stamps. Also, the repro fittings are pretty easy to spot and these look correct to me.

Bill may have a better idea of worth, but I wouldn't think of it as overly collectible.
Decent originals aren't that difficult to come by. (JMO)