Cartridge Belt H Buckle 45/70

[gunyooper67]

Hi, Love this site. Glad to be aboard. My question concerns a cartridge belt I have hanging on my wall. It has some numbers and letters on the back of the outfit that used it. I am just hoping that someone with a military background can give some info. Thanks

Information

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[RCS]

[browningautorifle]

Looks like the single row Mills type cartridge belt, about Spanish American war era. They came in tan and blue and were single and double rows for cartridges. They also came in shotgun size loops.

[RT Ellis]

R. Steven Dorsey in "American Military Belts and Related Equipments" 1984, identifies the woven cartridge belts shown as an improved version of the cartridge belt M1887. The brass plates at both of the adjusting ends of the belts should be stamped with something like "PAT. MILLS & ORNDORF" and patent dates.

The cast brass "U.S." plate was not a Mills Co. product, although quite common, and most likely manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal. These cartridge belts were most often provided with a simple brass wire "C" fastener, rather than a belt plate. Mills manufactured pressed sheet brass belt plates with "U.S." "U.S.M.C." "NY" (state of New York) and etc. for both government contract and commercial sales. A replica of the Mills pressed sheet brass "U.S." cartridge belt plate was marketed several years ago and is often mistaken for the genuine Mills product and sold at a premium price.

Similar belts with pressed sheet brass belt plates with hunting themes were manufactured by Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. for commercial sales, and although identical to the military belts are technically not a militaria collectible.

The painted markings "11 D 5" identify 11th U.S. Infantry Regiment, Company D, soldier's number 5.

I invite your attention to the following references:
Dorsey, R. Steven "American Military Belts and Related Equipment" Pioneer Press, 1984.
O'Donnell, Michael J. and J. Duncan Campbell, "American Military Belt Plates" O'Donnell Publications, 1996.

[gunyooper67]

Thank you Mr. Ellis for the info.....time to frame it and hang it on my wall......