US pistol Belt Type and Age

[jond41403]

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

[Flying10uk]

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.

[browningautorifle]

reading feint markings

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.

[usabaker]

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

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

Attachment 109217

[USGI]

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

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

[usabaker]

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

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.

[USGI]

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

[usabaker]

Well they are "pot metal"

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....



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

[USGI]

Ever heard of die-cast zinc? - Bob