|
3rd Pat. 1876 Cartridge Belt - Shortened
Price: 475
This belt is from my personal research collection as an excellent example of the routine shortening of the cartridge belts issued to the Frontier Army. The infantry soldier of the period was considerably smaller than the average American today and when they were issued the standard 54 loop cartridge belts, they could not be adjusted small enough to wear, particularly in warm weather when no overcoat was worn. So, many, many of these belts that actually saw field service were shortened at the buckle end. This common modification is shown and discussed on pg. 247 of AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL BELTS 1812-1902.
The tongue on the belt was not shortened and still has good "Watervliet Arsenal" markings as well as traces of the "A.R. Smith" arsenal inspector's mark.
The belts shows some use but is very solid and clean and is unit-marked on the back.
|
