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RARE ca. 1892-1910 MILLS CAVALRY .45 CALIBER
PISTOL & SABRE BELT SET FEATURING THE RARE MILLS EAGLE
PLATE: This rare belt and plate set is believed
to pre-date the Spanish American War, certainly one that
appealed to the nationalistic emotions of that era, and
is the exact belt pictured and discussed on pages
301-304 in R. Stephen Dorsey’s AMERICAN MILITARY AND
NAVAL BELTS, 1812-1902.
As offered here, several features combine to highlight
the significance of this cavalry belt:
* The Mills stamped Eagle Plate,
approximately the size of the 1872 US Belt Plate, is
truly a rare plate, seldom seen offered for sale.
* The belt itself is woven in
what Mills identified as "stone" color – a shade of
tan. The belt features the integrally woven loops for
the .45 Long Colt rounds, intended for use with the
Model 1873 Colt and of course would also have been
equally appropriate for carrying the later shortened
"Light Artillery" Model Colt. These Mills belts with
loops for the .45 caliber ammunition are quite scarce,
and certainly less common than the .38 caliber looped
belts.
* The belt is fitted with the
Mills holster hanger wire and the two sabre strap hanger
wires. These pistol and sabre hanger wires are scarce
in their own right, and are almost impossible to find on
the loose. The sabre strap hangers are fitted with
commercially-made leather sabre straps with brass spring
snaps for attachment to the rings of the cavalry sabre
or officer's sword.
The plate and matching keeper are in full form with no
damage and an overall very nice patina. The belt is
full length with all 40 cartridge loops present and
intact. The oil cloth tips that once covered the belt
ends has worn away, but the stitching that held the oil
cloth is still visible and the belt tips show only
normal use. None of the cartridge loops are frayed or
worn and the belt is overall very clean and free of any
soiling. The sabre straps are in excellent condition
and full length.
In his text, Dorsey makes the
observation that while by the outbreak of the Spanish
American War the .38 caliber revolver had become the
regulation handgun, the Model 1873 Single Action .45
caliber Colt Revolvers were being shortened to the
“Artillery Model” and they were being issued
commensurate with the .38 caliber revolvers. One unit
known to have received the .45 Colts was the famous
First Volunteer Cavalry – Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough
Riders”.
This is indeed a rare Mills belt and plate set which
presents in excellent condition, and it is one that
would display very well with a Spanish American War
identified Colt Single Action. (0535) $1575
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