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US NAVY & US MARINE CORPS MODEL 1895 MILLS
POCKETED CARTRIDGE BELT FOR THE WINCHESTER LEE 6mm RIFLE
- SCARCE SPECIMEN IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND COMPLETE
WITH ALL THE POCKET FLAPS AND THE FULL SET OF ORIGINAL
SUSPENDERS:
This Model 1895 Mills Woven
Pocketed Cartridge Belt for the Winchester 6mm Lee
Straight Pull Navy Rifle was issued for a relatively
short period of time, however as described in Dorsey’s
American Military and Naval Belts, this belt’s design
“cast a long shadow” on the style of future American
military rifle cartridge belts and the Mills Woven
Cartridge Belt Company for many years to come.
Designed by members of the US Navy Bureau of Ordnance in
cooperation with Thomas Orndorff, the manager of the
Mills Woven Belt Company facility in Worchester,
Massachusetts, the first Model 1895 Belts were not
delivered until July of 1896.
All of these belts were manufactured in the dark blue
woven material with 12 separate pockets integral to the
weave of the belt body. Each pocket was designed to
hold two 5-round clips of 6mm cartridges. Since Mills
had not yet developed the technique of weaving integral
pocket flaps which would appear with the Model 1903
Cartridge Belts, the pocket flaps on this belt fashioned
of black pebble grained leather, each of which was
attached to the back of the belt body with two brass
eyelets. Each pocket is fitted with an iron finial over
which the flaps are buttoned.
The weight of the belt was supported by a pair of dark
blue woven web suspenders. The suspenders were crossed
in the back and anchored at the crossing point with a
single brass eyelet. The four ends of the suspenders
are fitted with sheet brass hooks which are assembled
with two eyelets above each hook. There is a brass
adjustment slide on each of the front straps of the
suspenders. The suspenders attach to the belt by
engaging two of the eyelets on the back of the belt, and
one of three eyelets on each side of the front center of
the belt.
Each of the belt ends are held in place with a sheet
brass keeper and a brass wire keeper. The belt ends are
joined around the waist with the Mills cast brass “C”
closure. In addition to the 24 eyelets which attach the
pocket flaps, there are an additional 8 eyelets along
the top of the belt for attaching the matching woven
suspenders, and an additional 11 eyelets along the
bottom of the belt to provide attachment points for the
bayonet hanger wire.
While these belts were successful during their period of
issue, their service life was relatively short, being
pulled from service before any deficiencies such as the
manner in which the pocket flaps were attached were
noted, and changed. After these belts found their way
into the surplus market, poor storage and improper
handling led to many specimens being damaged beyond
repair. Most of the belts which survive are missing
some, if not all of the pocket flaps and those flaps
which remain are often found torn or having pulled free
from the eyelets used to attach the flaps.
This specimen is in very good condition, featuring a
vivid dark blue color with no fading, is complete with
all twelve original pocket flaps, retains a complete set
of matching suspenders, the woven web shows only minor
wear, and all of the original brass hardware is intact
and present.
The belt body and pockets are all intact and the woven
material shows no significant signs of wear or any
damage. The eyelets are all present, with only the one
eyelet where the suspenders attach over the left rear
hip showing wear to the woven material around the eyelet
and the adjacent edge of the belt. All of the original
Mills company hardware such as the sheet brass keepers,
brass wire keepers, the “C” closure, and the bayonet
hanger wire are present and full form.
The pocket flaps are all present and full form. All of
the pocket flaps are supple and most retain a bright
finish. A few show some crazing along the top fold or
around the finial hole – areas where wear is to be
expected. Only one pocket – the one directly over the
attachment point for the right rear suspender strap –
has experienced a failed eyelet where the eyelet holding
one corner of the flap has pulled through the webbing.
The eyelet is still present in the flap and the material
of the belt body is not substantially damaged, hardly
noticeable. Only one flap – on the first pocket to the
right side of the center front of the belt – shows any
appreciable wear where the sailor’s or marine’s other
equipment would have worn against the flap. That flap
is still full form but it has a ¾” cut across the face
of the flap – certainly done during the period of use –
and a small separation on the back side of the flap
where it has been carefully reinforced with a barely
noticeable patch. All of this wear has not compromised
that flap and the wear can be seen in the photographs
provided below.
The suspenders are full length and show only minor wear
along the edges where they have worn against the
adjustment slides. Otherwise the webbing of the
suspenders is overall strong with an even color and
shows very little wear. All of the brass hooks are full
form and all of the eyelets securing the hooks are still
firmly anchored. The eyelet which secured the crossing
point on the back is present, but has pulled through one
of the straps. This use of a single eyelet at this
location was a consistent point of failure which was
reported during the period of use, and this means of
anchoring the crossing point was changed in future
models of cartridge belt suspenders. Where this eyelet
pulled through, the web material was not substantially
damaged.
I
have made a concerted effort to give a fair and complete
description of the belt for all of its components which
are considerably more complex than the average Mills
belt of the period. None of these minor defects are
particularly apparent and they are only noticeable upon
very close examination. Given the scarcity of these
belts, especially specimens such as this one which are
complete with all of the original components, these
minor signs of wear and age do not detract from the
appearance or quality of this belt.
Overall this is a very good example of the scarce Model
1895 US Navy and Marine Corps Mills Woven Pocketed
Cartridge Belt, one which would be very difficult to
improve upon or upgrade, and it would be a good addition
to your collection to display with your Model 1895
Winchester 6mm Lee Straight Pull Navy Rifle. (0210)
$1550
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