MODEL 1912 CAVALRY GARRISON BELT RIFLE BELT RING
FOR THE MODEL 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE – AS ISSUED WITH
THE MODEL 1912 ENLISTED MAN’S TRIAL SADDLE – UNIT
MARKED, COMPLETE AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION: As
issued with the Model 1912 Horse Equipments, this Model
1912 Rifle Belt Ring was issued for wear on the Model
1904 Russet Leather Garrison Belt, in conjunction with
the Model 1912 Rifle Carrier Boot, to carry the Model
1903 Springfield Rifle when the soldier was mounted on
the Model 1912 Enlisted Service Saddle.
The Model 1912 Rifle Belt Ring was a component of the
unique, and somewhat complicated, system of interrelated
equipment which defined the Model 1912 Trial Equipment.
The Rifle Belt Ring was located over the soldier’s left
hip – whether it was this ring which was mounted on a
slide which fit the leather garrison belt, or the ring
permanently attached to the Model 1912 Mills Pocketed
Cartridge Belt which was worn in the field. The Model
1912 Belt Ring was designed to set at a right angle to
the soldier’s body when in use supporting the rifle, and
when dismounted, the soldier could fold the ring down
against his body and “out of the way”. When the soldier
was mounted, the rifle was carried upright, with the
muzzle passing through the ring until the forestock
rested in the leather padded belt ring, and butt stock
of the rifle was inserted into the Rifle Carrier Boot
which was attached to, and hung below, the left, or
“near” side of the saddle.
The strap depending from Belt Ring assembly was snapped
through the trigger guard, and with the rifle secured
with the forestock through the ring, the rifle was
effectively attached to the soldier’s body – for better
or worse. A retaining strap on the Rifle Boot kept the
boot upright until the soldier dismounted and as he
dismounted, the boot’s retaining strap would feed out;
allowing the boot to pivot away from the horse and the
butt stock of the rifle would be drawn out of the boot.
If you are somewhat confused at this point, you’re in
good company – the soldiers all must have experienced
the same bewilderment at the mind which was capable of
conceiving this system. Nonetheless, this method of
carrying the rifle was not only introduced for trial,
but apparently was used to considerable extent, most
notably during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. To
fully appreciate how this system of equipment was
employed, see the photograph below of the mounted
soldier, taken from the 1916 US Army manual,
"Description and Directions For Use and Care of Cavalry
Equipment Model of 1912".
This specimen is complete with a fully functional
folding metal support frame for the leather lined ring,
the full length security strap fitted with a snap hook
that attached to the trigger guard on the rifle, and the
small retention strap which secured the ring assembly in
the closed position – a piece normally found broken
and/or missing. The leather is strong and pliable with
a bright shiny surface, it retains a medium russet
color, is not oil soaked and it exhibits very little
wear.
The depending strap which attached to the rifle’s
trigger guard and the reverse of the base pad both bear
unit inventory stamps, “1 B 7” indicating this assembly
was issued in the 1ST Regiment of Cavalry,
Troop B, to soldier number 7 on the inventory roles.
This is an excellent specimen of a fairly scarce piece
of the Model 1912 Horse Equipment and would be a nice
addition to display on your Model 1904 Enlisted Man’s
Garrison Belt. (0414) $850
NOTE:
The Model 1904 Sabre Belts on which
to display this ring are available in a separate listing
on this site.
CLICK ON
THIS LINK
|