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ca. 1892 MILLS .38 CALIBER REVOLVER CAVALRY
CARTRIDGE BELT SET – FEATURING A MATCHED PAIR OF THE
VERY RARE MILLS WOVEN SABRE STRAPS - BELT COMPLETE w/
THE SCARCE MILLS “US” REVOLVER BELT PLATE:
This is a very nice Mills
Cavalry Pistol Cartridge Belt set that includes a
matched pair of the Mills woven sabre straps. The
rarity of these Mills woven sabre straps cannot be
overstated, as they are seldom found in even the most
advanced belt collections. In fact, when writing
American Military and Naval Belts 1812-1902, Stephen
Dorsey found only the one tan set pictured on pages
305-307 at the Frontier Army Museum at Ft. Leavenworth,
Kansas, and was unable to locate a blue set to
photograph for the book. In the span of his collecting
experience, he could remember seeing only one other set
of these rare straps offered for sale.
This Mills Revolver Cartridge Belt is full length, and
has all forty-five .38 caliber cartridge loops present.
The loops are all intact and in excellent condition with
no wear or fraying to the edges. The belt is fitted
with the fairly scarce Mills “US” Revolver Cartridge
Belt Plate, complete with the proper catch and the
tongue is stamped with the correct Mills patent
information.
The plate is full form with no
damage or loss of finish, has not been polished - having
a nice mustard colored patina. The web material of the
belt and sabre straps retains a nice even dark blue
color,
with none of the fading often seen
on these belts. The brass belt tips are both stamped
with the Mills Woven Belt Company information and their
patent dates.
The belt is fitted with the matched set of Mills Woven
Sabre Straps, each complete with the integral wire
hanger that is designed to fit through the two sets of
grommets set at the top edge of the left side and back
center of the belt, and pass across the width of the
belt between the cartridge loops. The front, shorter
strap is complete with the integral dismounted sabre
hook. These Mills sabre straps are in excellent
condition, featuring full length belt hooks with both
prongs present and intact on each strap, the sabre snap
hooks which are still functional and complete, and both
straps are full length as manufactured.
Just this matched set of
Mills woven sabre straps is an offering that stands on
its own significance.
The Mills Revolver Cartridge Belts
are not as common as the rifle and carbine cartridge
belts and even less so when found complete with the
proper plate and catch - making this belt a very nice
piece in its own right. The presence of such a fine set
of rare Mills Woven sabre straps elevates this belt to
an exceptional specimen that will be a true centerpiece
for your Spanish American War collection, particularly
when displayed with one of the early .38 revolvers.
(0578) $1575
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