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MILLS EAGLE SNAP MODEL 1911 .45 ACP MAGAZINE POUCH
– UNIT IDENTIFIED – 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT NEW
YORK NATIONAL GUARD – STRONG ASSOCIATION TO THE 1916
MEXICAN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION: A US Army Model
1911 .45 Colt Pistol Magazine Pouch with the Rimmed
Eagle Snaps, manufactured by the Mills Woven Belt
Company, and dating from the first days of the adoption
and issue of the Colt Automatic Pistol by the US Army.
Becoming relatively scarce and difficult to find in
decent condition, this accoutrement is of the style of
web gear that pre-dates World War One and is closely
associated with the Mexican Punitive Expedition in
1916.
In the case of this particular magazine pouch, it bears
unit applied identification stencils on the exterior of
the flap “7 N.Y.”, and on the interior of the flap “E 2”
– indicating this pouch was issued to a soldier in the 7TH
Infantry Regiment, Company E, of the New York National
Guard. At the time this pouch would have been issued,
the only “7” in the NYNG was this infantry regiment.
The 7TH Infantry Regiment, New York National
Guard, was mustered into federal service on June 26,
1916 for service on the Mexican Border during the
Punitive Expedition Era. The 7TH was the
first NYNG unit to arrive on the border on July 2,
1916. NYNG units were stationed in the towns of
McAllen, Pharr, and Mission, and were detailed out on
patrols along the border. There are some reports that
the regiment remained on that assignment until early
1917 when it returned to New York in preparation for the
mobilization of forces as the United States entered
World War One. It is quite likely that this magazine
pouch saw service during the duration of the 7TH’s
assignment on the border.
This magazine pouch was certainly issued and no doubt,
saw some field use, but it still presents in very solid
condition. The flap is stenciled as described above.
The inner surface of the flap is legibly ink stamped
“MILLS” with the surrounding bullet logo with a likewise
legible date, “1914” – a very desirable early date. As
can be seen in the photographs below, there is some edge
wear to the upper and lower corners of the flap, two
wear spots below the fold of the flap where the lanyard
rings on the magazines wore against the material, and
wear spots at the lower corners of the magazine pockets,
the largest on the left pocket which is a hole which
wore completely through the material. The balance of
the woven material is very strong and presentable. The
material has an even green color and all of the seams
are intact. Both rimmed eagle snaps are solidly
attached and do not show any signs of the tearing that
is common to the material around these snaps.
Despite the obvious wear due to service in the field,
this is still a respectable specimen, with the added
value of being unit identified and associated with an
interesting period of history, and it will display
nicely with your Colt ACP and the related Mills Belts.
(0131) $125
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