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ca. 1904 OFFICER’S-ENLISTED RUSSET LEATHER SABER
BELTS: Often referred to as the Model 1912
Sabre or Garrison Belt, these belts predate the Model
1912 Equipment as they appear in the Ordnance Department
manual entitled “Horse Equipments and Equipments for
Officers and Enlisted Men” printed in 1905. Offered
here are the belts only, but as shown in this Ordnance
Department period photograph the belts can be assembled
with a pistol holster for the Model 1903 .38 caliber
revolver, the Model 1909 .45 caliber revolver, or the
Model 1911 Colt Pistol, a pistol cartridge box or
magazine pouch, a sabre hanger, the Model 1912 rifle
carrying ring, a leather first aid pouch and a Model
1903 McKeever Rifle Cartridge Box for a very nice
display.
These belts are relatively scarce in the original russet
color, as it is reported that during World War Two the
bulk of these belts were dyed black for issue to the
Military Police and few survived in the original russet
color. Whether out fitted for cavalry or infantry,
these are rare and important examples of an early 20th
Century US Army belt, and as a sabre belt, they are the
last leather sabre belts which were issued to the US
Cavalry.
NOTE:
If you wish to build on these belts so that they present
as a sabre belt, the sabre hanger slides are available
in a separate listing which can be viewed by clicking on
this
link. The correct sabre hangers
are available via clicking on this
link.
Holsters and cartridge pouches can be found in various
listings throughout the Accoutrement section of this
website.
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NO. 1
ca. 1904 OFFICER’S-ENLISTED RUSSET LEATHER SABER BELT -
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL - DATED 1904: This
first year of production, Rock Island Arsenal made belt measures
47” long and 1 5/8” wide,
and is complete with the bronze frame buckle and
matching russet leather sliding keeper. The fold of the
belt over the buckle bar is plainly and legibly stamped
“R.I.A.” for the Rock Island Arsenal, dated “1904”, and with the inspectors’ initials
”HEK”.
The surface of the leather is smooth and is not crazed,
and the underside of the belt still retains much of the
original standing nap.
This is an excellent example of a
fairly rare first year of production, Rock Island
Arsenal Sabre belt.
SOLD - SEE ADDITIONAL LISTINGS BELOW
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NO.
2
ca. 1904 OFFICER’S-ENLISTED RUSSET LEATHER SABER BELT:
This belt measures 35 ¼” long and 1 5/8” wide,
and is complete with the bronze frame buckle and
matching russet leather sliding keeper. The fold of the
belt over the buckle bar is plainly and legibly stamped
“US”, “J.Q.M.D.” for the Jeffersonville Quartermaster
Depot, dated “1938”, and with the inspectors’ initials
”JB” and “HK”. By 1920 the army’s leather accoutrement
manufacturing had been transferred from the Rock Island
Arsenal to the responsibility of the Quartermaster
Department at Jeffersonville Depot in Indiana.
The surface of the leather is smooth and is not crazed,
and the underside of the belt still retains much of the
original standing nap. Really a nice example of a
scarce early 20th Century belt. (0158) $150
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NO.
3
ca. 1904 OFFICER’S-ENLISTED RUSSET LEATHER SABER BELT:
This belt measures 35 ¾” long and 1 5/8” wide,
and is complete with the bronze frame buckle and
matching russet leather keeper. The inside surface of
the belt is stamped with a civilian contractor’s mark,
indicating this was probably a private purchase belt
which met the regulation requirements.
The surface of the leather is smooth and is not crazed,
and the underside of the belt still retains much of the
original standing nap. A nice specimen with a rich
color. (0312) $100
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NO.
4
ca. 1904 OFFICER’S-ENLISTED RUSSET LEATHER SABER BELT:
This belt measures 39” long and 1 5/8” wide, and
is complete with the bronze frame buckle and matching
russet leather keeper. The inside surface of the belt
is stamped with a civilian contractor’s mark, “GEMSCO
GARRISON BELT NO. 5043” and a leather quality stamp,
indicating this belt was a private purchase belt which
met the regulation requirements.
The leather is dark brown, and shows some scuffing along
the edges, but otherwise the surface of the leather is
smooth and is not crazed, and the underside of the belt
still retains much of the original standing nap. This
belt would go well with accoutrements showing similar
darkening. (0810) $100
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