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MILLS MODEL 1903 CARTRIDGE BELT, 2ND
PATTERN – RIMLESS EAGLE SNAPS – SCARCE EARLY BELT IN
VERY GOOD CONDITION: The first of the pocketed
cartridge belts developed for the new Model 1903
Springfield Rifle, this early very nice specimen of the
Model 1903 Cartridge Belt, 2ND Pattern, is
identified by the presence of the full width brass belt
tips which bear the Mills Woven Belt Company patent
dates.
The belt is in very respectable condition, showing
little wear and with all of the cartridge pockets
present and intact, and complete with the pocket flaps.
All of the rimless eagle snaps are functional and
solidly attached with none of them showing any signs of
the tearing that is common to find around these snaps.
The woven web material has an even green color, and is
overall clean with minimal stains due to use and
storage. All of the edges of the belt, pockets and
flaps are in very good condition, and all of the
grommets are intact and solidly mounted in the webbing.
There is only one frayed spot on the side edge of one
pocket flap – not significant in size and barely
noticeable. The belt tips are both intact with no
separation from the body of the belt, and as mentioned
above, both tips bear the Mills Company cartridge logo
and patent dates, properly listing 1907 as the latest
date on these second pattern belts.
While not included on all of the Mills Model 1903 Rifle
Cartridge Belts, this belt does feature the integral
pocket dividers which separated the two 5 round
cartridge clips which were carried in each pocket. This
is a nice feature not always found.
These early Mills Model 1903 2ND Pattern
Cartridge Belts are not particularly common, especially
in this condition and retaining this desirable vivid
green color. This is a very nice specimen of the early
Mills pocketed cartridge belts which were issued with
the Model 1903 Springfield Rifle. (0930) $250
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