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MILLS CARTRIDGE BELT w/ CLOSED LOOPS – FOR .45
CALIBER OR OTHER LARGE CARTRIDGES: An
interesting, well documented belt, being the exact belt
shown on pages 353 – 354 of Dorsey’s American
Military and Naval Belts 1812-1902. Manufactured by
Mills, but probably not for a specific military
contract, the ends of the belt are finished with the
standard Mills captive ends that bear the contract date
of March 19, 1889. The belt is also fitted with four
brass grommets along the bottom edge of the left side,
intended to provide attachment points for some type of
accessory. The belt is woven with 50 “closed” cartridge
loops – that is the bottom of each cartridge loop is
woven into the body of the belt rather than the loops
that are open on each end. The loops accommodate the
standard .45-70 caliber cartridges, but would also carry
many of the other large caliber cartridges of the
period.
I find it of particular interest that while this belt is
not one of the known, standard patterns purchased by the
US Army or one of the state militia units, there is the
numeral “15” stenciled on the inside surface of the back
of the belt. This would indicate to me that this belt
was used within an organization where inventory control
was deemed necessary,
such as a law enforcement
unit, a prison, or some other unit financed with public
funds.
The belt is in overall very good condition, but it does
show evidence of use. The belt is full length and all
of the cartridge loops are present and intact, however
some of the bottoms of the loops on the left front side
of the belt show wear. This wear is limited to the
first nine loops with the balance of the 50 loops being
complete and intact. Perhaps the man who wore this belt
wore his holster in a cross draw arrangement close to
his front, hence causing the wear to this section. The
wear is not excessive and provides testimony that this
belt was “there” at one time. There is also some minor
wear to the corners of the folds where the “C” closure
secured the belt around the waist, again normal for a
belt that was used. Twenty rounds of .45-70 caliber
ammunition are included with this belt, a nice addition
to the display quality of this belt.
Overall this is an interesting and presentable belt, and
a good buy for a solid Mills cartridge belt. (1039)
$185
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