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PATTERN 1909 FRANKFORD ARSENAL .30 CALIBER RIFLE
CARTRIDGE
BANDOLIER – “LIKE NEW” UNISSUED
CONDITION COMPLETE WITH ALL OF THE CARTRIDGES - DATED
1937 – FOR ISSUE WITH THE MODEL 1903, MODEL 1903A3/4 AND
MODEL 1917 RIFLES:
The first method adopted
by the Ordnance Department which enabled the soldiers to
carry additional ammunition or to be resupplied on the
line, these disposable bandoliers proved to be a durable
concept that remained in service for many years.
These bandoliers were loaded at the arsenal and packed
in watertight containers for shipment to the points of
issue close to the front lines, dramatically increasing
the amount of ammunition the soldier could carry into
battle.
While the majority of surviving specimens seen on the
market today were made under contract with the
government by various cartridge companies such as
Remington-UMC, Western, and Winchester, offered here is
one of the very desirable bandoliers manufactured at the
Frankford Arsenal. Made of polished khaki cotton cloth,
the body of the bandolier consists of six pockets – each
of which contained 10 cartridges mounted in two, five
round stripper clips which are held in a cardboard
liner, for a total of 60 rounds.
Each of the sixty
cartridges bear matching headstamps - “F A 37”,
indicating these round were produced at Frankford
Arsenal in 1937.
The pocketed section is fitted with a light weight khaki
cotton cloth sling which retains the original black
japanned safety pin which was used by the soldier to
adjust the length of the sling. The first pocket on the
left end of the bandolier contains the specification
card which details the ammunition lot number. The card
is likewise in excellent condition, full form, and
completely legible.
This bandolier has survived in excellent condition,
showing no signs of use or issue, presenting as if it
was just removed from the ammunition can. The material
is clean and solid overall, with no wear or damage, and
the bandolier displays quite well.
This is an excellent example of a pre-World War Two era
bandolier and it will be a nice accessory to display
with your Model 1903, Springfield 1903A3/4, and Model
1917 Rifles.
(0301) $295
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