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MODEL 1910 MILLS GARRISON SABRE
BELT FOR NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICERS AND FIRST
SERGEANTS – EXCELLENT CONDITION – COMPLETE WITH SABRE
HANGER CHAPE – GREEN WOVEN WEB – DATED
1915:
In the opinion of many collectors, the series of Model
1910 Garrison Belts were the most attractive and
desirable of all of the 20th Century US Army
Belts. This Model 1910 Mills Garrison Sabre Belt was
the last of the sabre belts worn by non-commissioned
officers assigned to staff duties, and by company first
sergeants when under arms and carrying out their
assignments during the course of the duty day. The
sabre belts which would follow were all intended for
wear only with the dress uniform and then only for
ceremonial occasions.
The series of Model 1910 Belts were manufactured by the
Mills Woven Belt Company. While the standard Model
1910 Garrison Belts for enlisted men are fairly common,
this particular belt intended to be worn by NCOs on
staff assignments and First Sergeants is very scarce and
must have been manufactured in relatively small numbers
commensurate with the limited numbers of NCOs in the
army at the time.
Contributing to the scarcity of specimens of these belts
which are found complete with the sabre chape/uniform
protector slide, was the eventual discontinuation of the
practice of carrying a sword or sabre for daily duty
assignments.
This belt could be paired with a Mills Model 1910 Sabre
Hanger or the Model 1903 Russet Leather Sabre Hanger
manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal to display with one
of the early 20TH Century sabres.
The correct tongue-in-wreath style “US” plate has been
polished, probably by an NCO who did not like the
original subdued finish. The two components of the
plate have aged back to a nice even patina and are in
excellent condition, showing no signs of significant
wear. All of the web components, to include the belt
body and the sword chape, are clean, with a bright green
color showing no sign of fading.
The inside of the belt body and the underside of the
sabre chape are properly marked with the “MILLS”
cartridge logo ink stamp and the “1915” date stamp (no
month was included in these earlier versions). The
darkened bronze belt tips bear the Mills markings: on
one side the Mills cartridge logo and “Patented Apr. 18,
1905”; and on the other “MADE BY THE MILLS WOVEN
CARTRIDGE BELT CO. WORCHESTER, MASS U.S.A.”.
This is a very nice specimen of a
scarce belt which has survived in remarkable condition.
(0105)
$325
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