ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL EXPERIMENTAL MODEL 1876
PRAIRIE BELT – VERY RARE CARTRIDGE BELT IN VERY GOOD
CONDITION: One of only 100 of these belts so
modified, this is a prime example of this very rare belt
in very good condition, and in fact is the very same
belt pictured on page 250 of American Military and
Naval Belts, 1812-1902 by R. Stephen Dorsey,
acquired from the author’s research collection.
This true Experimental Model 1876 Prairie Belt was
manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal and includes the
three unique features that identify this belt: 50
cartridge loops; the cartridge loops are not varnished
as they were the standard issue prairie belts; and, an
additional leather belt strap attached on the inside of
the right side of the canvas belt attached by a line of
stitching between the 18th and 19th
cartridge loops. The interior strap was added so that
the soldier could carry the Model 1873 Angular Bayonet
or the Model 1873 Trowel Bayonet, or other accoutrements
such as a rifle or carbine cartridge pouch, or pistol
cartridge pouch that had been modified to use with this
belt.
The inside of the canvas belt is stenciled “RIA
Experimental 1 M”. It is interesting to note that I
have had one other of these rare belts that was
stenciled “53 M”, and apparently they were both once in
the inventory of the same regiment and company. The
inside tip of the leather tongue is stamped with the
Rock Island “Rising Sun” stamp, although only the
outline of the stamp is clearly legible, and the “ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL” text is only partially and barely
legible. The leather tongue shows some wear and surface
crazing. The interior belt strap shows some evidence of
use, but the leather surface is overall smooth and
shiny. The canvas belt is in very good condition with
no wear to the edges of the cartridge loops, the bottom
seam is fully intact, and there is only a slight wear
spot on the interior of the belt where it appears the
canvas snagged on another piece of the soldier’s
equipment.
Considerably less common than the early two piece Mills
H plates and belts, this very nice example of a rare
early Indian War experimental belt is an important
cartridge belt to add to your collection. (0216)
$2,475
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