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MILLS MODEL 1910 TWO POCKET CAVALRY .45 CALIBER
REVOLVER CARTRIDGE & SABRE BELT – COMPLETE WITH MATCHING
MILLS SABRE HANGER - RARE EAGLE SNAP BELT IN EXCELLENT
CONDITION:
This is an outstanding
example of the US Army Model 1910 Mills 2 Pocket Pistol
Belt with the Rimless Eagle Snaps, and it is complete
with the matching Mills Sabre Hanger. This belt was one
of those of the period which was intended to be mated
with the Model 1909 .45 Colt Revolver. A relatively
rare accoutrement from the early days of the 20th
Century, this style of web gear pre-dates World War One
and is associated with the Mexican Punitive Expedition
in 1916.
Considerably rarer than the four pocket M1910 Mills
Pistol Belt, this pattern features two pockets situated
on the front of the belt - one on each side of the “T”
closure. Each pocket has an integral woven partition
separating the ammunition, with each pocket holding a
total of ten rounds. While not all of these belts were
so equipped, this specimen is particularly nice in that
it is fitted with the metal sabre ring on the left side
of the belt, indicating this belt was intended for issue
to cavalry troops, as well as other mounted soldiers,
and was also likely purchased by officers for their
personal use.
The body of the belt is properly unmarked and the brass
fittings on each end of the belt are stamped “PAT APR 18
’05 – JAN 29 ’01 – MAY 21 ‘07” and “MADE BY MILLS WOVEN
CARTRIDGE BELT CO WORCHESTER MASS USA”.
The pouches are intact and the puckered bottoms of the
pouches show no wear. The flaps are likewise in
excellent condition and show none of the wear commonly
seen on the edges and upper corners of the flaps where
they characteristically wore against the rim of the
cartridges. Both of the rimless eagle snaps are solidly
attached and show no signs of the tearing that is common
to find around these snaps. The metal fittings all
retain most, if not all, of the original blued finish
which was often worn away with even minimal use.
Completing the belt is the quite scarce and very nice
Mills Woven Detachable Sabre Hanger. The hanger is
complete with all the fittings, the straps are full
length showing no signs of wear, and both sabre snaps
have the functional locking rings. The long sabre strap
is marked with a legible “MILLS” cartridge logo ink
stamp and both of the length adjustment slides are
stamped front and back with the Mills Company patent
information.
All of the web components, to include the belt body,
sabre hanger and the sword chape, are clean, with a
bright green color showing no sign of fading.
This is a beautiful specimen of a very rare belt which
presents in virtually “like new” condition and could
never be upgraded. (0909) $1575
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