Original U.S. Indian Wars M1885 Prairie Belt with Hook & Unit Stamp for Springfield Trapdoor .45-70
In stock
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Original Item. Only One Available. Dating to the late Indian Wars period, this is known as the Model 1885 Prairie Belt. One of the primary differences between the M1876 Prairie Belt and the M1885 Cartridge belt is that the M1876 belt is built around a leather belt, with a drab linen canvas covering with the cartridge loops sewn onto the covering. The M1885 belt was a modification of the 1880 Mills cartridge belts. These belts were woven cartridge belts with the cartridge loops being actually part of the weave, i.e., Not being sewn on. The modification included having a leather buckle chape being sewn to one end, and a long, leather billet being sewn to the other end, allowing a wide variation of waist adjustment.
All these models of cartridge belts were wildly popular with the troops upon their issuance to the field. Their only real flaw was that none of the various types of cartridge belts allowed for holsters, bayonets, or other accoutrements to be hung from them without modification, and there are a great deal of variations in those modifications. Some of those modifications are arsenal applied and some are field applied, hence the need for some in depth research to completely understand them.
This example retains a rare chape ring with an attached U-hook, which is in good shape. There are 45 loops for cartridges and all are retained with some being flattened or dented. The end of the leather billet is stamped on the exterior side:
F
15
6
This is a unit marking and is likely meant to read as Company F, 15th belt/man, 6th Regiment, for the 6th Cavalry Regiment. The opposite side of this piece is carved with a name, B.L. WINT, but it is rather crude and difficult to discern with certainty. On the same spot is an inspector’s stamp, J.D..
Overall dimensions are 41 ¼” long when fully laid out, and roughly 3” wide. There is an old paper tag attached at the buckle reading Cavalry, 1885. Possibly from an old museum.
An excellent well-used example of a scarce model of Prairie Belt, ready for further research and display!
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