Original Item. Only One Available. Dating from the late Indian Wars period, this is an excellent example of the U.S. Army Model 1885 Cavalry Prairie Belt for .45-70 ammunition, retaining its woven cartridge body, long leather adjustment billet, leather buckle chape, and the desirable chape ring with attached U-shaped equipment hook. The belt carries 50 cartridge loops, and the leather billet is clearly stamped ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL. Even more interesting, one original .45-70 cartridge manufactured by Peters remains in one of the loops, giving the belt an especially effective period display appearance.

The Model 1885 represented a development of the earlier woven cartridge belts associated with Anson Mills. Unlike the Model 1876 Prairie Belt, which was constructed around a leather foundation with a textile covering and separately sewn cartridge loops, the Mills system incorporated the cartridge loops directly into the woven body of the belt. This produced a lighter and more flexible means of carrying ammunition and became an important feature of U.S. Army field equipment during the closing decades of the 19th century.

For cavalry use, many of these woven belts were modified by adding a leather buckle chape at one end and a long leather billet at the other. This arrangement provided considerably more adjustment than the earlier woven ends alone and allowed the belt to accommodate different waist sizes and changes in clothing or equipment. Model 1885 cavalry belts are encountered with both 45 and 50 cartridge loops, intended for the .45 caliber ammunition used with the Springfield Trapdoor rifle and carbine family.

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 but dented shape. There are 50 loops for cartridges and all are retained with some being flattened and some having minor fraying along the edges. The end of the leather billet is stamped:

ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL

There is one .45-70 round by Peters still attached to one loop. The woven belt is in great overall condition and the leather billet shows cracking but is still solid without any serious damage, but there is verdigris in some spots. Overall dimensions are 49 1/8” long when fully laid out, and roughly 3” wide.

The .45-70 Springfield Trapdoor remained one of the defining U.S. military arms of the Indian Wars era, and woven cartridge belts such as this reflected the Army's continuing effort to improve the way ammunition and equipment were carried in the field. Although practical and popular, the early woven belts created problems when soldiers also needed to suspend holsters, bayonets, sabers, and other accoutrements. This resulted in numerous arsenal and field modifications, and surviving belts display considerable variation in their leather fittings, hooks, rings, eyelets, and other attachments.

This particular example has a great service used appearance while retaining the features that make the Model 1885 cavalry configuration so desirable. The 50 intact cartridge loops, Rock Island Arsenal marked leather billet, surviving chape ring and U-hook, solid woven body, adjustable leather construction, and single Peters .45-70 cartridge give it considerable visual and technical interest. The flattened loops, minor fraying, cracked leather, verdigris, and dented hook are all honest signs of age but leave the belt remarkably complete. It would display especially well alongside a Springfield Trapdoor rifle or carbine in a collection devoted to U.S. Cavalry equipment, Indian Wars accoutrements, Rock Island Arsenal material, or the development of late 19th century American cartridge belts.

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).