Original Item. Only One Available. This is a heavily service-worn U.S. woven rifle ammunition belt dating from approximately the Spanish-American War era. The belt has 50 individual cartridge loops and presently retains 48 brass .45-70 Government cartridge cases. Most of the cases are considerably later than the belt itself and are WWII-period dated, showing that the belt continued to be used, repurposed, or assembled as a display long after its original period.

NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

The belt does not have a "buckle", but instead a large split loop, which is used to fasten the two ends of the belt together. The pieces are in a strange configuration now and we could not get it undone.

The 50 loops retain 48 brass casings for .45-70 rounds, but most of the casings are WWII period dated, so this belt saw use far after its intended period. There is some fraying to the loops as shown and heavy overall wear. There is no maker mark.

Woven cartridge belts became an important part of U.S. military field equipment during the late 19th century. They allowed individual cartridges to be carried securely while remaining readily accessible and eliminated much of the bulk associated with earlier cartridge boxes.

The Spanish-American War marked an important transitional period in U.S. small arms equipment. The .45-70 Government cartridge remained associated with the older Springfield “Trapdoor” rifles and carbines, while the newer Krag-Jørgensen rifle used a smaller .30-caliber cartridge. The Krag was the principal U.S. service rifle during the Spanish-American War.

The 50-loop configuration of this belt is generally associated by collectors with ammunition belts intended for the .30-40 Krag cartridge during the Spanish-American War period. Earlier .45-70 woven belts are encountered in different loop counts and configurations. The presence of 48 .45-70 cases therefore appears to represent a later loading of the belt rather than proof of its original ammunition type.

The later cartridge cases add another layer to the history of the piece. Their WWII-period dates indicate that someone continued using the older belt as a storage, display, or souvenir piece decades after its original manufacture.

The 50-loop woven construction, unusual split-loop closure, heavy field wear, frayed loops, and 48 later .45-70 cases give this belt considerable visual and historical character. The mixed-period ammunition should be understood as a later addition, while the belt itself remains representative of the transitional U.S. military equipment used around the Spanish-American War era.