Mills Shotshell Web Belt - Holds 25 Rounds

[dalbert]

All,

 

I recently acquired a Mills shotshell web belt, and I'm looking for more information about it. It holds 25 rounds, and is marked with the Mills name within a cartridge outline, and indicates an April 18, 1905 patent date. The markings are on the brass end pieces, and the canvas is not marked. I consulted Bruce Canfield's Combat Shotgun book, and on page 245, he has two similar belts pictured. This one is different, in that it has 25 shotshell holding loops, versus the 30 shotshells on the similar belts. The ends of each loop are also closed on mine, versus the open loops on the belts pictured in Canfield's book. My belt is closer to the one pictured at the top of the photo in Canfield's book, but has 2 black thread lines running through the length of the belt, versus the 3 lines in the book.

 

Canfield indicates that there were no known shotshell belts procured by the U.S. Military. He states that procurement of similar, rifle cartridge belts by the U.S. Military from Mills are well documented, and do not mention shotguns. He indicates they might have been used on a personal basis within the military, but that they were never issued. I also consulted 2 other web gear books, including the 1984 Dorsey book, and did not find this belt shown.

 

There are many late 1800's Anson Mills Company shotshell web belts, most of which feature the brass buckle with a dog on it. My belt has a military style buckle, and was probably manufactured for the commercial market, based on what has been documented in books on the subject. I'm just wondering if anyone has more information on these types of belts, so I'm posting the pictures below for any input you may have on the subject.

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/Canvas/MillsShotgunBelt-1_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/Canvas/MillsShotgunBelt-2_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/Canvas/MillsShotgunBelt-3_Web.JPG

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/Canvas/MillsShotgunBelt-4_Web.JPG

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[ordnanceguy]

Hi Dave:

 

Nice belt. I have one just like it but I can't answer your question. You might try posting your inquiry over at the US Militaria Forum under the Field Gear sub-forum. Here is the link:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showforum=7

 

Regards,

Charlie Flick

[dalbert]

Hi Dave:

 

Nice belt. I have one just like it but I can't answer your question. You might try posting your inquiry over at the US Militaria Forum under the Field Gear sub-forum. Here is the link:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showforum=7

 

Regards,

Charlie Flick

 

Charlie,

 

Welcome to the board! I think there is very good synergy between this board and the Militaria board, and I enjoy reading and posting over there. I will post this, along with another web item I need to inquire about over on the Militaria board.

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[darrylta]

http://www.hayesotoupalik.com

 

David,

Check this site out, I remember them having a vintage Mills catalog.

Nice guy, fair prices as well.

-Darryl

[darrylta]

I checked HO's site last night, he has (2) reprint Mills catalogs listed from 1914 &1918 in the WWI section. May be worth checking if you don't already have them.

-Darryl

[dalbert]

I checked HO's site last night, he has (2) reprint Mills catalogs listed from 1914 &1918 in the WWI section. May be worth checking if you don't already have them.

-Darryl

 

Darrylta,

 

Thanks for the link. I've dealt with Hayes before, and will order both the Mills catalogs from him.

 

Thanks Again!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com