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Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt (Read 2854 times)

sigman2 KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 7 Location: North Alabama Joined: Nov 22^nd, 2014 Gender:	Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Apr 17^th, 2019 at 11:29pm	Print Post
	Guys, I purchased this off e-Bay. It was listed as an original Mills 35 loop 30/40 Krag cartridge belt. I have serious doubts as this this being an original. First, the belt is in too good a condition to be 100 years old. Second, the fabric has no old smell to it. It actually has a rather new smell. The metal fittings are brass and the loops are woven into the belt, not sewn but I just can't believe this is an old, original belt. How can I be 100% certain before I contact the seller? Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. (You need to *Login* to view media files and links)


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chuck56 KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 33 Location: milford,pa Joined: May 3^rd, 2015 Gender:	Re: Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Reply #1 - Apr 17^th, 2019 at 11:44pm	Print Post
	It looks like the real deal to me.


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butlersrangers KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 6330 Location: Michigan Bi-Peninsular&Proud Joined: Oct 7^th, 2009	Re: Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Reply #2 - Apr 18^th, 2019 at 12:40am	Print Post
	Your Mills Belt looks like an original to me. I am not aware of any reproductions of the 1905 Patent type 'looped' belts, with 'blackened' brass hardware. IMHO - It looks original and 'well cared for'. It is likely a 'sporting' belt, (not military).
	« Last Edit: Apr 19^th, 2019 at 2:07pm by butlersrangers »

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madsenshooter KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 1079 Joined: Sep 10^th, 2009	Re: Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Reply #3 - Apr 18^th, 2019 at 2:02am	Print Post
	Looks like its been in good storage since it was young. Very lightly used.


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olderthansome KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 131 Location: Michigan Joined: Mar 10^th, 2013 Gender:	Re: Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Reply #4 - Apr 18^th, 2019 at 11:30am	Print Post
	I guess I'm just old and therefore skeptical, but my guess is that it is not particularly old. The Mills name existed, I think, for some time after their golden years and I suppose this one could be an "original" and a "Mills". But some of the details are not as they would have been in a 'military' belt (edge finishes at top and bottom). If brass is stored - even carefully - it usually develops a patina. That's why DI's always want the brass polished every day. There is also a color to older brass that is not in the brass of the last 50 years or so. Your observations are telling. If it walks like a duck…... If it was sold only as an "original Mills", I suppose that is possible, but if you were expecting a military belt, I think it's a miss. I haven't visited my references on the Mills belts for some time so without doing so, I guess I would just be happy that it's a Mills type belt that holds some proper ammo. This could have been a belt manufactured for hunters and for the retail market. But in any case it's a nice looking belt and should be useable for a long time.


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Baltimoreed KCA Forum Member Offline Krag Enthusiast! Posts: 320 Location: Aurora, NC Joined: Feb 5^th, 2016 Gender:	Re: Need opinions on this Mills cartridge belt Reply #5 - Apr 20^th, 2019 at 2:40pm	Print Post
	Not a Mills scholar but it looks real to me too. Probably never issued, just sat in a warehouse until it got sold off as surplus and added to someones collection. I have a bunch of Mills belts and as we oldsters die off these pristine examples of accoutrements are popping up as our collections are sold off by the heirs. Nice.


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