Early M1910 Cartridge Belts
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M1910 dismounted rifle cartridge belt
This belt has rimless eagle snaps and was manufactured by the Mills company in 1913. The 10 pocket cartridge belt in both rimless and rimmed eagle snaps was worn by the first doughboys of the AEF who arrived in France, 1917. Each pocket could hold two 5 round stripper clips of .30-06 ammo for the M-1903 Springfield Rifle, the M-1917 Enfield, or the British Short Magazine Lee Enfield No. 1 Mark III. Belts made before 1917 had a retaining strap in each pocket to hold one of the two 5 round stripper clips. Belts manufactured from 1917-1918 eliminated the straps to cut costs and simplify production. The mounted version of the M1910 belt was similar to the M1909 Cavalry belt in that it had four revolver ammunition clip pockets. Carl Panak Collection
M1910 dismounted rifle cartridge belt
The Mills M1910 belt here is dated 1915 and has rimmed eagle snaps. M1910 cartridge belts would be made through 1917 with eagle snaps.
M1910 mounted rifle cartridge belt
The M1910 Mounted Cartridge belt was similar to the Cavalry belt which was fielded in 1909 in that it had four pockets for revolver rounds. Other than the 1910 configuration of a three piece belt, the M1910 Mounted Belt differed from the M1909 Cavalry Belt by lacking the saber chape. Some of these belts were modified post 1912 by removal of one pair of or both pairs of revolver pouches to accommodate the M1912 pistol magazine pocket. The belt would be followed by a 1914 model which had 9 rifle cartridge pockets and an empty space on the left side of the belt for an M1912 Pistol magazine pocket. GWS Collection
USMC Cartridge Belt
Marines used a M1903 style belt with Eagle and Anchor Snaps through the mid 1910s while most of the Regular Army was equipped with M1910 Cartridge belts and corresponding equipment. The USMC was slow to adopt the 1910 equipment though individual items such as the M1910 canteen ensemble made it's way into the USMC Supply chain. This M1910 cartridge belt with Eagle and Anchor snaps is the successor to the USMC's M1903 cartridge belt. Like the Army, Marines who arrived in France in 1917 were equipped with these early belts. By the Armistice on November 11, 1918, many Marines like their Army brethren would have cartridge belts with lift the dot fasteners. GWS Collection
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