Mills Circa 1902 Experimental Cartridge Belt

Mills Circa 1901 Experimental Cartridge Belt. Complaints from troops stationed in tropical areas about the Mills/ Orndorff Belt, that they were losing cartridge.  Anson Mill suggested to the Ordnance department that by adding full-flaps over the cartridges loops would elevate the problem. The Ordnance Department opted to go with leather flaps sewn to the back side of belt, with each flap covering 5 rows of loops (or 10 cartridge loops, this being a 100 round double loop belt).

1000 belts were modified by Rock Island Arsenal. The belts were rejected after field trills. The leather loop to the right of the “C” closure buckle is stamped ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL in two lines.

Mills patent dates on the brass ends.

All complete.  Fine condition.