M1923 Cartridge belt - "Transitional" Colors

[MattOravik]

Here is a very nice M1923 cartridge belt I just picked up. The date looks to be 1943 but is hard to make out. Would that be a date found on a two tone M1923?

 

Actually it could be called three tone since one dark OD is a different shade than the other. LOL.

 

-Matt.

[MattOravik]

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[MattOravik]

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[doyler]

Very possible.

 

I recall seeing a Boyt Marked 1943 dated belt once in the two tone

[Patriot]

I just sold a two-tone USMC marked cartridge belt on the forum....

 

No date, though....

[Ronnie]

Absolutely you could see that date on a two tone....which btw are really cool pieces if you ask me.

I once saw a two tone pistol belt! Changed from O.D. #3 to #7 right in the middle of construction. Started to buy it but never did and have always regretted it as I've never seen another.

I love the two tone stuff and own several pieces.

RDarby

['Flage Guy]

What a beauty...1943 is the year these "transitional" canvas goods began to become common, due to the cotton/duck shortage necessitating the utilization of all available materials on hand.

I've had a "sickness" for multi-colored web gear for many years.

[12thengr]

Backside of one I found awhile back. Burlington Mills 1943 I think.

['Flage Guy]

12th, that looks like a killer Belt- and a rare maker, no less :thumbsup:

 

I like this stuff to the point that I've set aside a whole rack of multi-colored web- and this isn't even all of it:

 

 

For any interested, here is a good thread on the subject...

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=2121

[1944]

Thats an Interesting M-1923 Ammo Belt you have got there love the two tone on the belt

never seen one of those before until now a great piece of combat equipment for the collection :thumbsup:

[2ndInf.Div.]

This is my two-tone cartridge belt with a very faint date of 1943. As you can tell it's a rather dark OD#3, thought I would chime in my bit of gear as well. You have a pretty darn good example, never seen one like it before (then again I haven't compared a lot of originals ). Quick question though, most of the OD#3 gear I have (which is very little) is darker than most OD#3 examples I see. Basically my question is did this vary from manufacturer or was it a late war thing?

['Flage Guy]

2ndInf.:

Each shade of tan and O.D. had a few variants to it, depending on where it was made and who mixed the dye.

 

Here's an example of differing O.D.#3 shades:

 

['Flage Guy]

Same Belt from the front- the Canteen Cover is actually a bisquit brown shade with O.D.#3 trim. The left side of the Belt was obviously made at a different time or different part of the Boyt Co.'s factory, being made of totally variant shades from the right side.

 

[2ndInf.Div.]

2ndInf.:

Each shade of tan and O.D. had a few variants to it, depending on where it was made and who mixed the dye.

 

Here's an example of differing O.D.#3 shades:

 

 

Ah ok, gotcha. I didn't know what was up with the color, thanks for the info! On another note, although I don't have a picture of it, I have an all OD#7 Garand belt with the exception of one side which has OD#3 belt tabs and one flap. It doesn't have the snaps for the clips, and the OD#7 appears to be much darker than the late WWII OD#7, possibly Korean War?

['Flage Guy]

Ah ok, gotcha. I didn't know what was up with the color, thanks for the info! On another note, although I don't have a picture of it, I have an all OD#7 Garand belt with the exception of one side which has OD#3 belt tabs and one flap. It doesn't have the snaps for the clips, and the OD#7 appears to be much darker than the late WWII OD#7, possibly Korean War?

 

I'll bet it's a 1945 "transitional", as that was the year the Army did away with the clip retainer straps.

 

Below is a "trans" Belt rig, everything dated 1945. Talk about being thrifty with material: the Suspender straps were made from recycled M1A1 Gas Mask Carrier straps.

 

[Vertol]

Here is mine, also made by Mills in 1943, but with other markings in first and last flaps ("John ..."), looking like WWI one :