Lawguns Posted May 7, 2017 Share #1 Posted May 7, 2017 Here are some pictures of a mills belt. I am trying to determine if the belt is real or a newly made one. The material feels the same as the material in the other belts I have. Everything looks good to me, except the snaps on the inside are still shinny. I would expect them to have tarnished more. I just don't know if it was unissued and stayed in proper storage would it look this good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted May 7, 2017 Share #2 Posted May 7, 2017 Please post images. Links won't open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted May 7, 2017 Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted May 7, 2017 More, so much for trying to save and not repost the pictures 3 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted May 7, 2017 Share #5 Posted May 7, 2017 Its real a d a second pattern belt having the wide by adjustment ends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted May 7, 2017 Thanks, I have one more I questioned for the same reason. I would have though the snaps on the inside would have oxidized more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted May 8, 2017 Share #7 Posted May 8, 2017 Shiney doesn't always indicate reproduction. Quality material well stored looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron bender Posted May 8, 2017 Share #8 Posted May 8, 2017 I buy the best repro gear possible when it's available, for the purpose of investigation, photograph it, sell it on epay for a loss. Your cartridge belt's a very nice original example. I have not purchased one piece of repro mills type webbing that I would consider original. It's the same weave, manufacturers use the best US made hardware, but it's just not there. One can tell. The weight's wrong, the color's weird, the sewing is near perfect, date and US stamps are just off, but it's just not right in the end. I don't blame guys who make awesome repro stuff for doing it, as it's a way to make a living. German gear is a whole other story. Minefield, even to some of the best. Mills weaving is just impossible to pull of in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted May 8, 2017 Thanks, I have 1 more of these I will post a picture of on this thread and I have a cavely bandolier I have a question about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted July 4, 2017 I posted this in the Gear section as well just in case other people don't look here. This is a cav bandolier. The color on the strap is off. Does it look like a reproduction? The stitching on the strap does not look replaced. I had seen it where it was just a matter of what fabric was exposed to more or less air and light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted July 4, 2017 More pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted July 4, 2017 And a few more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWS Posted July 4, 2017 Share #13 Posted July 4, 2017 Looks fine to me. The color of the strap being slightly different than the rest of the bandoleer is actually the first "clue" that this is an original item and not a repro. They didn't bother much with color coordination during the war or even before! A repro today would likely be dyed all the same color. The snaps, stitching and woven fabric are correct. Good bandoleer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted July 4, 2017 Share #14 Posted July 4, 2017 Looks fine to me. The color of the strap being slightly different than the rest of the bandoleer is actually the first "clue" that this is an original item and not a repro. They didn't bother much with color coordination during the war or even before! A repro today would likely be dyed all the same color. The snaps, stitching and woven fabric are correct. Good bandoleer! . Hi Lawguns, I am in full agreement with member GWS's comments, the difference in shade is fairly standard, I have exactly the same bandoleer as yourself and if I recall it has variations in shade. I have even seen cartridge belts with different shade flaps on in my forty years of collecting. I actually like webbing equipment with shade variations and actively collect examples of them. Here's a Quartermaster made folding shovel cover, it has four shades of material variation, if it was good enough for the Quartermaster it was good enough for the man in the field. Happy collecting, always wise to ask questions if your unsure. lewis. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted July 5, 2017 Do you have an idea what I should sell this for? It seems they are all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWS Posted July 5, 2017 Share #16 Posted July 5, 2017 Unless it's something very rare, web gear in general seems very "flat" right now. I've had some of my belts/gear at the last SOS and another smaller show this Spring but without much interest in any of it save a very few pieces. Seems to be a re-occuring theme for me- buy high-sell low! I would guess around $200 depending on condition, but again, just a guess. An ad here on the forum would be a good place to test the waters. Good Luck. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted July 5, 2017 Thanks, that is what I am seeing with these belts as well. Seems the price is at a low right now. The condition is great but it takes someone that wants to buy it as well. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted July 5, 2017 Can you tell me what this is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWS Posted July 7, 2017 Share #19 Posted July 7, 2017 Grenade vest--specifically the VB grenade. A common item, most are 100% unused condition. About $30-$40 at most dealers/shows. There was also a grenade bag or pouch with a shoulder strap that is less frequently found. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawguns Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted July 7, 2017 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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