fireman1 Posted June 13, 2021 Share #1 Posted June 13, 2021 I recently picked up this US m1903 cartridge belt. When I saw it online it looked good to but when I got it in hand I had some concerns. I'm thinking that this might be a repro from What Price Glory although that stuff is usually well marked. I cannot find a decent picture of the WPG belt to compare. The belt has seen use/been washed. There is fading, wear and staining on the webbing. There is wear on the Eagle snaps and buckle. Either through use or an aging process. I think there should me more wear on teh painted parts. I think the leather chape should be more worn and aged. It is in good shape....maybe too good. There are some faint letters stamped on the leather. They are not W.P.G. As you can see, the actual snaps are new and either replaced or it is a repro. Weight and texture of the webbing seem correct but this is the only original pre ww1 US web belt that I own so I have nothing to compare it to. >>One thing that leads me to thing that this is not a WPG belt is WPG describes theirs as have the tapered ends on the belt. The original listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/164870864616 Here are some pics I took. Please let me know what you think. I would appreciate specifics if it is a repro so I can avoid this in the future. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 13, 2021 Share #2 Posted June 13, 2021 Looks good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman1 Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted June 15, 2021 Thanks! I wasn't too sure because the snaps are so clean. It is shorter than the WPG repros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted June 17, 2021 Share #4 Posted June 17, 2021 Does it say Mills on it anywhere? If not, then I don't think it was a Mills product. Perhaps made by Russell. Mills was proprietary and very careful to mark their products. Even so, it looks good to me and in my opinion it is legit and not a WPG or other reproduction. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman1 Posted June 17, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted June 17, 2021 Hi Charlie, Thanks for your input on this. It is not marked Mills anywhere. I was worried about that because I did not realize that Russell made these also. Thanks Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crassou54 Posted July 4, 2021 Share #6 Posted July 4, 2021 Hi from France . Your belt is all original and correct, have exactly a same , its Russel manufacturing , snap is use by this manufacturer and , the lower of pocket is close by an sewing , rather Mills . Best regards Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted July 4, 2021 Share #7 Posted July 4, 2021 Hard to fake verdigris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman1 Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted July 4, 2021 1 hour ago, crassou54 said: Hi from France . Your belt is all original and correct, have exactly a same , its Russel manufacturing , snap is use by this manufacturer and , the lower of pocket is close by an sewing , rather Mills . Best regards Richard Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman1 Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted July 4, 2021 1 hour ago, Blacksmith said: Hard to fake verdigris. True, it was how shiny the brass snaps are that threw me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsalberry92 Posted August 1, 2021 Share #10 Posted August 1, 2021 Looks like a beautiful Russell example! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman1 Posted August 2, 2021 Author Share #11 Posted August 2, 2021 Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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