Belts for percussion revolvers

[Davem]

I know there are a lot of replica outfits but does anyone have any links, photos, etc. of what type belts were used historically for a pair of percussion revolvers carried in California/Slim Jim type holsters? Thanks.  Any info on if combustible cartridges were carried in a cap box worn on the belt- or something similar.

[Abilene]

Lots of info here on The Leather Shop forum, and I'm sure there's lots of pics in the past pages.  I just wanted to make a comment about cartridge belts with belt loops.  Seems like I've seen a lot of criticism of Hollywood movies for people with percussion rigs that have cartridge loops on the belt, like say, Angel Eyes in Good, Bad & Ugly.  But those folks were carrying cartridge rifles, so the loops certainly could have a purpose.  And per Packing Iron, cartridge belts started during the Civil War.  I would imagine plain belts were more common in those early days, though.

[St. George]

The belts were plain - perhaps with some border embelishment - but without cartridge loops.

All of that came about once the Open Tops appeared.

Sometimes, there was a small pouch for paper-wrapped cartridges, as those were popular and widely available.

Don't use the 'John Ford Reference Library' when looking into actual historical usage - the decisions are made by the art department to use things for visual effect - not for period authenticity.

Look at the Time-Life series 'The old West' and at Rattenbury's 'Packing Iron' for illustrations.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!