Tapered cartridge belt question

Harley Starr · October 21, 2014, 02:29:15 PM

Were tapered cartridge belts authentic to the 1870's-1880's period?

Blair · October 21, 2014, 03:05:01 PM

Harley,

To my knowledge, NO!

Not even with the 30-06 cloth machine gun belts for the 1919 A1 of WWII.

This does not mean that some makers do not use a double row of leather strips on some belts. It only means it was not needed.
My best,
Blair

Camano Ridge · October 21, 2014, 06:16:13 PM

They did exist. In Packing Iron they are refered to as Plain cartridge belt. There is an example on page 96 1875-1880, page 171 belt shows it is tapered on the tongue end only with the buckle end done like a ranger style. Page 176 this belt is tapered on both ends, the bukle end is a short taper. . Cowboy Trappings of The Old West shows a cowboy in a picture taken 1880's wearing a tappered end belt. I think money belts and what we call Ranger style were the more prevelant styles of cartridge belts.
I also believe that tapered end gun belts which were used prior to the cartridge era may have been convereteed by having loops sewn on.

Here is an excerpt from an article written by Will Gorhmley for the Shootist. Titled Old West Gunbelts and Cartridge Belts.

ChuckBurrows · October 21, 2014, 07:49:14 PM

Not sure what Blair is talking about but Camano Ridge has it right....

Blair · October 21, 2014, 08:51:40 PM

Sorry.
I thought he was asking about the cartridge belt loops.
My best,
Blair

Cliff Fendley · October 21, 2014, 08:56:31 PM

It appears that most original belts were a straight or tapered single layer belt or otherwise they were money belts. If you think about it there wasn't a whole lot of reason to go through the trouble to sew on billets except on a money belt.

Harley Starr · October 21, 2014, 10:40:46 PM

Thanks for the information fellas.

I noticed a this cartridge belt Cochise Leather and curiosity struck.

http://www.cochiseleather.com/hs1917---arizona-high-rider-gunbelt-with-holster.aspx

Skeeter Lewis · October 22, 2014, 02:29:48 AM

A lot of horse tack was ranger-style, to prevent chafing by the buckle. In the saddle, ranger style is more comfortable too. The buckle doesn't dig into your gut so much.

dwight55 · October 22, 2014, 06:42:41 AM

Skeeter Lewis said "A lot of horse tack was ranger-style, to prevent chafing by the buckle. In the saddle, ranger style is more comfortable too. The buckle doesn't dig into your gut so much."

Thanks for the chuckle, Skeeter, . . . one of my favorite pictures is a Civil War group of scouts in civvies, . . . we have always laughed at how well they dressed, . . . and the fact that there was not one fat boy among them.

I think part of the reason also that the buckle didn't dig into their guts as much, . . . was the simple fact that they just didn't have the belt line protrusions that are so common to today's folks.

Not saying it is gospel, . . . but a for sure observation.

May God bless,
Dwight