Double Loop Cartridge Belt

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,  I know this has been covered before, but I can't find it.  Who makes a really good quality double loop cartridge belt for the Krag?  My Quartermaster Sergeant just picked up a nice carbine (pictures later) and now needs a belt.  (Sure wish Jim Kanne was still making them!)

[Drydock]

http://cooncreekoldwest.com/coon_html/Home.html

[Niederlander]

He wants blue, right?  He'll probably be doing a Rough Rider uniform. 

[Advertising]

[Drydock]

Yep, he wants blue.  The tan belts were not fielded until well after the turn of the century.

[Niederlander]

I thought so.  Were the 1st Volunteers issued belts with pistol loops?

[Pitspitr]

Buy a tan one, dye it and have Stef sew on the pistol loops (that's what I did). I got mine from S&S but as Drydock said Coon Creek is a good supply.
Does WPG Sell them?

[Niederlander]

I looked on WPG's website but didn't see one.

[Drydock]

The 1st USV were issued cavalry belts, ie with pistol loops.  No one makes these, though I do have hopes for WPG someday . . .

Why not sew loops onto a blue one?   Unless you're worried about color matching.  That would be a good idea if Stef can do it.

[Pitspitr]

You're right. I should have said," have Stef sew on the pistol loops...then dye it blue."

That's what I did 

[JohnsonBarr]

Remember TD Roosevelt's USV used any thing they were given or could acquire  and many had to bring their own gear. Trained outside of San Antonio the unit didn't last much more than a year. Most of that time they were quarantined on an island off of New York with malaria. Damn Mosquitos! 1895 Winchester saddle ring carbines in .30-40 and a pair of Colt 7mm Mauser 'potato diggers' for the dis-mounted 1st USV cal. Anything goes pre-1899.

[Drydock]

NO!  Another long lived myth.  The enlisted compliment of the 1st USV were equipped with M1896 Krag Carbines, and all accouterments for that weapon.  While officers were allowed to purchase their own weapons, the only Winchester 1895 that has been documented to the 1st USV was Roosevelts personnel weapon, loaned to a corporal acting as his aide.  Only armed company's were allowed on the ship to Cuba.  With that one documented exception, if you did not have a Krag, you did not go.  NO enlisted man carried a private purchase weapon in Cuba.

Later in the campaign, mail was received, some private purchase non regulation items made an appearance.  But when they disembarked in Daqueri, they wore regulation M1884 uniforms, with regulation Double Row Mills belts, shouldering M1896 Krag Carbines.

Both Roosevelt and Leonard Wood made sure that the Regiment was equipped as a regular regiment, as they knew only such a unit would be sent to Cuba.  Indeed, the 1st USV would be the only USV regiment in Cuba prior to the surrender of Santiago.

The M1895 potato diggers were a gift to the regiment, and special detachments were set up for them.  If you were on the MG detachment, you gave up your Krag to someone else.  The MG detachments probably carried reissued Colt Artillerys for sidearms.

[FTrooper]

WPG is indeed working on them.

Chris Fischer
F Troop

[FTrooper]

The delay is that they are actually getting a guy to weave the loops into the belt as per the originals rather that just being sewn on. Also the color will be MUCH better than the current reproductions.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Niederlander]

I'll tell him to wait a bit then.  He may as well get the correct one.  I'd like to have a nice one for my rifle as well.

[Drydock]

Yeah, one of these is high on my must buy list!