1858-1865 ------------- M1858, M1861 and M1864 Cartridge Boxes for.58 Cal paper cartridges...for infantry
1865-1875 ------------- M1858, M1861 and M1864 Cartridge Boxes modified to accept 50/70 brass cartridges...for infantry
1870-1880-------------- M1870 Dyer pouch for 50/50 and 45/70 Brass Cartridges...experimental/cavalry...then there was the M1874 Pouch
1873-1902-------------- McKeever Cartridge Box for 45/70 Brass Cartridges, not approved and made before 1875. Also not originally a cavalry item
1876-1890-------------- M1876 Prairie Belt for 45/70 Brass Cartridges-really phased out by the mid 1880's
1881-1902-------------- Mills Belt for 45/70 Brass Cartridges
1892-1910-------------- McKeever Cartridge Box for 30/40 Brass Cartridges...the .30cal McKeever is a post 1902 item. From 1894-1902 the dark blue mills belt was worn, even for full dress!!!
1892-1910-------------- Mills Belt for 30/40 Brass Cartridges..actually 1894 and is gone by about 1907 at the latest. Even though the army takes a good while to get rid of the Krag carbines, they start issuing the M1903 belts with them. Troopers just carried the rounds loose in each pocket.
Don't forget the 2 year rule. The McKeever is the best example. Not approved by Ordnance Dept. till last week of 1874, not signed off by Secretary of War until first week of 1875, production did not begin in detail until fiscal year 1875-1876 starting in July. and then it was only an infantry item until later.
Other things are that the The pre-1874 Dyers were never fully issued. Some companies of the 7th Cavalry at LBH still had surplus ACW carbine cartridge boxes. No evidence that any of them had M1874 Dyers.
There are also the Hagner Type I and Type II of 1872. Originally in .50, later modified to .45 These can still be seen into the very late 1870's, maybe early 1880's.
Chris Fischer
F-Troop