Along with studying and collecting the Springfield Trapdoor weapons themselves, I enjoy the equipments used with them, especially the cartridge belts. I find that they are generally misunderstood, especially the chronology of their use. We've all read that the soldiers in the field during the 1876 campaign loathed the use of the leather cartridge boxes, and devised their own, homemade leather cartridge belts, almost to the total exclusion of the boxes. Of course these homemade (or company saddler made) "thimble" belts caused their own problems with their causing verdigris on the cartridges and its subsequent jamming in the weapons. This, however, spurred the Ordnance Dept. to develop a problem free method of carrying ammunition for the soldiers. It all started with the Model 1876 Cartridge Belt, the so-called "Prairie Belt". These came in a couple of refined versions, and photographic evidence showed they served from 1877 up through the 1890s, although in lessening degrees in later years. In late 1880 and early 1881, the first Mills patent cartridge belts appeared. These belts were universally liked because of their comfort and the fact that they were all woven fabric with integrally woven cartridge loops (no sewn loops to rip off). These belts were designed to be worn around the waist or to be worn in bandolier form by lacing the ends together using brass eyelets installed across the ends of these belts. There were several contracts let for these belts up through the beginning of the Spanish American War, and the details found in the contracts can help the collector determine the period of the belt. A very interesting part, for me anyway, are the belt plates issued with these early Mills belts. The first, was a stamped brass, two piece buckle and catch, that was actually made by Winchester Repeating Firearms, under contract. These buckles were found to be somewhat flimsy, and easily bent and disfigured. The Ordnance Dept. devised their own, cast brass (alloy) buckle and catch in the Spring of 1881, and these were manufactured in large numbers, and were well received by the users. In 1882, this particular plate and catch were modified by milling out the face of the plate, leaving only the raised border and "US", which lightened the buckle somewhat. These plates are particularly rare. They are out there, but hard to find. Finally, in 1886, another cast "US" belt plate was fielded by the Ordnance Dept in an effort to simplify the buckles used with the Mills belts. At the same time, Mills and his brother in law, Orndorff, offered another stamped brass plate and catch. These last two plates were adopted at the same time in 1886, with the Ordnance developed plate being primarily issued to regular army units, and the Mills stamped plate going to militia and state troops.
Just to complicate matters for the collector, about 1885, the Ordnance Dept., in an attempt to not use any belt plate with the Mills belts. started to modify Mills belts by putting brass frame buckles, billets, and saber hangers, on the belts for use by mounted troops.
There are subvariants of all these belts, buckles, and catches, and they all were used alongside each other during the final years of their usage.
Attached is a photo of several of these original belts and buckles, showing them in chronological order from top to bottom.
