Prior to the Spanish American War the Mills Company had a monopoly on government contracts for web cartridge belts. When the war broke out there was a rapid mobilization of new troops and a corresponding increase in demand. The Mills-Orndorff facilities could not handle the surge of orders and other manufacturer of web belts requested and received contracts. These belts did not infringe on the Mills patent, which wove the cartridge loops integrally with the belt, but instead sewed the loop portion of the belt to the belt body.

This one is unmarked, but is the pattern produced by the Hurlburt Company, using tan webbing with three blue lines woven into it. The belt generally follows the 1894 cartridge belt configuration, has brass fittings and uses simple brass C-clasps for closure. It is definitely a military belt, being set up for 100 rounds of .30-40 Krag ammunition in double loops.

This is a nice variant of U.S. issue Spanish-American war gear.  [SR]

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