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View Full Version : Cartridge belt for Rod Bayonet 1903



Fred
03-07-2015, 11:27
I didn't know that the Rod Bayonet cartridge belt only had room for one five round clip in each pocket. 45 rounds was no doubt a lot of firepower back in 1903 when the rifle was designed to fire single shot with the five rounds in the magazine held back for reserve, secured away by the magazine cut off.
Here's a First type cartridge belt before the pockets were made with puckering, which was meant to hold up better to the pointed bullets of the 30-06 rounds.
These pockets are smooth and flat and were designed to hold a single five round clip of the 220 grain, round nosed 30-03 cartridge.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/post-24355-0-57633200-1398910542_zpsgunfdddj.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/post-24355-0-57633200-1398910542_zpsgunfdddj.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%204_zpscvoqbrtp.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%204_zpscvoqbrtp.jpg.ht ml)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%202_zpshclz7qru.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%202_zpshclz7qru.jpg.ht ml)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Springfield%20actual%20size_zpsfpg64cw1.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Springfield%20actual%20size_zpsfpg64cw1.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%203_zpst6lji5v9.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/Springfield%20Actual%20Size%203_zpst6lji5v9.jpg.ht ml)

RCS
03-08-2015, 05:49
Fred, That is a really nice looking cartridge belt.

Fred
03-08-2015, 07:43
Thanks RCS.

butlersrangers
03-08-2015, 07:53
Fred: Thanks for sharing!

Mike D
03-08-2015, 07:59
The belt looks so nice, I didn't even notice that old tomato stake beside it!

Mike

11mm
03-08-2015, 08:57
Neat fact about the puckering. As well as really neat equipment. Fred, you sure have the "stuff".

Fred
03-08-2015, 09:30
I'm glad that you guy's enjoy the posts!

Rick the Librarian
03-08-2015, 09:41
I thought it was a repro, at first - beautiful!!

Fred
03-08-2015, 10:56
There's a slight fraying of the webbing on the back where the webbing goes into the metal, Maybe it's a factory defect or something. I think that if so, that might be the reason that the belt wasn't accepted or possibly used. I don't know, just a thought.
I've searched and cannot find a reproduction of this earliest design of Rod Bayonet cartridge belt without the puckering. All of those have the puckering as far as I can find. I'm open to any ideas though. I don't think that it's a Mills belt. No stampings. Does anyone know of other government contractors that supplied this type belt? Long? Russell?