I'm not sure where to put this. I aquired this MG belt with a small lot of WWI era German artifacts. Any help with identification is appreciated. Thank You.
-
-
2. -
3.Comment
-
deletedComment
-
Looks like it was converted into a waist belt whatever it is.Comment
-
Charles,
I think what you have is the front section cut from a WWI German "Parabellum" machinegun belt. Before it was cut, such a belt would have originally been much longer so that it held 250 rounds of 7.92 rifle-caliber ammunition. Cut sections of MG belts seem to have been a fairly popular souvenir item from WWI.
The brass starter tab at the end of the belt is bent - is should stick out straight, so that if you lay the belt down flat the starter tab would likewise lay flat.
The side of the starter tab that is not visible (due to being bent back) likely has some markings on it. I would carefully bend the starter tab out, so that it is in the correct position and you will be able to see any markings. Please post photos of any markings you find, as that will help to confirm the ID of the belt.
Feel free to e-mail me directly, as I would like to further discuss this belt with you.
Thanks,
Alan
asmith@bakerdonelson.comComment
-
Thanks for the info Alan. Wednesday is the soonest I can get back to you, and I will do so.Originally posted by Alan Smith View Post
Best Regards,
ChuckComment
-
whats the difference between this and the vickers belts,as they look the same to me ,is it just the calibre of the rounds ???Comment
-
Additional photos of MG Belt
Alan,
Here are the additional photos of the starter tab with the markings you mentioned. Thanks for your help.
Regards,
ChuckComment
-
Near the tip is an 8. and 14.Comment
-
At the center of the tab is a backwards R connected to the letter K.Comment
-
Far left appears to be the Prussian Crown over the letter B. It's a good stamping, but, that's the best photo I can get out of my camera.Comment
-
Charles,
Thanks for the additional photos. The C/B proof confirms that the belt is WWI German and the "8.14" marking is the date of manufacture, August of 1914.
I've looked at the reference books "The Devil's Paintbrush" and "German Machineguns", and determined that your belt is not for the Parabellum aircraft MG but, rather, is a portion of a standard MG08 maxim gun belt. Even though we don't know the original overall length of this belt (250 rounds for MG08) or (100 rounds for MG08/15), I think the 1914 date of production confirms it to be from an MG08 belt, as the MG08/15 was not introduced until late 1916.
In addition to being cut from a larger belt, yours has also been modified in that the brass metal "spacer" located between every third round has been cut or broken off. Look closely at the brass pieces riveted into the belt: each fourth one is different. Originally this brass "spacer" tab extended out just about equal to where the tip of the loaded rounds would have been positioned. The purpose of this spacer was to keep the belt from shifting around in the ammo box, bumping the rounds out of their proper position. Also, the spacer helps with keeping the belt in proper feeding position as it enters the MG08's feedblock. For some unknown reason it appears that the vet cut or broke off these spacer portions.
Neat item - especialy given its August, 1914 production date - the month WWI began (i.e. "The Guns of August").
BTW: What are the markings written into the cloth? Often the WWI vets would write their unit into the cut belt sections and/or information about where the souvenir was acquired.Comment
-
Alan,
Thank You for the excellent information. The only markings on this belt are as pictured in the first photo above. The letters do not form a word or sentence. Do you know if this lettering is original? Thanks again,
ChuckComment
Comment