Machine Gun Belts...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

Anyone know how you tell Original from copy German machine gun cloth belts (WW1)

Thanks

Chris

[Daniel Murphy]

Chris,

WW1 German belts are either one of two types. 1. Pre war, canvas with all brass ends and spacers. 2. Wartime, all steel ends and spacers. The belt ends will be marked and dated. I have two wartime German belts that are rusted (as usually found) and one wartime Russian (all brass dated 1915). Original belts are very hard to find in any decent condition (not rotten). For display, you could do just as well with WW2 Russian belts. They are all brass spacers with steel ends and are fairly easy to find at a reasonable price.

Dan Murphy