Snake buckle belt

[Mervyn Mitton]

TIA - an unusual belt. The open carrying of the cartridges was mainly the British cavalry in the Boer War - but the belts

tended to be part canvas. There were just so many Countries with different styles that we must hope that someone can make

a positive identification.

With regard to the buckle - to me - this just does does not look right ? I am very happy to be corrected, but with this snake, the end

is not laying flat and would therefore stick into the body. The right side appears to have been made to take a lug - in which case the opposite

side would have closed over to hold it in place. I would conjecture that the 'male ' side has been replaced with the snake - look at the

stitching and you will see the 'male' side has a much more open, hand stitch.

We will have to see what other members' have to say. Mervyn

[Jef]

Hello Dave,

No I was not able to find more snakes or information about those snakebucklebelt except on this great forum. Still wondering where it's origins come from.

Jef

[William1]

Hello Jef

Here's what the complete Pattern 1914 leather equipment looks like assembled. Sorry I don't have a better picture - this set is currently disassembled and packed away in a box.

Regards,

William

[William1]

Inside: (The pack should be further down but the set won't lie flat that way. This is the second pattern of large pack, with the rear attachment tabs in web for extra strength.)

[Jef]

Hello William,

Thank you for showing the '14 Pattern equipment with the snake buckle. By the way, I have several water bottles in my collection but never saw a waterbottle like yours. Is this a regular standard waterbottle?

kind regards,

Jef

[William1]

Hello Jef

The bottle is not an official pattern. Bottles of this type were purchased in quantity by the British authorities from Canada to make up shortfalls in the production of the standard pattern. They were made by the Aluminium Goods Company and the few I have seen are dated 1914 or 1915 under the felt. This one is 1914. They are often seen in photographs, particularly during the first half of the war.

Regards,

William

Edited January 12, 2012 by William1

[Jef]

Hello Jef

The bottle is not an official pattern. Bottles of this type were purchased in quantity by the British authorities from Canada to make up shortfalls in the production of the standard pattern. They were made by the Aluminium Goods Company and the few I have seen are dated 1914 or 1915 under the felt. This one is 1914. They are often seen in photographs, particularly during the first half of the war.

Regards,

William

Hello William,

Well that explains the not official pattern waterbottle. Thank you for explanation.

Jef

[psc945]

The uk police used these black snake belts in 1920's, 30's and 40's they had the silver snakes on their belts.

Paul C

[Kgb]

Found this snake buckle metal detecting in Canada, Manitoba. Anyone tell me the approximate date on this?