TOPIC:

I have brought up this particular item in a previous topic, but I thought it might receive more attention in a topic of its own.

This Bandolier/belt was sold online in South Africa listed as a Boer war bandolier, but it is quite different from the standard Boer Mauser bandolier. Most strikingly, the bandolier is very short, only having 8 pouches while the average Boer bandolier has either 10 or 8. The bandolier is about the length of a belt, and that is why I refer to it as a belt. I believe it to be an ammunition waistbelt. It has pouch strengthening strips stitched to the pouches (as discussed in OVSAC 21), which is seen on Boer Mauser bandoliers and on postwar UDF bandoliers, but not on 1901 bandoliers. Further it has an unusual roller buckle instead of the "clawed" buckles seen on Boer war Mauser bandoliers. Further, an odd Method of keeping the long fastening strap in place is designed into the bandolier. There is a slot just opposite the buckle through which excess length of the fastening strap is put, to reach a little leather band (a similar band is often seen on leather belts) Under which the fastening strap slides and is kept in place.
There are no markings or stamps on the item.
There is at least another one such bandolier/belt in existence, meaning that it is not a makeshift or converted item.

Does anybody have any knowledge on this bandolier/belt, and forgive me for asking again.

Thank you;

J.I.W










..

I think I’ve seen this one or a similar one previously- could you post the link?
My guess is that this cartridge belt is of ABW-era and the pouches might be from a Boer bandolier. Have you asked MC Heunis in Bloemfontein?

I have sent the photos to MC, so hopefully he will come back with a definitive answer.

Neville

Thank you very much.

Here is MC's reply. I hope it helps.


These "Mauser" style bandoliers are a very tricky subject as they were used in both the Boer War and First World War, by both Boer and Brit and for 7x57mm Mauser, 6,5x58mm Mauser and 303 rounds.

The examples I have seen in museum and private collections with definite Boer War history and owner providence are marked "Martin's Patent No 14747 Birmingham". They are made from smooth leather and have twelve tapered pockets and no strip lace between the rounds inside the pockets. They are obviously made for the 7x57mm charger clip.

Then there is the British Pattern 1901 which looks very similar, but has square pockets (10 or 12), normally have textured leather and have strip dividers inside the pockets for five loose 303 rounds. They also have a steadying strap slit for a small, buckle belt that was fastened to the waistbelt.

These are the two main patterns that are easily identifiable. But there were also hordes of similar bandoliers made locally during the Boer and First World War by anyone ranging from home-made copies to small town saddler offerings to large leather gear company products. Many types of buckles, studs, pocket layout, flap layout, leather textures/finishes and other variances can be observed.

The majority of surviving example encountered today dates from WW1 and often carry UDF (arrow inside U) or even SAP (police) markings. Few Boer examples survived as the Boer ones were worn out during the war, captured as trophies or destroyed with surrendered arms and ammunition.

The locally made Boer versions normally look home-made, are made from poor quality leather, often slightly oversized and sometimes don't have studs but buttons or other ways of closing the flaps.

So, most people would like to believe their example was a Boer Mauser bandolier, but chances are better that it was rather a local copy of the Pattern 1901 used by the Union Defence Force commandoes in 1914-15.












..

I have long feared that this might be the case with my particular example, but I have long believed that it is actually a ww1 UDF example. Thank you.