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About our US made cartridge and B.A.R. belts
(We also offer a cheaper imported belt. See below.)
This is the most time consuming piece of field gear in the inventory and we simply cannot make them cheaply in the U.S., not even in our own factory. The new webbing cost a fortune (4 widths, 8,000 yards each, total 32,000 yards (yes, thousand) to pay for) and the pallet of 10,000 3 3/4" front clasps we had made by Anchor were not cheap.
There are 120 steps required (yes, per belt) just to put the hardware on them. This does not include cutting, sewing, marking or inspecting. Yes, they are double the price of the Chinese and Pakistani made belts, but the quality difference is commensurate. They are still cheaper than the only other vendor we have seen advertise US made belts.
In China, workers are paid about $50 per month. (That's 30 cents per hour). Our sewers make about 30 times that much, plus worker's comp and health insurance. If you can figure out how to cut the production time by 3,000 percent, let us know!
No dealer or quantity discount available.
Meathead Notice: We make our belts like the originals. After cutting the webbing, we stencil the fold points onto the webbing. This results in small black "tic" marks to show the girls (and Larry) where to make the folds to form the pockets. A few self proclaimed "historians" have had tizzy-fits over "the black shit spilled on my belt". Despite the protests of these armchair experts, close examination of original, W.W.II period belts (and most any piece of field gear), in unissued condition, will uncover similar guide marks. That's how you keep things lined up in order to assemble them correctly. With use, the marks will wear off...just like the authentic belts. We know what the hell we are doing.
The PHD's demand proof?
Welcome to school.
Yes, these are o-r-i-g-i-n-a-l Cartridge Belts. |
 See, black marks everywhere. Maybe that's why it's unissued...the soldiers refused to wear such crap so this was a leftover. |
 Omigod Monica! There are FLEAS on your belt.... |
 Holy shit! 3 different shades of webbing? Sacrilege! Somebody call the War Department and notify them of the filth they are trying to issue to our men in uniform. |
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