Italian ammunition belt 17th

[eftihis]

This is an Italian ammunition belt for a machlock circa 1600. What are these small wallets for? Any ther comments?

[corrado26]

I think that each of this mall tanks contained the load of powder for one shot for a matchlock or a wheellock gun, certainly not for military but for chasing purpose

[midelburgo]

Iron and tinder. And cord.

[Will M]

Amazing this belt still exists and with the holders too!
Rarely see any of these.

[fernando]

Sure thing, Will.

[eftihis]

I Think this is a military item. A hunter would just have a powder flask to put the black powder in the gun, not "ready to use" gunpowder holders.

[David R]

A bit atypical for Europe. Is there any provenance to confirm the origin?

[eftihis]

Ι bought it from Italy!

[David R]

Ι bought it from Italy!

Personally, I think it's from somewhat further east, and is nonetheless a very fine thing to have in a collection.

[Raf]

Personally, I think it's from somewhat further east, and is nonetheless a very fine thing to have in a collection.

i agree. The clue may be a number of quite modern looking extemporary repairs which imply it was in active use until fairly recently . Makes me think Tibet ? Here is a Chinese gentleman . Same general idea .

[eftihis]

By searching on the net i found a similar set, sold some years ago from Italy with the following description: A Musketeer's bandoleer dating: 17th Century provenance: Europe Leather belt with brass buckle; provided with a leather purse and eleven wooden flasks for powder doses, held together with leather straps. Small defects and damages. dimensions: length circa 97 cm.

[fernando]

Great find :cool: -

[Raf]

Could that be a Chinese communist party buckle ?

[Raf]

This image Described as 18 C Europe . Buckle later

[David R]

Stuff travels, loses its history and dealers will tell the story that sells for the best price, and when I see a modern buckle on something it tells me that it was still in use when the buckle was put on!
I really like the ammo belt and it's certainly collectable.... but you don't want to be paying a 17thC Italian price for a more recent Eastern or African item. I suggest putting it on the Ethnic forum and seeing what they say. I suspect a country with Italian colonial connections if we have two turning up in Italy.
Below a provenanced 17C European bandoleer..

[eftihis]

Good idea, i will put it there! Thanks for your input.