Traps

[Pvt. Shattuck]

How would a soldier go about shortening the length of the leather sling on his cartridge box or the canvas shoulder strap on his forage bag?
Mine are too long. Most photos show hip length and I'm nearly mid-thigh.
If this has already been discussed on the AC somewhere, sorry, I couldn't find it using the "search" box.

[Vuhginyuh]

strap.jpg

Again from the Lazarus Files...check out his right shoulder...

[PogueMahone]

Bill,

I'd start with verifying that the box belt you have is the correct length and that you have taken it up to the shortest notch on both buckles. It will naturally hang lower on the shorter man and ride higher on a taller man. Neither is unauthentic; it just is what it is.

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Thank You. I raised it the to the last notch on the roller buckles and it is still long, but much better. Duh!

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

1. As shared there was a (nominal) regulation length of 55.5 inches for the cartridge box belt with an added 4.25 inces for the billets on each end.

The four holes and buckle arrangement allowed for height to be adjusted. Within the range afforded by teh adjsutments, a box rode on a man depending upon his height and build.

2. The other side of the coin here is whether or not you have a box made to "specs" or possibly made for N-SSA competitive where the belt was lengthened to allow competitors to lower their boxes for a more "Western quick draw."

If No 1. you wear the box as best its adjustmentsd woul dallow as they did back then.

If No. 2, you can replace the box with one "more authentic."
Or, take the belt off and measure it to "regulation" length. Then "fold' one billet end over to the other and trace where the billet falls on the marked length. Trace out the outline. With an X-Acto knife and hole punch you can then cut off the excess and have a properly sized length.

Haversacks, NUG being cloth can be shortened more easily. A simple expedient is to tie a knot in it. Another method is to cut it, cut off the excess, and then stitch to back together.

Curt

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Thank you, I appreciate the advice.

[10TnVI]

Another method to adjust your haversack strap is to fold it over it's self and then stitch it down. This has the advantage of a stronger join and the option to further adjust it by removing and readjusting the length of the fold as well as not having a knot interacting with your knapsack straps.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

I am 5'8" and WAS on the slender side... I never had fault with the first notch on the cartridge box sing. As for haversacks and canteens; I just cut the sling with a knife and tied a square knot to the right hight and trimmed the rest.

[Philip cav]

I for my canteen strap, added a button and buttonhole to it. That is another option too.

[Marine Mike]

I'm 5'7". I found that most canteen straps are longer then the regulation 6' so I recut them to regulation and they seem to hang better.