Thank you to this forum's host for approving my access. This is my first post. For full disclosure, I hunt, fish and hike but I am not a trapper. I also collect antique / vintage knives. My passion is pre- WWI Marble's MSA knives. I love them because I am from Michigan and they represent an era when a hunter, trapper or outdoorsman could not survive without a reliable knife hanging from his belt.

Along my journey, I bought an MSA knife that dates from 1908-1915. It came with a hand made leather belt. I was told it was a "trapper belt." (Pics below) This makes sense. A trapper would know how to tan leather and make a belt. This is customized with initials later in the belt's life. It has loops for cartridges and a knife sheath. That is NOT a gun holster. I wondered why someone would want belt for cartridges and a knife but not a gun holster?

Also, the belt straps broke and were replaced with shoe laces. This belt appears to have had a hard working life. I'm just trying to help it's retirement. LOL

Thanks for reading so far.

I am looking for informational help. Any information is helpful because I literally have no clue what this is. Is it a Mountain Man Belt, Trapper Belt, folk art, or a just an old piece of leather? How would it have been used? Is there anything remarkable about it? I wish I had provenance and connectivity to the maker....but that is long gone.

I am seeking information from anyone who knows about vintage, antique, hand made trapper gear.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope to learn from you.

Kind regards,





-Bill

What size cartridges fit the loops? It very well may have been used by a trapper/hunter. I use a similar belt when hunting.

On the larger side of cartridges, I can fit .45 long colts very snug. I did not fill the entire belt, just a few loops.

if I had to guess its a knife belt(of course) and held rifle bullets too. They made rifles with pistol sized bullets

I wonder if an old cartridge like a 32-20 or 22 hornet fits those loops

I wonder if that sheath held a Horace Kephart knife in its day! Shape and size looks right.

Moosetrot

Thanks, now you guys really have my mind stirred up. I guess what I am hearing from you is that this is very likely a trapper's belt. So, at least I know what to call it.

The Horace Kephart reference sounds spot on! This trapper belt most likely held the knife that came with it - (Marble's Safety Axe Co) MSA Haines knife named after Ashley Haines a noted firearms expert and author at the turn of the last century. Marble's advertised the Haines knife in their 1908 catalog and indicated they would produce it if enough orders were placed. Through 1909 they received orders and the Haines knife was produced from 1910-1915. The Haines was discontinued when Marble's introduced the Woodcraft.

Here is a picture of the actual MSA Haines knife that came with the belt.




Do you think there is any way to approximate a range of when this trapper belt may have been made? Anything that leads to a region? Does this have any value for a collector, art or otherwise(if I cannot ask that, then please disregard).

It would be really cool if A. A. H. actually made the belt. He was noted for making most of his own leather gear.

Google the Horace Kephart knife and you'll see what I mean about the blade shape being right for that sheath. I'm a hobby (at this point) knifemaker and have been gearing up to put out a line of knives in the Kephart pattern. I think they are a good looking knife and have a neat heritage.

Moosetrot