Two IJA Ammo Belts for Comparison

**christek** · 08-23-2015, 03:44 AM

Greetings!
I have here what I believe to be two WWII era Japanese Army belts. Very similar in design. On quick inspection, it appeared that one is leather and the other is the late war favoured 'rubberised canvas' material. On closer inspection I am not really sure it is leather? If it is, it has lost it's smell completely, but is quite hard and un-flexible like the canvas example.
Due to the hard condition of these belts I am very reluctant to open these up for any possible markings I can't see, in case of snapping one. These belts do, in any case, make a nice visual example of the different types of war materials used as the war progressed, so I am sharing!

Cheers

**MAP** · 08-23-2015, 03:51 AM

Nice set Chris! I agree that you should leave it as is.

**Tank Destroyer** · 08-23-2015, 03:52 AM

They seem to be two nice examples as you said. I wish I could share some knowledge concerning the belts, I will be watching to gain some. Anything related to the Japanese in WW2 is in my opinion really starting to gain momentum in the collecting field. Thanks for sharing.
Marty

**MAP** · 08-23-2015, 04:06 AM

by tank destroyer

They seem to be two nice examples as you said. I wish I could share some knowledge concerning the belts, I will be watching to gain some. Anything related to the Japanese in WW2 is in my opinion really starting to gain momentum in the collecting field. Thanks for sharing.
Marty

I hope not yet Marty...I picked up a number of Japanese items (not a huge amount: rifles, swords, helmets, bayos, canteens, tunics) a few years back and they were reasonably priced. Still looking to get more before the prices start increasing!

**Tank Destroyer** · 08-23-2015, 04:20 AM

Not to hog Chris's thread, please forgive me. The prices on German items have leveled out and dropped in some cases but I have noticed a better than averge increase for Japanese military, that is one reason I went ahead and bought the type I rifle and now try to buy a Nambu pistol.

**christek** · 08-23-2015, 05:26 AM

by tank destroyer

Not to hog Chris's thread, please forgive me. The prices on German items have leveled out and dropped in some cases but I have noticed a better than averge increase for Japanese military, that is one reason I went ahead and bought the type I rifle and now try to buy a Nambu pistol.

Not at all mate. Yes I agree, although many Japanese items are still affordable items to collect on my humble teacher's salary, there are certainly items I passed on (such as swords, ammo pouches, and helmets) a few years back that seem to have really increased in today's market. These belts fit kinda in this category in my experience, I recall passing on a nice soft leather example several years back, now I'm finding one impossible to find! Guns are too difficult for me in Australia, I need a proper gun license with all the attributed headaches just to display a deactivated WWII rifle here in NSW.