WWI Turkeish Army Infantryman's Bandolier

WWI Turkeish Army Infantryman's Bandolier - his bandolier is fabricated from a very thick polished leather, with two panel stitched back-to-back for additional strength. The belt incorporates two distinct sections, each with eight pockets and are joined together at the junction via a trapezoid patch sewn upon the junction of the two straps and secured by metal rivets, three on each side. The bandelier was designed to rest upon the shoulder at the junction, one end of the belt resting diagonally on the infantryman's chest, the other diagonally on his back. The belt has a tab with a hole at one end, while the other end has a buckle riveted in place, and when the tab is fed through the buckle and latched, it secures the belt in place jst above the waist. The bandolier was used to keep ammunition off a soldier's hips, as carrying too much weight on the hips could constrain movement and cause difficulty in retrieving the ammunition. Each pocket is designed to hold five bullets, with individual sleeves at the bottom, a secure loop overlaying and covered by an overlaying flap, with snap closures, most of the snaps remaining functional. All sixteen flaps have an upward pointing crescent moon stamped upon them, representaive of the Ottoman Empire, the pockets measuring 65 mm x 85 mm each. The belt itself was made to house eighty bullets for transport. The belt measures 70 mm wide (87 mm including the pocket flaps) x 130 mm long (including the buckle), is well-stitched, exhibiting cracking and wear from active use, the leather remaining smooth and relatively supple for its age and activity level. A terrific WWI, in very fine condition.