Offered here is our hemp webbing shoulder belt, for carrying your bayonet.
The largest hemp grower in America was- that’s right -George Washington. The emergency clothing and tents made for the troops at Valley Forge was made of hemp. Because it is weather resistant, Betsy Ross’ flag is made out of hemp, not linen. Ben Franklin used hemp twine in his famous electricity experiment, and also pioneered the use of hemp paper, establishing the first hemp paper mill. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was printed on hemp paper. The rough drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper. (Only the final version was written on sheepskin.) Thos. Jefferson was a great promoter of hemp, using it to pay for military supplies when he was governor of Virginia, and keeping a reserve supply for emergencies. He even patented a hemp processing machine, receiving U.S. Patent No. 1.
During the War of Independence, shortages of materials and industry forced Washington’s army to use different materials for their equipment. For example, because almost all leather went to make shoes, they used tin canisters for cartridge boxes, hemp paper for cartridges, and hemp rather than leather for cartridge and shoulder belt straps.
Shoulder belts started in the F&I when british troops started wearing their waist belts over the shoulder. By the 1770s, this was standard in the Continental Army. Our hemp shoulder belt is made of sturdy hemp webbing, 2” wide, and 72 inches long. We make them a little long so you can take it up so it hangs right. It has a leather frog with the hole in it to carry your bayonet scabbard. Because of the wide differences in bayonets, this does not come with a scabbard. Email us if you need the scabbard, too. You simply cannot find a more authentic shoulder belt! Suitalbe for American, Loyalist.
