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ca. 1913-1916 MILLS WOVEN HOLSTER FOR THE MODEL 1911 .45 ACP PISTOL – RARE HOLSTER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:  With the U.S. Army’s adoption of the Model 1911 Pistol, several entities competed to design and submit their holsters for the army’s consideration.  Such was the case with the Mills Woven Belt Company who was already enjoying a decades-long relationship with the Ordnance Department as a major supplier of cartridge belts and other accoutrements.   

This Mills Woven Holster submitted a series of Woven Swivel Holsters to the Ordnance Department.  The company responding at each stage of the trials to the reports received from the company grade officers who had been issued the holsters for field tests, made the necessary modifications based on recommendations before resubmitting them for additional tests.  These Mills Holsters are extremely well documented by Scott Meadows in his U.S. Military Holsters and Related Accoutrements (pgs 410-416) and he identifies this particular model as the “Second Type”.      

Mills ultimately provided approximately 77 of these holsters to the Ordnance Department who in turn issued them in small quantities to each of fifteen regiments for field tests.  The company commanders who monitored the use of the holsters responded with critiques, some positive but for the most part negative, and ultimately Mills was unable to secure a contract to supply the Ordnance Department with a large quantity for general issue.  

While no doubt Mills was disappointed at not being able to obtain the contract, the company was adept at skillful marketing to the military community, and these holsters were offered for sale direct from the company to officers as a private purchase item.  Apparently, Mills found a market for these holsters and at least enough of them were purchased by serving officers to warrant Mills continuing to manufacture them.   

This specimen presents in excellent condition, showing very little sign of having been exposed to heavy use.  The webbing is clean and bright, the canvas edging is complete with all seams intact, and all the darkened finish metal fittings are present with the finish completely intact with the exception of some very minor wear to the finish on the bottom and back of the end cap where it would have rubbed against the wearer’s leg.  The swivel is fully functional and rotates with minimal pressure.  The original leg strap is present, full length, and like the holster, shows no evidence of wear or fraying.   

The “MILLS” cartridge logo ink stamps are present on the underside of the flap and on the leg strap, and both stamps are fully legible.  The “MILLS” cartridge logo and the patent dates are stamped on the bottom of the brass end cap and all the stamps are fully legible. There is a name written in ink on the reverse of the body, likely the name of the officer who owned this holster. 

This is an excellent example of a scarce early trial holster, and it would be an important addition to a display or collection of Model 1911 Pistols or a collection of early Mills Company accoutrements.   (0812)  $1850   

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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