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MODEL 1892 UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS HOLSTER – SECOND TYPE - FOR THE .38 COLT PISTOL –
VERY RARE SPECIMEN:
This United States
Marine Corps Model 1892 .38 Caliber Colt Revolver
Holster is the exact specimen shown in on page 570 of
US Military Holsters and Related Accoutrements, by
E. Scott Meadows, and was purchased directly from the
author’s collection. This specimen is the only one
known at this time which includes all three features of
being a Model 1892 Holster made in brown leather and
embossed with “USMC”, the very definition of an
incredibly rare accoutrement.
Produced to carry the series of .38 Caliber Colt Double
Action Pistols adopted during the 1890’s, this holster
pattern was produced for the US Army at Rock Island
Arsenal, and saw extensive service during the Spanish
American War. Identified in the collector community as
the Model 1892 “Second Type”, this holster was fitted
with the larger belt loop which would accommodate the
double loop woven cartridge belts.
This holster is an identical match in size and features
to the black leather US Army holsters of the same
pattern produced at Rock Island Arsenal between 1892 and
1902, even down to the location of the arsenal maker and
inspector stamps. The only difference between the US
Army 1892 Holsters and this holster being that this
holster was manufactured of russet leather.
That the pattern of this holster so closely adheres to
the Model 1892 Holsters, yet made in russet leather,
raises some interesting considerations when attempting
to date it.
Tracing the evolution of the US Army’s .38 caliber
revolver holsters, it is notable that the belt loop on
this USMC holster and those on Model 1892 US Army
holsters are slightly, but noticeably, larger than the
belt loops on the russet leather Model 1903 Holsters
produced at Rock Island. Again, the belt loop on this
holster is identical to the Model 1892 Second Type
Holster issued to the army. Whether the Marine Corps
intended this holster to be worn on a Mills double
looped cartridge belt or not, the belt loop on this
holster would have accommodated the thicker belt as did
the army holsters.
So, this holster presents in russet leather, but was
produced in a pattern which dated from the black leather
period that had been superceded by a newer pattern
holster, the Model 1903. If this USMC holster was made
after Rock Island began producing the Model 1903
Holsters, it seems inconsistent that the arsenal would
use an earlier pattern as opposed to the current
pattern.
The more well known Model 1889 Marine Corps holster is
known to have been manufactured in russet leather, while
the same pattern holster was manufactured for the US
Navy in black leather, suggesting that the Marine Corps
had decided to produce their accoutrements in russet
leather before the US Army changed the color of leather
equipment from black to russet in 1902.
The final clue to explaining the combination of
irreconcilable features of this holster may be found in
the Rock Island Arsenal production records for the .38
caliber holsters as provided by Meadows on page 153 of
his US Military Holsters and Related Accoutrements.
In 1898, Rock Island began producing a significant
quantity of the Model 1892 Holsters in “fair” leather,
rather than black leather, and between the years 1898
and 1902 they report a total production in fair leather
of 30,939. No additional fair leather holsters were
produced after 1902, instead the arsenal switched to
“russet” leather in 1903 which it used from then on.
Turning to Meadows’ most recent work, US Military
Holsters and Related Accoutrements, on pages viii –
xi he provides an excellent explanation of the types of
leather used to produce accoutrements, in particular
“fair” leather. While neither “fair” leather nor
“russet” leather was dyed black, the primary difference
between the two is that fair leather is not oiled, or
only lightly so, while russet leather is “stuffed” or
saturated with oil to finish and protect it.
As the entire explanation is too long and detailed to
include here, suffice it to say that the use of fair
leather was an effort to alleviate the staining to
uniforms caused by the black dyed leather, and due to
the opinion that it presented a better appearance and
that it was easier to maintain. Fair leather was
finished without the use of dyes or preservatives – so a
piece of tanned leather without the application of any
color or oil, which resulted in a light colored
accoutrement. After some eighteen years of trial and
two years of production, the objections to fair leather
seem to center on two points – first, the leather did
not retain a presentable appearance after being used in
the field. And second, because it was not oiled, or had
very little oil applied to it, it was more susceptible
to absorbing water than black dyed leather. The
saturation from rain and then drying to which a fair
leather accoutrement was subjected to in the field
resulted in a hardening of the leather and at times,
caused the surface of the leather to craze. The
Ordnance Department’s response acknowledged these
faults, noted that the absence of oil caused both
problems, and agreed that the application of oil as a
maintenance procedure would resolve the problems, but
pointed out that “such treatment will darken the color
[to a medium brown] and deprive the leather of its
non-soiling advantage”.
Returning to this holster, it was definitely not dyed
black at any time, and it survives today with a somewhat
darkened brown color. The leather surface is crazed and
the leather is stiffer than what is encountered with a
black dyed holster. Having the benefit of Meadow’s
works and viewing this holster in the context of the
historical record which documents the experience with
fair leather, I’m left to believe this holster was
manufactured of fair leather, not russet leather,
between 1898 and 1902. Unfortunately, the Rock Island
records do not include any specific mention of the
production of US Marine Corps holsters.
While obviously issued and subjected to use, this
holster is a very solid specimen, having survived in
nice condition, with solid stitching, all of the seams
intact, and all of the components, to include the plug,
are present. The body is solid and full form with no
weak points. The embossed “USMC” in the oval is very
legible. The “Rock Island Arsenal” maker’s stamp is
mostly legible and the inspector’s initials, “E.H.S.”
for E. H. Schmitten, are present on the flap and fully
legible. The piece worker's initials are legible on the
tip of the flap where they are normally found. The
leather surfaces on the body, flap and belt loop have
all experienced some crazing which is consistent with
the field reports regarding the character of fair
leather. The leather has a stiff feel to it – again, a
character of fair leather which has been used in the
field, however the leather is still pliable and will
accommodate a revolver without compromising the
integrity of the holster. Despite the crazing that is
present, the entire holster still retains an attractive
shiny surface and it presents very well.
Certainly one of the rarest US Marine Corps holsters in
existence, this unique piece will be a significant
addition to any collection. (0113) $1500
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