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RARE 1908 – 1911 LATE
MANUFACTURE RUSSET LEATHER HOLSTER FOR THE MODEL 1873
COLT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS WITH THE 7 ˝” BARREL –
LEGIBLE ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL STAMP – VERY GOOD SPECIMEN:
This 1908-1911 Russet
Leather Holster, manufactured at the Rock Island
Arsenal, was a late production holster specifically made
to carry Model 1873 Colt Revolvers with 7 ˝” barrels.
Somewhat of an enigma, and produced in very limited
numbers – a total of 2,527 - these holsters were
manufactured after the army’s change over to russet
leather which occurred in 1902, and were apparently a
made in response to a very specific need, as the Colt
Single Action pistols with 7 ˝” barrels had long since
been modified by shortening their barrels to 5 ˝”, or
had been subsequently replaced altogether by a number of
other models of pistols. Although presenting something
of a mystery, as the last of the full length single
action revolver holsters produced by the army within the
Ordnance system, these holsters are quite collectible
and seldom appear on the market.
As described on page 118, in US Military Holsters and
Pistol Cartridge Boxes by Meadows, these holsters
are similar to the Model 1881 Fifth Pattern Holster with
the exceptions of a single hole in the flap as these
holsters were intended to be used only with the one
revolver, the Model 1873 Colt Single Action, and the
addition of a brass tie down ring mounted in the plug at
the bottom of the holster body. There is a drain hole
at the bottom rear of the holster body, always present
on holsters manufactured with a tie down ring in the
bottom plug. There is also a hole obviously made by the
soldier immediately above the bottom plug and punched
through the holster tube at the side seam, apparently to
serve as another anchor point for a second or
alternative leg thong. Why the soldier thought this was
necessary is open to conjecture, but such soldier
applied modifications are always an interesting
feature. While on the subject of attaching thongs,
there is a short leather thong installed by the arsenal
at the time of manufacture to the rear edge of the belt
loop where it is riveted to the holster body. This
thong was intended to anchor the holster to a specific
location on the soldier’s belt to keep it from sliding
out of position.
The belt loop is of the same size used on the Model 1881
Fifth Pattern Holsters, large enough to accommodate a
looped cartridge belt, or any of the pocketed cartridge
belts that were coming into use during the early years
of the 20TH Century.
The reverse of the holster belt loop bears the legible
“ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp, a partially legible date of
manufacture, “191?, and the inspector’s initials, “H.E.K.”.
As it is known these holsters were made in 1908, 1909,
1910, and 1911, the last digit of the date though barely
legible appears to be a “0”. The belt loop is also
marked with a unit applied inventory stamp, “BAND 7”.
Obviously issued, this holster shows signs of use;
however the condition of this specimen is very good,
with the stitching and all of the components, including
the plug with the tie down ring, intact. The body is
full form and solid without being oil soaked, and there
is a strong, legible “US” in the oval on the face of the
holster. The flap is full form, supple, and the
stampings on the reverse of the belt loop are legible as
noted. The surfaces of the body, flap, and belt loop
have some crazing, but the surfaces are stable. The
leather has an even deep russet color. Given the
limited production number, the apparent low survival
rate, and the environments in which these holsters were
used and stored, that they survive at all is
remarkable.
These 1908-1911 Russet Leather Holsters made for the
Model 1873 Colt Revolvers with 7 ˝” barrels, are
anything but common, and this complete specimen will be
an interesting addition to your collection, and would
be an unusual piece to complete your Model 1904 Sabre
Belt. (0113) $850
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