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EARLY INDIAN WAR ca. 1871 MODIFIED GAYLORD HOLSTER - ADDED
WIPING ROD POCKET AND EMBOSSED “US” IN THE OVAL – VERY
RARE, WELL DOCUMENTED HOLSTER: The exact
holster pictured and discussed on page 87 of US
MILITARY HOLSTERS AND PISTOL CARTRIDGE BOXES by
Scott Meadows, this is a particularly rare specimen of
one type of modification of the US Army Civil War
revolver holsters that were executed in the early
1870’s. This particular method of modification of the
Civil War holsters is believed to have been ordered
under the direction of General Order No. 60 issued in
June of 1872, which described the addition of a wiping
rod pocket riveted to the barrel of the “present belt
holsters”.
This particular specimen was manufactured by E. Gaylord
of Chicopee, Massachusetts and is so marked on the belt
loop. The wiping rod pocket is attached to the length
of the holster body with two rivets. High on the flap,
above the point of attachment for the closing tab, is a
large, embossed “US” in the oval, most likely applied
when the wiping rod pocket was added to this holster.
There appears to be another markers cartouche, now
illegible, at the edge of the flap at the 4 o’clock
position immediately above a smaller “US” stamped in ˝”
characters. The style of this smaller “US” is known to
have been applied to some holsters during the Civil War.
The condition of this rare holster is overall excellent,
with all the seams intact, and all of the components
present and intact to include the closing tab and plug.
The flap, belt loop and holster body all hold their
shape and still retain the characteristics of strong,
live leather. The overall finish is excellent with only
very minor crazing to some areas of the body and with a
strong bright shiny finish overall.
The similarity of the wiping rod pocket, the method of
attachment and presence of the larger “US” in the oval
on the flap all seem to indicate that this particular
holster was modified during the same time frame as the
more complicated modification that resulted in the Model 1872
Holster which included the wiping rod pocket and the
application of the “US” in the oval stamp on the flap,
plus the more complex addition of the Hoffman Swivel
Belt Loop assembly.
This is a rare opportunity to obtain an excellent,
complete example of an important and desirable early
Indian War modification of surplus Civil War equipment
and this holster will be the perfect addition to display
with your Colt Richard Conversion, Smith and Wesson
American, or Model 1871 Remington Single Shot Army Pistol.
(0212) $2295
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