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MODEL 1912 .45 ACP HOLSTER - ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL
DATED 1911 – RARE EARLY PRODUCTION IN EXCELLENT
CONDITION: This US Army Model 1912 Holster was
manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1911 for
issue with the Model 1911 .45 Automatic Colt Pistol.
A desirable specimen, this holster is dated 1911,
predating the introduction of the remainder of the
accoutrements which were part of the Model 1912 Trial
Equipment. Based on the examination of surviving
specimens, it is believed that the number of these
holsters produced in November, 1911 were limited to a
few hundred before a stop order was issued, halting
production. The design of the holster body was then
sufficiently modified that those holsters produced in
1911 were salvaged for usable parts, and these 1911
dated swivels were then used in assembling the first
holsters with the modifications produced beginning in
March of 1912. Another indicator of this being an early
production holster is that the wire hook belt attachment
is housed within a metal roller, intended to reduce the
wear on the leather hanger. The Model 1912 Holster was
in production for only a few weeks before this roller
was discontinued after approximately 2,500 holsters had
been manufactured - the holsters produced after this
point were made without the roller.
This holster shows very little evidence of issue and
use, and it presents in excellent, solid condition with
all of the stitching and all of the seams intact. The
overall surface of the leather is smooth with only very
minor flexing evident on the upper portion of the flap
where this flexing is prone to occur. The leather has a
nice even russet color and a shiny surface overall.
Complete with the proper iron wire belt hanger, the
leather that passes over the roller shows very little
wear on the edges of the leather where these holsters
normally show excessive wear or tearing. The swivel
moves freely, a component that is normally frozen in
place as these holsters aged. A real added value in
this holster is that the leg strap is present, intact
and in full length – a component that is more often than
not, missing.
The “US” in the oval is very strong and the hole in the
flap that closes over the final shows none of the
characteristic wear. The arsenal stamp on the
reverse, “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, 1911” is bright and fully
legible, and it includes the inspector’s initial stamp,
“T.C.C.”.
This early production Model 1912 Holster presents in
excellent condition, and it is a specimen that would be
almost impossible to upgrade.
SOLD
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