1844

Extremely Rare Original Rock Island Arsenal Manufacture 1907 "U.S. Trials" Brown Leather Holster wit

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare Original Rock Island Arsenal Manufacture 1907  U.S. Trials  Brown Leather Holster wit
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This is a super rare example of an original, "US Army" Trials Holster that was manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal for the Colt 1907 45 ACP automatic pistol. This holster was produced specifically under order from the Chief Of the Ordinance on March 16, 1908 with a total of only 205 holsters actually being produced. These were shipped to four different Army units intending to do the actual testing of 1907 Colt automatic pistol. Interestingly enough, at the time of the order, the Ordinance department, sent a sample pistol drawing (20-2-7) to RIA for use as a guide in constructing these holsters. Although designed to be carried on the right side with a reverse draw (pistol butt forward), this style was criticized in several reports as being very poor way to carry any pistol. This was eventually changed to a right side, pistol butt reward position on the 1912 holster, as use with the Model 1911 pistol. Although a sample drawing was provided, they still ended up making the holster too long for the intended 1907 pistol. The thoughts were that they made it the same length as the holster for the Model 1900 pistol. Later on many of these holsters were modified to a shorter configuration. The holster was manufactured of russet leather, in four sections; the body, flap and belt loop with a toe plug on the bottom, a small brass ring for the lanyard loop, and a blued steel reinforcing strip riveted inside the upper flap. The front of the flap has the large oval with "US" inside, with the belt loop correctly stamped in three lines "ROCK SLAND /ARSENAL/1908/TCO". The lower front flap, carries the correct unit making of "2H/4" which represents "Troop H, 2nd Cavalry, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, one of the actual units identified on page 244 of the book "US Military Holsters" by meadows, as actually receiving their initial issue of only 65 holsters.
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Condition: Fine overall with a nice even dark brown color overall with the stitching and brass rivets all tight and intact and so is the toe plug in the end of the holster. The markings on the front flap and belt loop are clear and distinct. The leather overall is a little stiff and has the usual age cracking in some areas, with no tears or rips, and as notes it still retains the original brass ring on the bottom of the toe plug. An extremely rare "US Army" 1907 Trials holster.