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MODEL 1881 HOLSTERS ISSUED WITH THE MODELS 1873
COLT & 1875 S&W SCHOFIELD REVOLVERS – ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL MARKED – VERY NICE SPECIMENS: As
pictured and discussed in US MILITARY HOLSTERS AND
PISTOL CARTRIDGE BOXES by Scott Meadows, this is an
offering of three specimens of the US Army Model 1881
Holsters, Type I and Type III. Issued with the Model
1873 Colt Single Action and the Model 1875 Smith &
Wesson Revolvers, these Model 1881 Holsters became one
of the key Indian War era holsters. Remaining in
service through a very active frontier period, and in
isolated applications, through the Spanish American War,
these holsters were exposed to heavy and constant use in
the field. Those which do survive often exhibit
evidence of heavy use consistent with holsters used on
the frontier such as crazing and surface loss, however
this wear in no way diminishes the value and importance
of these holsters in the history of the Indian Wars era
cavalry.
I have the following holsters, each described below with
accompanying photographs.
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NO. 1
MODEL 1881 FIRST
PATTERN HOLSTER –
VERY GOOD SPECIMEN:
The first of the series of the Model 1881 Holsters,
these First Pattern Model 1881 Holsters were designed to
carry both the Model 1873 Colt and the Model 1875 Smith
and Wesson Schofield Revolvers. Produced for a very
short period before being supplanted by succeeding
patterns with larger belt loops, these early specimens
are one of the very historic holsters of the Indian Wars
period.
As described in US Military Holsters and Pistol
Cartridge Boxes, by Meadows, on page 104, these
holsters were made with the narrow belt loop,
specifically intended to be worn on the leather sabre
belts and they predate the need for the larger belt
loops which would follow with the introduction of the
woven cartridge belts. As the new cartridge belts were
adopted, many, if not most, of the First Pattern Model
1881 Holsters were modified by replacing the belt loop
with larger loop as designed into the later holster
patterns, and these specimens which escaped the
modification process are now notably scarce.
As with all of these early Indian Wars, this holster
shows signs of use, but given the low survival rate and
the environments in which they were used and stored,
that they survive at all is remarkable.
The condition of this
specimen is very good, with solid stitching throughout
and with all of the components, including the plug,
intact. The body is full form and very solid, showing
none of the misshaping, softening, or collapse that many
of these early holsters exhibit. The holster body
retains a legible “US” in the oval.
The upper surfaces of the
body and the flap both have crazed surfaces – that on
the flap more pronounced than on the body.
The leather surface of the
body is stable with no flaking and it still retains
quite a bit of the surface sheen. The leather surface of
the flap is crazed overall, and there has been some
flaking, however the surface is now stable and the flap
retains its full form. The surface of the flap attests
to its time in service and is not particularly unusual
in these earlier production holsters. The belt loop is
very solid and the surface is overall smooth and shiny
without being crazed.
These First Pattern Model 1881 Holsters in their
original configuration are anything but common, and this
holster is a strong specimen in spite of the evidence
that it saw service in the field. This holster will be
a good addition to complete your Models 1874 and 1885
Sabre Belts, or your Model 1882 Cavalry “Sherman” Belt.
(0501) $850
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NO. 2 MODEL 1881 HOLSTER,
THIRD TYPE FOR THE MODELS 1873 COLT & 1875 S&W SCHOFIELD
REVOLVERS – ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED – VERY NICE
SPECIMEN: A particularly nice specimen
of the Model 1881 Holster, Type Three as described on
page 110 in US Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge
Boxes, by Scott Meadows, manufactured with a larger
belt loop to accommodate the Models 1876 – 1879 Prairie
Belts and the Mills Woven Belt Company looped rifle and
carbine cartridge belts.
Having survived the passing years in very nice
condition, this holster is very solid with no weak
points and no damage. All of the stitching and all of
the components are intact. The body is very solid and
full form, with an overall very good smooth, shiny
surface to the leather, and a legible “US” embossed in
the oval.
The body retains its full form
with no softening or collapsing of the leather due to
wear or oil soaking. The holster flap bears a legible “ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL” cartouche and the arsenal piece
workers’ initials at the tip of the flap below the
finial holes. The surface of the flap is lightly flexed
along the top fold, with no loss of surface and
retaining a shiny finish.
The loop is likewise very
solid, the surface generally smooth, and it shows no
sign of weakness or heavy wear at the corners as so many
of these holsters do.
This is a very solid, presentable, and attractive
specimen of one the earlier, and therefore scarcer and
more desirable, variations of the Model 1881 Holster.
(0502) $1050
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NO. 3 MODEL 1881 HOLSTER,
THIRD TYPE FOR THE MODELS 1873 COLT & 1875 S&W SCHOFIELD
REVOLVERS – ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED – VERY GOOD
SPECIMEN: A particularly nice specimen
of the Model 1881 Holster, Type Three as described on
page 110 in US Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge
Boxes, by Scott Meadows, manufactured with a larger
belt loop to accommodate the Models 1876 – 1879 Prairie
Belts and the Mills Woven Belt Company looped rifle and
carbine cartridge belts.
Having survived the passing years in very nice
condition, this holster is very solid with no weak
points and no damage. All of the stitching and all of
the components are intact.
The body is very solid and
full form, with a legible “US” embossed in the oval.
The body retains its full form with no softening or
collapsing of the leather due to wear or oil soaking.
The leather surface of the
body has some crazing and there are spots where the
surface has flaked during its use, but the surface is
now stable, and still retains a nice sheen. The holster
flap bears a lightly struck, but legible “ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL” cartouche and the arsenal piece workers’
initials at the tip of the flap below the finial holes.
The leather surface of the flap is pebbled with some
crazing, but there is no loss of surface and it still
retains a nice sheen. The flap is still solid with no
weakening or loss of form.
The loop is likewise very
solid, the surface generally smooth with some crazing,
but it shows no sign of weakness or heavy wear at the
corners as so many of these holsters do.
This is a very solid and presentable specimen of one the
earlier, and therefore scarcer and more desirable,
variations of the Model 1881 Holster.
(0503) $975
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