Canadian-marked inter-war Patt. '08 web belt and holster

[RangeRover]

Recently picked up the two Patt. '08 W.E. pieces pictured, separately (I'm a sucker for anything marked with a C-broad arrow). The belt is M.E. Co. marked, dated 1927, with a Canadian C-broad arrow. The Holster is a 1936-dated M.E. Co. example, also C-broad arrow marked



Examples of this style of holster are detailed on Karkee Web http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/19...8_holster.html (what a valuable resource that is).

More pictures below. What has me curious is the holster and its application in Canadian military service. I've looked through my copies of Summers' "Tangled Web" and Law's "Canadian Military Handguns" to try to piece some things together. Here we have a a 1936 holster with Canadian markings that fits only the .38 calibre sidearms. However, aside from a purchase of Enfield No.2 Mk 1 revolvers by the RCAF in 1935, to the best of my knowledge there were no .38 revolvers in Canadian inventory until the first of the S&W Military & Police revolvers began to arrive in 1940. This holster is not in Air Force Blue.

I'm guessing it's simply a matter of, in a time of war, never throw anything way you don't need to, and this holster would have been pressed into service, on P '08 webbing when a larger supply of .38 calibre sidearms came into inventory even though the P '08 had been supplanted by the P '37 W.E. It should be noted my early 6" Canadian marked S&W does not fit into this holster.

As I say, just curious, and pleased to have these as examples of how Canadian troops were equipped between the two World Wars.

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