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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ry3D400-38.jpg I found this very nice holster that I believe to be a Model of 1912 mounted holster. It is marked Rock Island Arsenal, 1912, H.E.K.. 7C 23. If I am correct in my ID What would the proper belt be and could I see an example please. Thanks Truman
Was the holster sold as an original Model 1912 holster? From the picture shown it does not look like an original holster to me.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ry3D400-39.jpg Hi Johnny,I bought the holster as original. If it is not it is an excellent repro. Even had some verdigis around the brass. Even I think it looks maybe to good for the age but the leather is excellent and matches the quality of my WW2 Boyts. Thanks Truman
A few months ago I saw online some repro M1912 holsters of the same quality and with the same type markings on the back. I'll try to find the site again. Don't remember how I found it.
You could order holsters with different markings...even in left hand.
I think the font is just slightly different than the originals and all the new repros seem to be perfectly struck.
I suppose the 7C 23 is supposed to be 7th Cav with a property mark 23? Just a guess.
Truman,
Did you by chance get it from eBay? There's a seller there who makes lots of fairly convincing fake holsters, but are too new to be real.
The stampings look entirely too fresh, and the holster appears to have a "distressed" finish to make it look older.
I might be wrong but I think that leather items produced by Rock Island Arsenal during this period (1912) were mark R.I.A. not ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL.
The Rock Island Arsenal stamp is the correct type, but too many other things wrong. The 1's in 1914 do not have serifs on the original holsters. Also, Ordnance issued a set of brass stamps to stamp the leather with unit markings, and the stamps on the holster in question has the unit stamps applied with die made for metal stamping.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8/9koxg9-1.jpg
While hard to see on this well worn holster, the flap exhibits some of the unit stamps applied with the brass dies. The letters were wide, and probably the easiest to see is just to the left of the unit disc which covered a previous unit marking.
By the way, does the holster in question have a thigh strap?
http://i31.tinypic.com/2cp93ls.jpg
Since this is a repo, you can get the proper repo belt from What Price Glory. This would be the early belt with no snap and only one 'loop'. They also have eagle snap magazine pouches. Or you can get the slightly later belt with the snap and two 'loops' (with or without the sabre ring).
SteveD
This Ebay seller is lucky enough to have an unlimited selection of nicely marked original holsters.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tBKPruGB-1.jpg
Nice, crisp markings, Harlan, It looks brand new!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ry3D400-40.jpg a pic of a couple of of other holsters for comparison. The middle one is a Boyt 42 with a 1924 belt hanger and the end one is a nice Boyt 44. The 1912 did not come with the leg belt but did have two loops. Honestly the quality of the 1912 is comparable with the Boyts. Thanks Truman
I don't think quality is in question here, but rather markings and originality.
My M1912 holsters also do not have the serif type 1 in the date stamps. My markings are also applied differently.
I think Johnny makes a good point about the type of die used to apply these markings being different for leather and steel.
Thanks Scott I think I am just trying to console myself that if I was taken at least it was an excellent example. Up untill now I have not seen this quality of repro. Not to worry for but $50 it will make a nice conversation piece and a usable holster. Thanks Truman
I think you did great for $50. It appears to be a high quality holster with nice detail. $50 doesn't usually buy nearly as much. Congratulatins on the good buy.
Here are a couple of examples of Rock Island Arsenal made holsters. According to Meadows Holster book, RIA made approx. 200,000 holsters between 1911-1916. In terms of numbers, these holsters are not rare but I would assume most of them are just used up.
Model 1912
http://members.cox.net/jpchan/holster%20front.jpg
Marks have faded. 1914 T.C.C.
http://members.cox.net/jpchan/back%20side%201.jpg
Model 1916
http://members.cox.net/jpchan/RIA%20front.jpg
Just below 1916, can’t make out the date, M.E.K.
http://members.cox.net/jpchan/ria%20top%20back.jpg
As told, this holster is a good quality repro. "Repro" is a too good word when they reproduce also markings to fool people, maybe it's better call it "fake". Of course there are many details saying it's a repro, but the most obvious and detectable from long distance is the shape of the arched stitching in front of the trigger guards.
In the pic an original R.I.A.1913
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../stitchd-1.jpg
Your first tipoff that the holster was not authentic should have been the price. You just don't buy $300 original holsters for $50 in this day and time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Truman