Need Help Identifying an M1916 1911 Holster

[Guest MountainMan83]

Hi everyone,

I was recently looking into a military 1911 holster that I had purchased at a flea market nearly a decade ago. Not only are the markings worn off, but I cannot find a single example of this fastening style (see photos) for the belt loop to the holster itself. I.e. the three fasteners across the top rather than two rivets on the right. This holster also does not have the extra pad of leather that is sewn into the inside of the other m1916 holsters that I have seen. It appears that it never had this either. Additionally the drain hole seems to be much larger in diameter than the others I’ve seen online.
 

Thanks in advance!!

[Pickax]

Interesting, but not right as you say.

Comparing your pics to a right as rain Graton and Knight 1943 M16, it appears like the M10 hooks wear tearing out. and the holster was Re-worked  to keep keep it working with the belt loops only, with new rivets and stitch pattern.

Yes the interior fill removed and drain hole enlarged as well. Can you tell if this is an older WW11 brown leather with  later blackened leather?

I like the salty look and professional work of it. Maybe a re-work for a different type pistol, or just the way the trooper liked it for his .45 cal

in later duty.

I like it!

[iron bender]

Any chance this is a in-country made example? As in Vietnam?

[mohawkALSE]

I think its a post Vietnam example.  Im seeing a lack of the 2 rivets on the back side where the WW2 era and Vietnam era had 2 and this has 1.

[mohawkALSE]

Took this pic off the web to show what I mean.  The rivets to the right of the belt slots, up to the Vietnam era should have 2 rivets there.  Post Vietnam they only had 1.

[hyrax222]

Great information!

 

hyrax222

[doyler]

interesting holster.

 

Couple of thoughts... have not see a US manufactured holster with the large brass grommet before, The rear rivets also are a bit odd. The stitching is a lit wider and spaced differently. Im wondering is it was made in Germany after the war or another country. 

 

As for the stitching when I visited the Boyt factory I spoke to a VP there and he was also the de facto historian for the company. He stated that nine of the holsters Boyt made during WW2 were machine sewn. All were done by hand with a the needles or  sewing awls. Im still amazed at the efforts this must have entailed.

 

Be nice to see better pictures of the stitching and even the front view head in of the lower tip and grommet. 

 

I have an Australian made WW2 holster and so marked. But the gromet isnt the same size.

[doyler]

here is the one I mentioned made in Australia 

 

 

[iron bender]

I'm not sure a piece of leather gear made in Germany would have stitching as the op's holster. That's why I'm sticking by in-country Asian of some sort, (Korea, Vietnam). Just doesn't have the fine details of USGI or even the Australian holster you posted. I could certainly be wrong but this would be the first USGI holster I've seen made as this one

[doyler]

16 minutes ago, iron bender said:

I'm not sure a piece of leather gear made in Germany would have stitching as the op's holster. That's why I'm sticking by in-country Asian of some sort, (Korea, Vietnam). Just doesn't have the fine details of USGI or even the Australian holster you posted. I could certainly be wrong but this would be the first USGI holster I've seen made as this one

 

agree. the rivets look brown painted and smooth face/head. Hook is brass and to me that isn't consistent with the US made Vietnam era era holsters we see by Buckmier or Cathy Enterprises etc. 

[mohawkALSE]

I wonder if any were made in Korea in the 70s or 80s.

[Pickax]

From a newbie I will state again, not an arsenal job here at all. Just done well by a leather smith somewhere.

Looks like a WW11 holster blackened and customized for the trooper carrying it. Maybe it was a family holster.

Maybe he picked up a Tokarev or something other and had this holster modified in town? 

WAG on my part, but weren't these 1916's all over in VN ? Why modify if not for personal reasons?

 

[kwill]

I think it is a WWI era private purchase holster.  Sellers like Sears did not have to make them to MilSpec.