Rock Island 1903 Pistol Holster

[samhouston1971]

I generally collect WWII U.S. and have a small collection of WWI stuff, so this one is outside my area of expertise. When I picked at a local antique store it up I could read "ISLAND", "TC" and it looked like 1908 on the flap. With better lighting and my son's younger eyes, it says "ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL TC 1903" and at the bottom edge of the flap is JJT or UUT. The leather is very nice for such an old item. I've been told its for a M1892 to M1909 .38 Long Colt Revolver. Anyone have any more information on these? Are they as rare as I suppose?

[CAC1901]

Its a standard .38 Colt double action revolver holster. I wouldn't call them rare. More like classic. The Meadows book states 39,000 of these were made in russet leather from 1903-08. The plug in the bottom had a bronzed ring and leather tie cord to lace around the thigh. Yours has very nice color still. A lot of these lost that russet color due to people oiling the leather, which makes its unnaturally dark.