Saw this somewhere else... Pomel hoslters

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Don't know if someone has posted this already, but, a nice description and pic of the pomel holsters from the civil war.

http://www.gunswithahistory.com/gun_leather/gun_leather_001.html

How long did cavalry or at least the officers, carry these with their sidearms??? (I suppose unti lthe 1860 Army and 1858 NMA became popular during mid war)

[Major 2]

Officers on both side utilized pommel holster throughout the war... this is evident in many photo's of Officers tack & horses.
The issue to enlisted men stopped with the adoption of the M59 Mcclellan... Enlisted men's pommel holsters were last seen issued with M47 Grimsley & Jennifer Saddles offered for testing around 1855.

[Dr. Bob]

When the Walker & Dragoons were issued, the Dragoons were expected to dismount and fire with their carbines.  Or fight with sabers.  Shooting from horseback was a pretty new concept.  Both of these revolvers were BIG & HEAVY!     You wouldn't want to haul them on your belt very far.  When the Dragoons carried single shot pistols, they were supposed to be used to put down an injured mount.  [Any of you Cav guys feel free to correct anything I put here that is wrong.  Not my primary area of research.]

[Major 2]

Though in general what you say is true ... I do fine this statement "When the Dragoons carried single shot pistols, they were supposed to be used to put down an injured mount" unsustainable 

One must return to the earliest days of Cavalry, Dragoons and Hussar's in Europe to better understand their different rolls..Cavalry, had is roll in a mounded charge , followed by the heavier armed Dragoons and finally the Hussar's
then fast forward to the Different terrain mounted troops had to deal with ( here in the eastern wooded US over that of plains of Europe )
Our early Mounded wing was mostly patterned after European mounted Troops.
In fact our own Continental light horse was issued a brace of pistols in pommel holsters, each with sewed tubes for added rolled cartridges.
Their intended roll in a Mounded charge was as shock troops against infantry (the queen of battle ) with the pistol & the Dragoon Saber.
( enter here the wooded terrain of the Colonies and the effect is not the same as it was in Europe )
It is a fact that, by 1816 the young USA was about to do away with Cavalry and Dragoons if not completely then reduce it to just one small branch.

[Rascal Ralph]

Major 2's comment is reinforced by the fact that they carried 2 pistols, as these holsters are always paired. Defintly ment for the enemy. RR

[Major 2]

Well .... not "always"
Examples exist of a single Holster and a pouch on the off side.
Campbell offered his enlisted mans Saddle to the Cavalry Commission for consideration in 1855 with a single Holster and hoped for a contract.
Also,Thornton Grimsley, made single sets for two Squadrons of the 1st. and 2nd Cavalry enlisted men, for the 58cal. Harper's Ferry percussion pistol the off side cased the detachable shoulder stock.

Most double sets seen of officer's tack is on Grimsley, Campbell , Jennifer and on the occasion Hope saddles.
Though, examples are seen in photo's on the M59 McClellan saddles, the Mac was never issued with pommel Holsters.
They were either the officers private purchase , gifted or sets made by others.
Schuyler Hartley & Graham offered such sets and complete officers furnature as late as 1864.

[Dr. Bob]

In discussions with the Dragoon reenactors at Ft. Leavenworth, I was told that one holster held the pistol and the other had a horse shoe and nails.    I would believe that they said that from proper period documentation.  I, however, have not read the documentation myself.

[Major 2]

That's true Doc... There is or was a set on display at Ft. Scott. 
"Examples exist of a single Holster and a pouch on the off side"

I've done some reenacting myself at Leavenworth...
Some years ago we did commemorative ride from Ft. Leavenworth to Ft. Riley.

[Dr. Bob]

From Packing Iron:

Pommel Holster [page 12] "Ordnance Department literature described early pommel holsters only cursorily.  A System of tactics, published in 1834, cited in its equipments inventory: Holsters. (the upper part called the body, the lower portion [called] the pipe.  The right holster [bag] ought to contain a horse shoe, nails, currycomb and brush, &c., and ought to be six inches wide....)⁸

End note 8: Quoted in Steffen, Vol. 1, p 143.  The pistol in 1834 would be the Mod. 1824 flintlock horse pistol, replaced in 1836 by theMod. 1836 flintlock horse pistol. 

[Major 2]

Agreed... the issue saddle is the Whitman in 1833 as Mr. Steffen states Figure 83 pg. 148 "clearly shows the holster pouch in the 1833 Horse equipments.
Moving on to pg. 153 Figure 86 another of Randy's fine drawings showing the single holster & pouch.
Page 152 third paragraph titled "Holsters" & forth, titled Holster Bag" he describes the contents and construction.
Same page adjacent column he describes a double pair in detail with dimensions , officers perhaps ?
Steffen includes in Figure 93 pg. 167 the enlisted mans Grimsley, the single holster and Figure 95 pg. 175 the privately purchased Grimsley of a Lt. Col. of the 2nd. Dragoons with holsters for a pair of US Model 1842 single shot pistols.
Fast forward to Volume II of Steffens Figure 108 pg 29  First Lt. 2nd Dragoons circa 1853 armed with a pair of Colts Dragoons, enlisted are issued a single pistol, pommel holster with pouch on the off side.
Now we see Article VI of General order #4  for the Cavalry it lists the saber belt complete with pistol case for the Colt navy Cartridge box... intresting to note they are equipted "Same as used by Dragoons"...
Also Horse equipments still include the Holster & pouch according to the new pattern.

[Major 2]

I'd like to state here... that Randy Steffen was probably my first & biggest influence in studying Military Horse Equipage.
I have "United States Military Saddles—1812-1943" and his excellent 4 Volume set "United States Military Saddles—1812-1943"
While he was a contributing artist and writer for Western Horseman, a Special Issue Cavalry booklet was produced ...
Pryor to Mr. Steffen's death, I had the honor & pleasure to have him sign my copy I still treasure it.

[outrider]

Major..

I too have Stephans book on saddles....although mine is not signed.  Hold onto that one for sure.  I do however have a copy of "Packing Iron" that was signed to me by Richard Rattenbury back when the book first came out.  I cerrtainly treause that book.  It's a good feeling having signed copies of these great references.