1916 US holster pattern???

Dalton Masterson · March 21, 2009, 09:24:27 PM

Howdy gents. I want to make myself a holster based on the 1916 model US holster for my 1911. Is there anyone making a pattern for this?
I have a nice original, but I sure dont want to cut it apart just to make a pattern.
Also, the one I have is a 1944 dated Milwaukee Saddlery. When did the leather gear go to black? This one has a brown tinge, but is a black one, kinda. Looks like it got black boot polish at some point.

Thanks!
DM

Curly Red Ryder · March 22, 2009, 06:41:24 AM

Hi Dalton,
you can find the pattern in "US military<holsters and pistol cartridge boxes" by E.S. Meadows page 274.
The scabbards were blackened in 1956.
Hope this helps

Ace Lungger · March 22, 2009, 09:26:06 AM

Dalton,
i don't know if David Carrico has one, but you might give him a shout!
Later ACE

Old Top · March 22, 2009, 09:31:31 PM

Dalton,

Pacific Canvas and Leather has them for $39.00 on their web site.

Old Top

Dalton Masterson · March 22, 2009, 09:58:39 PM

Yep, and Cheaper than Dirt has the same ones for 29.00, but I still dont want to cut one apart that bad.

After some cleaning, my original one is taking on a dark grey with brown streaks. The black is coming off. I think it WAS shoe polish, or something similar. Maybe some more cleaning will make it more brown than gray. May not be much good colorwise when done. Darnit.

DM

St. George · March 22, 2009, 10:29:34 PM

With so many hundreds of thousands of originals in varying degrees of condition - plus all the fakes out there - finding a 'bad' one to use as a pattern should be easy.

The M1916 Holster is made up of a number of parts - including an internal 'plug' and a wooden spacer block.

Look deep into the Milwaukee Saddlery holster and you should see both.

Incidentally - I had been issued a Boyt '44 that had been polish-dyed.

Since the leather was supple, and there were no cracks, wrinkles or gouges - and as I already had a Black M1916 on my belt - I figured I'd keep it and clean it up.

I stripped off the polish with gasoline and re-dyed it Brown - then polished it with 'London Tan' creme polish.

Still have it - looks great and better yet - looks 'right'...

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Dalton Masterson · March 22, 2009, 11:01:45 PM

You say you used gasoline! Yikes. That may have to be my last ditch on this one.
I have been using Lexol cleaner, and went a bout with some deglazer. It helped, but its still got a long way to go.
What color of brown did you use?
I have spotted one on an auction, and if goes well, will have a bad one to play with.

Thanks.
DM

St. George · March 23, 2009, 11:04:01 AM

'Gasoline' - not to be trifles with, for sure - but I learned it from the bootmakers at Dehner's.

They've supplied 'Real Cav' Officers with their Tank Boots since WWII, and are located in Omaha, so when I was picking up mine from being re-soled, I brought along two WWII holsters to ask about refinishing.

They showed my what 'they' did, and they immersed them in gas and scruubed off the old paste dye and finish - leeaving them to air-dry for awhile in a very well-ventilated area.

I was amazed...

I was equally amazed that it worked perfectly when I did it...

I used Feibing's afterward - and 'London Tan' creme polish that I bought there, but any 'good' Western shop should have.

I think 'Justin' Makes a good version.

If you 'really' need a bad M1916 - send me a PM...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Dalton Masterson · March 23, 2009, 12:21:16 PM

Thanks St. George. I may give you a PM. I will give the ol gasoline a try tonite. Cant hurt it much more than it is I guess.
Thanks for the info!
DM

St. George · March 23, 2009, 12:30:35 PM

After I had stripped the color, I stuffed the holster to make certain it kept it's form upon drying.

That's one of the reasons there's a leather plug iinside, at the muzzle end.

I will say this, and it's from the bootmaker at Dehner's - it's difficult to dye any brown shades properly.

That was one of the biggest reasons the Army went to Black leather around the time of the Civil War - changing to Russet at the turn of the century - Black dye is a very all-encompassing dye and covers a multitude of sins - including that of poor-quality leather and careless workmanship.

The 'best' of the leathers during the Old West era were the lighter shades of Brown - it indicated that the wearer bought quality goods...

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!