Help With Military Holster ID

[Rube Burrows]

Hello, Yesterday I was at a gun show and picked up a revolver. With it they said was an original period holster.

Questions;
Is this an authentic period holster?
What period is the holster from?
Any idea what the markings mean?


Thank you for your help

[St. George]

WWI - M1917 Holster - designed to be worn on the right hip and designed for both the S&W and Colt Model 1917 Revolver.

Markings are for the unit it originally belonged to and can vary wildly - in this case - 'Battery E' likely originally owned it and the numerals were the item on the TO&E assigned.

It originally went to an Artillery outfit.

Normal manufacturer's markings are on the reverse side.

Scouts Out!

[Major 2]

WWI - M1917 Holster - designed to be worn on the right hip and designed for both the S&W and Colt Model 1917 Revolver.

Markings are for the unit it originally belonged to and can vary wildly - in this case - 'Battery E' likely originally owned it and the numerals were the item on the TO&E assigned.

It originally went to an Artillery outfit.

Normal manufacturer's markings are on the reverse side.

Scouts Out!

Spot on, in fact 83rd Field Artillery Regiment

[Rube Burrows]

WWI - M1917 Holster - designed to be worn on the right hip and designed for both the S&W and Colt Model 1917 Revolver.

Markings are for the unit it originally belonged to and can vary wildly - in this case - 'Battery E' likely originally owned it and the numerals were the item on the TO&E assigned.

It originally went to an Artillery outfit.

Normal manufacturer's markings are on the reverse side.

Scouts Out!

Thank you.

That tells me that while it may not be original to the gun it could have been paired with it a long time. Or, just something someone added later on at any time. 

The holster came with a Colt 1878 DA revolver that I just picked up.

[Rube Burrows]

Spot on, in fact 83rd Field Artillery Regiment

Pretty neat.

[Major 2]

Markers mark would be on the reverse side on the belt loop...
There was several...
yours show much wear there however look for

*Rock Island Arsenal or RIA 1917
* G&K 1917 - 1918 Graton and Knight

these are the most common encountered  nice score BTW

[Rube Burrows]

Markers mark would be on the reverse side on the belt loop...
There was several...
yours show much wear there however look for

*Rock Island Arsenal or RIA 1917
* G&K 1917 - 1918 Graton and Knight

these are the most common encountered  nice score BTW

Thanks a lot. I will look for the makers mark when I get back home. Great photo by the way.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Lots of history right there. Very nice find.

Do you have a photo of the pistol you could post? 1878 DAs are among my favorites.

[Rube Burrows]

Lots of history right there. Very nice find.

Do you have a photo of the pistol you could post? 1878 DAs are among my favorites.

I will take a photo and post it when I get back home.

[Major 2]

It is not the same gun in Cas City Forum Colt Firearms  "Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer"?

The 1917 holster is one of my favorite's.
  My Dad had this one for his S&W Hand Ejector he carried as a Coast Guard Volunteer, Coast Watch Mosquito fleet in the early Months of 1942.

Seen here with my S&W 1917 Revolver and below that is Dad's hand ejector

[Rube Burrows]

It is not the same gun in Cas City Forum Colt Firearms  "Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer"?

The 1917 holster is one of my favorite's.
  My Dad had this one for his S&W Hand Ejector he carried as a Coast Guard Volunteer, Coast Watch Mosquito fleet in the early Months of 1942.

Seen here with my S&W 1917 Revolver and below that is Dad's hand ejector

Very neat holster and revolver.

Nope, I picked up the Thunderer last week and then went to a gun show yesterday and picked up a 1877 Lighting in .38 and a Colt 1878 in 45 Colt.

[Rube Burrows]

Sorry about the lighting in the photos Marshal. The sun was at bad angle this evening.

These are the two that I got from the gun show this past weekend. The 1878 is in 45 Colt. The 1877 is in 38 Colt.

The holster came with the 1878 and fits it wonderfully.

[Hair Trigger Jim]

Beautiful guns.  Showing their age doesn't hurt a bit (although your Thunderer sure is gorgeous!)  You had a good week!

[Rube Burrows]

Beautiful guns.  Showing their age doesn't hurt a bit (although your Thunderer sure is gorgeous!)  You had a good week!

Agreed 100%.

[Major 2]

Very cool Rube,

[Rube Burrows]

Very cool Rube,

Thanks. Happy to add them both to the collection.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Marvelous pair, Rube. They both are fine examples. I like the looks of an 1877 best but the 1878 is a better gun. They are perhaps the most comfortable feeling pistols ever made, at least for my hand.

[DeaconKC]

Holy cats! Those are beauties!

[Rube Burrows]

Marvelous pair, Rube. They both are fine examples. I like the looks of an 1877 best but the 1878 is a better gun. They are perhaps the most comfortable feeling pistols ever made, at least for my hand.

Yeah, they are very nice to hold on too. I hope the 78 shoots good.

[Rube Burrows]

Holy cats! Those are beauties!