Can anyone knowledgeable about U.S. WWII GI accoutrement figure out exactly what this holster is? I know enough about belts and pouches and suchlike to say "Ayup. That looks like one o' them there holster things you got yourself, there."
(Also, as a sort of gratuitous gun pr0n bonus, there are pictures there of a Hungarian-made Jerry pistol, a Luftwaffe-issue P.37(u), which was stuffed in the holster.)
It's a tanker shoulder holster...I've got one somewhere. They were issued up until the Beretta came along.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Tam's thought that it's made for the Victory Model-probably mostly air crew issue.
ReplyDelete+1. Tanker holster.
ReplyDeleteEl Paso Saddlery makes a current version.
http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-96-25-1942-tanker-holster-5-12-to-8-38-barrels.aspx
There are plenty of cheaper copies out there as well.
Standard issue GI shoulder holster, tanker and aircrew. Issued in brown, I used one with that Italian abomination that replaced the 1911.
ReplyDeleteIt is Boyt, 43 appears to be the year. It looks like someone put an extra line of stitching on it. see picture at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.collectorfirearms.org/website Images/U.S. Military Holsters & Related/uh-1121.htm
If you check around the site you can see the victory model versions also.
I would post this there but I don't have any of the account it asks for.
I took another look and decided it is an M7 modified for the SW Victlory. It is identical to my M7, which is in front of me, except for that extra row of stitching which, when you think of it, appears to trace the Victory profile. So, a standard 1911 shoulder holster modified to hold the Victory snugly. It leads to the possibility that the same expedient might have been used for the GO pistols.
ReplyDeleteFor the Navy fly-fly boys, their parachute riggers often added cartridge loops to the over-the-shoulder strap. Squadron-level modification, details varied with the abilities/bribe-abilities of the individual PR.
ReplyDeleteNavy fliers got Victory revolvers; Army tankers got 1911's.
Got it covered, Tams. I wrote a lengthy reply over in t'other guy's comments. Short form: It's am M3 autopistol holster with field modifications to accomodate a revolver. It needs the Conway buckle to make it usable. Most saddle and tack shops have those for sale.
ReplyDeleteJPG
Thanks everyone! Now the fun part going to the range to shoot the pistol!
ReplyDeleteh/t to JPG for the info!
Field mods... gotta luv em. How about cloth M1919 MG belts turned into M1 Carbine slings? My photo documentation shows it happened in the PTO... would love to hear the story about them!
ReplyDelete@Buddy,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can't even get a S&W Model 30-1 .32 in it!
Thanks again Tam! I have another little thing that showed up here that might get your attention. It will have to wait until the weekend though! (Psst.. It's a 100 year old Colt revolver) I would really like to shoot it, but good luck on finding rounds. Need to load some for it!
ReplyDeleteThanks again to everyone!