Questions about my 1914 Mills holster for the 1911

Mean Steak

Mean Steak

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Central Alberta
Hello everyone, I picked up a holster in a trade a week ago and it is a Mills 1914 made for the 1911. The only info I can find on it is that the Canadian Government purchased 5000 Gov't Model .45s in 1914 with these holsters. Does anyone know what the other markings are for? And what is it worth?
From what google has said it can range from $500 for a ratty one and $1500 for a near new one :eek:

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I assume the GC stands for Government of Canada

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Dave
 
Check Hayes Otoupalik in Montana, he has one for $1000 US. They're VERY scarce and I wouldn't give it away. You CAN sell it into the US if you're so inclined.
 
Congrats on this excellent find. The Mills company was located in the USA. Another 'nutz' recently bought a Colt issued to the first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1. He might be interested in your holster if you're thinking of parting with it.
 
fugawi said:
Congrats on this excellent find. The Mills company was located in the USA. Another 'nutz' recently bought a Colt issued to the first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1. He might be interested in your holster if you're thinking of parting with it.
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Would you be able to tell me his CNG handle so I can contact him?
 
The Mills holster was also briefly tested for the US Marines I believe. Any Canadian Mills holsters I have seen slide onto the issue belt rather than hook onto them.
 
Nice find!

A very desirable holster in this condition. No doubt it would bring top dollar in the U.S. however it would in my nice if you sell to a Canadian collector who has a WWI CEF Colt. Never a big fan of this stuff getting exported and drying up here where we live.

-Steve
 
This is a very nice American M1916 Mills holster IAW Hayes's World War 1 Collectors Handbook, Joe Salter .com
http://www.joesalter.com/ has a 1914 Canadian Mills Holster for $465.00.
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By lawrence9 at 2012-02-07

The Americans had 2 versions one for dismounted and one for mounted troops. The Canadians had a third version of attachment that slide on the belt.
 
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All of the Cdn Mills holsters were made with the US style hooks and were issued with the US style pistol belt and mag pouches.
"Canadian Military Handguns" Law
Holster was No 305 and belt w/pouches No171 in 1914 Mills Woven Ctg Belt catalogue 1914.
The above holster appears to be modified.
 
green said:
All of the Cdn Mills holsters were made with the US style hooks and were issued with the US style pistol belt and mag pouches.
"Canadian Military Handguns" Law
Holster was No 305 and belt w/pouches No171 in 1914 Mills Woven Ctg Belt catalogue 1914.
The above holster appears to be modified.
Click to expand...

Interesting, by any chance have you ever seen a picture of a Canadian soldier in WW1 using a Mills holster? The majority of the pictures where I have seen Canadian soldiers carrying a handgun the holster was like that below
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By lawrence9 at 2011-10-23

This handgun was carried by a Canadian Engineer Capt (later LCol.) at Ypres in 1915.
 
Garand:

My C-Broadarrow marked Mills holster has the hook attachment just like Mean Steak's example, and you've seen mine! (So does the example illustrated in Clive Law's "Canadian Military Handguns, 1855-1985", which you've also seen ....)

It has always been my understanding that the holsters were supplied by Mills with the correct belts for the hook attachment method. Actually, this is the first mention I have ever heard of the "slide on" version ... and I would agree with 'green' that the example offered by Salter appears modified - the stitching across the bottom of the belt slide clearly does not match the rest of the stitching ..... What other examples have you seen?
 
Grant, I've seen a few other photos of other modified Mills holsters. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll show you the holster listed on Joe Salter (I bought it 10 minutes ago :) ) Have you ever seen a picture of a Canadian soldier in WW1 wearing a Mills Holster? Could the modification have been so it could have been used on the 1899 Oliver Pattern Belt?
 
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