World War 1 Tactical Holster?

[Ganderite]

I have the Colt 1911 Commercial that a friend of the family purchased to carry as a young officer in WW1. I am sorry that I never thought to question him about it.

It was only after he passed that I learned that he had to supply his own pistol and holster. Thanks to this Forum I have learned a lot about the old Colt.

One thing that has bugged me for a long time is two cuts in the holster flap. It has slots in the back to be threaded on a belt, so these two on the flap did not make sense.

But then I had a brain flash. Suppose the young officer was actually in combat? Maybe a covered holster would not be such a handy thing.

Tonight I threaded the holster on a belt, through the flap cuts. Voila!! A 1916 tactical holster.

Any historians have any pictures to confirm this? (Pictured with a Norinco - Colt is in the shop.)

 

[reid134]

that is a cool idea, this would defenitly rewrite the books on tac shooting.
iwould be interested in more detaled pics of the holster.

 

[john@]

Hard to say when the cuts were made, maybe he tried that for compteitive shooting in the 70's.

 

[can14]

I have the same holster in mint condition and it doesn't have the cuts. The color is about the same as the rcmp holsters. I think that the pistol, holster, mag pouch and belt were sold as a set.

 

[Ganderite]

In the 70's he was in his 80's and I had the pistol. Remember, he was an officer in 1915.

The pistol shows lots of honest wear. I suppose that if an officer was involved in actual fighting (in trenches - either offensive or defensive) it might have been important for him to have quick access to the only firearm he carried.

I wish the gun or holster could talk. Like, most veterans, he said just about nothing about his experiences.

 

[Clobbersauras]

What happens if you flip the flap all the way to the back? Can you put the belt through the flap and the belt loops on the holster? Then it would ride at the same height as normal but keep the flap out of the way for easy pistol access.

 

[BUSHMAN79]

Lots of soldiers in the Canadian and Brit armies used open top holsters, especially other ranks that were armed with revolvers. Lewis gunners are often seen in old photos with open top holsters. The young officer probably got the idea from seeing those.