This is a good example of the holster adopted by the army in 1892 to carry the new Colt .38 Caliber double-action revolver, and possibly one of those “de-blackened” in 1902 to fit the change to brown accoutrements. The holster is undated has the larger belt loop introduced in 1896 to fit over the double-loop Mills woven cartridge belt. This is clearly marked ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL / EHS on the flap with a smaller set of initials (E.Z.P., with the first letter a little light) on the tip of the latch tab. The holster is solid, with all seams tight and showing just a few rubs and abrasions to the finish from use, narrow wrinkles from flexing in opening the flap, etc.

This shows as mostly brown in color with some blackish darkening on portions. These were made in both black and “fair,” i.e. undyed, leather as part of the transition to brown accoutrements, from 1896 to 1902: 30,500 in black and 13,939 in fair leather. This was followed in 1902 by another 17,000 just in fair leather, with Meadows noting that many of the preceding black leather versions were “de-blackened for reissue.” (The army went to russet leather in 1903 for these holsters, but at that point added a date to the marking, which was also moved to the back of the holster.) The short version of this is that the darker tones may be from “de-blackening” one of these originally black 1896-1902 holsters (which were still not dated, and still had the markings on the flap.) In any case, this is very good example of a regulation U.S. army holster from the period of the Spanish American War and merits a place in collection focused on that period or on U.S. army accoutrements.    [sr][ph:L]

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