NICE COLT M1848 DRAGOON HOLSTER

$895.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1268-756B

The M1848 Dragoon was slightly lighter than the previous Walker. However, the Ordnance Department believed it was still too large, heavy and awkward to be carried in anything but pommel holsters. This is why the Ordnance Department referred to the Dragoons as "holster pistols", while the later, smaller framed Colts (M1851 Navy and M1860 Army) were referred to as "belt" revolvers. Between June of 1858 and December of 1853, the Ordnance Department purchased 6,988 Colt Dragoon pattern revolvers. Despite the fact that men in service in the west were already acquiring belt holsters for their Dragoon pistols privately, the US Ordnance Department would not order any belt holsters for these revolvers until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the Ordnance Department officially adopted belt holsters for revolvers, and for the first time began to acquire holsters for the large Dragoon revolvers.

Offered here is a fine condition example of an E. Gaylord contract belt holster for a Colt Dragoon Revolver that was produced during the 1863-1865 period. The rear belt loop of the holster is clearly stamped in three lines: E. GAYLORD / CHICOPEE / MASS. This holster was produced using the standard four-piece construction process used on most Civil War US contract holsters. The four pieces were the holster body, the closure flap, the belt loop, and the toe plug. A fifth small piece was the closure tab. The body was folded and sewn along a single long seam on the outer edge, with the closure flap sewn to the rear of the body. The toe plug was sewn into the bottom of the holster body. The belt loop was sewn onto the rear of the body and reinforced with three copper rivets. The closure tab was riveted to the closure flap and reinforced with stitching.

This holster retains the large majority of its original finish, with only some light to moderate surface crazing and flaked finish loss on the flap "hinge" and the belt loop. The holster retains the original toe plug, a piece that is often missing from Civil War period holsters, as well as the original closure tab. The tab is secured by a single copper rivet with an arced section of reinforcing stitching over the top. This stitching pattern indicates production between 1863-1865, as prior to 1863 this reinforcement stitching was in a straight line. The original belt loop is present on the rear of the holster, secured by the three original copper rivets and two lines of arched reinforcement stitching. As noted, the belt loop is stamped with the Gaylord maker s mark. All of the stitching remains tight and secure and the leather remains supple.

Overall, this is a wonderful example of a scarce Gaylord marked Civil War contract holster for the Colt Dragoon revolver. From the Texas Civil War Museum collection.  [jet] [ph:L]

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