[Savage Shooter]

My grandfather is a bit of a gun collector and one of his pistols was a WWII .38 revolver(think smith&wesson) pilots pistol. He sold it for 700 and change but not the sholder holster which i now use for my ruger bearcat fits perfect. Anyway the holster has a serial # on it and the manufacturer(warren leather goods co.). Is there a possibility that i could track this down to the person that used this in the war with that serial #DSA100-67-C-1323 on the holster.:confused: any help please!

[rcmodel]

That is not a serial number.

It is the Defense Supply Agency (DSA) number for the holster.

It was used to specify manufacturing specifications, supply channels, etc.

There is no possible way to know who used the holster in WWII unless he wrote his name on the back of it.

rcmodel

[Savage Shooter]

OH :( just thought id give it a shot heard story about people buying these type of things and then finding out who used it in a war.
is it worth anything just wanting to know because i'm using it right now and i'd get a different holster if it was worth something i wouldnt want to damage it.Just would like to know the value incase its outragiously high(extremly dought it) I would never sell it though its a family treasure.

[rcmodel]

More information, or a picture would help us know what kind of holster it might possibly be.

Belt holster?
Shoulder holster?
Flap or strap?
U.S. embossed on front?
Black or brown?
Condition of leather?

Need more info before any kind of guess could be made as to value.

rcmodel

[Savage Shooter]

Its a sholder hoster with a flap cover U.S. embosed on the front of the holster flap and smaller on the back of the holster U.S. with warren leather goods co. and the DSA # above that. its black, and is in great condition for its age. I would post pic but don't know how.

[rcmodel]

O.K.
Black indicates either it is newer then you think it is, or someone died it black.

The U.S. military didn't switch to black leather until 1956. All holsters prior to that would have been natural oil-finish tan leather.

And a full-flap WWII shoulder holster isn't setting off any bell's in my head right now.

Here is a WWII revolver shoulder holster.
http://www.bobtuley.com/shoulder_holster.htm

Here is a more typical revolver flap belt holster.
http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/Pattern_1905_Holster_for_.38_Revolver_os.jpg

rcmodel

[Savage Shooter]

It looks like neither one
although it resembles the second one very slightly. What my grandfather told me was it was a WWII navy pilots holster used to carry a .38smith & wesson revolver.
I'm trying to figure out how to post pics but its not comeing along to good.
It may have been brown at one time. its hard to tell its brown on the inside of the holster but its a dark brown.

[rcmodel]

????
http://www.omahas.com/catalog/images/products/PCH1736lg.jpg

I don't doubt what your grandfather told you about the holster.
I'm just not having any luck remembering a full flap shoulder holster.

But I'm far from an expert on WWII leather gear.

rcmodel

[Ron James]

There are a lot of things I have never seen, and a U.S. military shoulder holster with a flap is one of them. Never ever.:confused:

[Savage Shooter]

sorry still not getting the pics do you know how I have the on my computer in my pictures but when I copy and then go to paste in the post i can't :confused:
the leather looks that color and the US emblems are the same but mine has buckles on the straps and theres a little knob that the flap is held by. the flap has a hole that goes over the knob.

[BEARMAN]

I have seen a photo of a Navy shoulder holster similar to this Air Force belt holster, goto http://oldguns.net/catmilpostww2.htm goto # 11967 it is about 1/4 way down page.

[Cosmoline]

It's extremely difficult even if you have a real SN. The only cases I know of involve surplus Swiss rifles because the former owner actually had his name and address on a card under the buttplate per their regulations.

[Savage Shooter]

Heres the holster and my bearcat more pic to come still uploading.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/Johndeereman19/holster.jpg

[Savage Shooter]

heres the back of ithttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/Johndeereman19/2.jpg

[Ron James]

That's a military 1911 belt holster hooked up to a shoulder strap. It's not a issue shoulder holster, or at least not one I've ever seen.:confused:

[Savage Shooter]

heres the dsa code on the backhttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/Johndeereman19/3.jpg

[Savage Shooter]

us emblem on fronthttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/Johndeereman19/4.jpg

[Savage Shooter]

i don't think a 1911 would fit in this holster it looks like its built for somthing smaller and a revolver but i could be wrong.

[Savage Shooter]

heres another pic
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/Johndeereman19/6.jpg

[Prof. A. Wickwire]

Savage Shooter,

A Ruger Bearcat is almost as long as a 1911A1. The holster could indeed be genuine and either converted in-theater or post-war.

A good place to go might be, either the 1911 Board (http://forum.m1911.org/); or the WWII Reenactors Board (http://ww2reenactors.proboards35.com/).

Both are filled with people who might have the information you are looking for, or at least could steer you in the right direction.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Sincerely,

Prof. A. Wickwire

[Savage Shooter]

thank you very much I will do just that.

[Savage Shooter]

Ok heres what a guy said on the WWII reenactors board.

"I'm sure there is an official name but I've always called them convertable shoulder holsters as the hip holster is used. The design is Pre-WWI however the model with the DSA number is post war and most likely Vietnam."

[Nate C.]

Maybe a rig for a tank crewman? I can't place it but for some reason Armor comes to mind.

[yesterday]

nice gun

[rcmodel]

Looks like a standard 1911 .45 holster with an add-on shoulder strap.

Holster should be attached to it with the brass wire hooks sewn into the back of the holster.

I got to say it has to be Vietnam era stuff for two reasons.
First, it is obvously black died leather, which puts it later then 1956.
Second, the Defense Supply Agency (DSA number on holster) did not exist prior to Jan. 1, 1962.

Then it's name was changed to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA numers) in 1977.

rcmodel

[Savage Shooter]

ok I'll pass the news onto my gramps

[Sunray]

Records of who was issued what firearm were not saved. They'd have been local unit records in any case.

[nyggis]

Savage shooter!

According to the DSA-code it was manufactured in 1967. Definately Vietnam era..
I´m such a nerd...

/ Erik

[Oro]

The holster could be WWII (it's not Vietnam era, for sure). The shoulder rig is later, but a military type, I have seen quite a few of them.

The holster, while not dated, is consistent with the WWII construction. The back photo shows the base color was russet brown (look between the belt slots). It "stayed in the service" after WWII and all of them were died black at some point when it was deemed brown holsters were "unmilitary" for some reason (1950s). I have quite a few of these 1911 holsters, and some WWII ones were later died black. Brown ones from WWI and WWII, brown ones died black made in WWII but used later, and black ones made after the 1950s.

So, gramps was probably correct the holster is WWII, but it is a 1911 holster. The shoulder rig came later, but is also military.