Holster find

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Ironhand54

Ironhand54

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I occasionally stop by the "tactikool" gun shop near me. It's usually just black guns but they do sometimes trade into something interesting. This time it was much of the same until I noticed a belt and holster hanging in a corner.

Sure enough it was a cavalry holster for an 1860 army. The belt said made in Spain and needed cleaning I have been looking at these holsters online and was seeing prices of $40+. I asked how much for just the holster He said he wouldn't sell it without the belt. I expected a ridiculous price but I had to ask.

I was right It was ridiculously Low. $10 for the set. I couldn't pay fast enough.

20181224_223016.jpg

Neither the holster or the belt have any makers marks but both are professionally made. It fits my 1860 like a glove.

IronHand
 
Nice! Note to self, stop in the LGS more often... and check the garage sales! Merry Christmas!
 
It's OK for what it is (especially considering the $10 price!),but note that an issue cavalry holster would be carried butt-first on the right side. Also, the tab that buttons on to the brass stud was a separate piece. If you wanted to be slightly more authentic you could cut off the tab extension on the flap and sew on a separate piece.
 
Why would a cavalry holster be carried butt first on the right side. I can see the left side because a sword might be on the right, but then I'm not knowledgeable about how the cavalry did things. That looks like a nice one. I have one I bought back in the 70s, but it appears my leather is thinner than yours. Nice find.
 
paul harm said:
Why would a cavalry holster be carried butt first on the right side. I can see the left side because a sword might be on the right, but then I'm not knowledgeable about how the cavalry did things.
Click to expand...
The saber was carried on the left side, so that it could be drawn with the right hand. Then the revolver was carried on the right, butt forward, so that it could drawn by either hand -- crossdraw style with the left, or "cavalry draw" style (a wrist twist) with the right. It all made sense with all the equipment a Civil War cavalryman had to carry. Actually the primary weapon was the carbine, carried on a shoulder sling with a snap hook.
 
AlexanderA said:
It's OK for what it is (especially considering the $10 price!)
Click to expand...

Yes it is OK. Since it is exactly what I wanted. I wanted a full flap cross draw holster. Since I wear my bag on the right I want my pistol on the left while hunting.

I don't ride horses and haven't done reenactments in years so I am not worried about pleasing the PC police. I got a cheap, practical hunting rig and I'm happy.

IronHand
 
That holster, worn cross draw is the most convenient I have found for every day use. With a full length barrel especially getting in and out of the truck and dealing with a seat belt.
 
44 Dave said:
With a full length barrel especially getting in and out of the truck and dealing with a seat belt.
Click to expand...
Trucks and seat belts somehow don't go with 1860 Army revolvers. There's a strange anachronism here, as if time is out of joint. I don't know -- it just seems odd if you really think about it.
 
My cap and ball pistols have a way of following me around. Yesterday, at work, there was a red squirrel that had on the previous day jumped out of the garbage dumpster and then off of a startled man's shoulder, when no one was looking my "62 Police removed that varmint. Carried in a Dell's flap holster.
 
Ironhand54 said:
Yes it is OK. Since it is exactly what I wanted. I wanted a full flap cross draw holster. Since I wear my bag on the right I want my pistol on the left.
I got a cheap, practical hunting rig and I'm happy.

IronHand
Click to expand...

When the buyer and the seller are happy...in my neck of the woods,,,,we have a deal
 
Ironhand54

Your new holster reminds me of the one I got years ago for a Navy Arms Remington New Model Army I had. It fits my Colt Model 1860 very nicely as well and goes perfectly with the belt and buckle I bought right around the same time I got the holster.

lfKYyak.jpg
 
bannockburn said:
Your new holster reminds me of the one I got years ago for a Navy Arms Remington New Model Army I had. It fits my Colt Model 1860 very nicely as well and goes perfectly with the belt and buckle I bought right around the same time I got the holster.
Click to expand...
As a onetime authentic reenactor, I think I need eye bleach after seeing that rig. But, as they say, whatever floats your boat.....
 
AlexanderA

Never said I was a reenactor or that I was looking for an authentic Civil War era rig; just wanted to have a holster and belt to go along with my black powder revolver and got everything (with the exception of the Colt Model 1860), for not all that much.
 
That's awesome! Good find. It's always fun going in to the gun store and seeing what kind of hidden treasures you can find that came in on trade.
 
Alexander A

As a former fur trade reenactor I can understand your pain but I was more interested in practical than PC.

I figure that any time people make the effort to at least try it's a positive. They have started on the journey.

I will, however, admit to severe nausea when I see a c&b revolver in a nylon holster.

Ironhand
 
I can't quite understand why folks here would bash on others for violating their perceived version of historical correctness. (in a leather holster no less)
It reminds me of a 13 year old girl making fun of another's outfit for being out of style.

If being happy for the OP's holster find makes me a low class BP aficionado not worthy of the high class reenactors guild so be it.
Nice find on the holster!
I think there are a lot of us on this forum who have been using stuff successfully for years simply because we were too ignorant to know it wouldn't work according to the experts.
 
Let's be careful here. Alexander A had a point. If I had been reenacting I would have been glad for his help.

We don't need a PC VS NON spat here.

IronHand
 
This Cordura holster with a hammer retention strap fit the stainless steel Pietta 1858 target model like a glove.
A person could spend a lot more money for a leather holster and not be any happier with it. o_O

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I've always been fond of the military flap holsters and the OP's is a beauty, but for simple protection, a Cordura holster does work.

I found a larger photo on the internet of what looks like the same or similar holster with a standard Remmy in it:

cordura holster.jpg
 
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