When I picked up my M&P Model of 1902 today (see other threads for the gun) I was surprised to find that it came with a holster. I hadn't seen that on the shelf when I looked at the gun last week, and nobody mentioned it at that time.
The holster is marked US on the side and Rock Island / Arsenal / EHS (?) on the flap. The holster is for a K-frame revolver (or its Colt equivalent) with a six-inch barrel. The gun I bought has a four inch barrel, and this is pretty clearly the wrong holster for it. A previous owner had mashed some old tissue paper down into the toe of the holster to keep it from collapsing or folding over.
Can anyone tell me anything about this holster? It looks similar to other RIA holsters I have seen pictures of from the decade before WW1.
Is there anything I can do to clean it or preserve it? Should I work some oil into the leather?
Stitching is tight everywhere. The brass studs and rivets are surrounded by -- what, verdigris? Is that what you call the waxy green stuff that accumulates around brass? The belt loop is torn about a quarter of the way across in the middle of the dark stain you see on the back of the holster and at the top of the flap.
Thanks for any help. I know nothing about holsters, but I sense that this one is probably old, maybe of some interest to collectors of military accessories, and possibly worth a couple of bucks.
The holster is marked US on the side and Rock Island / Arsenal / EHS (?) on the flap. The holster is for a K-frame revolver (or its Colt equivalent) with a six-inch barrel. The gun I bought has a four inch barrel, and this is pretty clearly the wrong holster for it. A previous owner had mashed some old tissue paper down into the toe of the holster to keep it from collapsing or folding over.
Can anyone tell me anything about this holster? It looks similar to other RIA holsters I have seen pictures of from the decade before WW1.
Is there anything I can do to clean it or preserve it? Should I work some oil into the leather?
Stitching is tight everywhere. The brass studs and rivets are surrounded by -- what, verdigris? Is that what you call the waxy green stuff that accumulates around brass? The belt loop is torn about a quarter of the way across in the middle of the dark stain you see on the back of the holster and at the top of the flap.
Thanks for any help. I know nothing about holsters, but I sense that this one is probably old, maybe of some interest to collectors of military accessories, and possibly worth a couple of bucks.
- searched for cleaning tips or a cure a while back and seem to remember white vinegar works but am not 100% sure.
