Help Identify This U.S. 1911 Military Holster

jbw1776

Hello all,

Father in Law found this old holster and we've narrowed it down to a 1911 military holster. Not sure if it's original or repro, looks original. Best I've beem able to find out is they were used between WWI-Vietnam.

Can anyone tell me:

1. If it's original

2. Who made it

3. Time frame/age

On the back it has U.S. stamped over a roundish emblem/crest of some sort with a word in the crest at the bottom. the only letters I can make out in the word is the last 3 letters: ......EAD , possibly .....NEAD.

As always, Thanks for the help.[8D]











Ben

rufe-snow

The holster appears to be what is known as the Model 1916. It was made by many different manufacturers over the succeeding years, as it was in common use as late as the 1980's.

The only manufacturer I could find who's name ended with "EAD" was a company named "Craighead". I don't know anything about them, or when they made the holsters? You might try GOOGLEING them.

Most of the standard production Model 1916 holsters were originally a brown color, it's hard to tell with your photography, but yours might have been dyed, after original manufacture?

jbw1776

Thanks Rufe.

It's hard to tell in person if it has been dyed or not, or if it's just age. Smells 80yrs old, lol. I just read that the originals were brown but some were dyed in the Vietnam era to meet current dress codes??? Don't know.

Thanks again for the help.

Ben

jbw1776

Rufe, did a search on CRAIGHEAD and found 2 different links showing they made the M-1916 holster during WWII. A closer look at the emblem on the back of this one and the ....NEAD could very well be ....HEAD.

Unless someone has more info I'm going to assume this is what I have. Thanks again for the help.[8D]

Ben