Dutch KNIL Holster

[Ron Wood]

From a construction standpoint, the holster looks right as rain. Other than the unusual long loops, there are minor differences from my holster.

The riveted belt loop is quite a bit taller top to bottom than mine with the top of the loop nearly at the top of the holsterâ?¦looks to be about an inch taller than mine and would accommodate a much wider belt. It is of the second type used with the â??Sam Browneâ?� belt. (The first type had a long belt loop that extended above the holster.)

The next two differences probably are just the result of the workmanship of different sattlers. The cleaning rod cover â??flapâ?� is sewn directly to the holster body rather than to the reinforcing strip along the top edge of the holster body. The closing strap on the front of the â??lidâ?� is also a bit longer than mine and sewn nearer the top of the holster.

There is no factory code visible in the photos. Doesnâ??t mean there isnâ??t one, just canâ??t see one.

As has been pointed out, Martens & de Vries mention an Officerâ??s Model M-11 holster with two sewn on belt loops, but they had no examples to photograph. The loops on the holster on eBay and the other two examples recently posted seem a lot longer than necessary to accommodate a wide officerâ??s belt, but maybe they are intended to give a â??drop loop buscaderoâ?� effect! Also it seems odd that the holster would have both the wide riveted loop for the Sam Browne belt and the long sewn loops. Another odd thing is that the rear loop is at quite an angle, which would seem to accommodate attachment to a shoulder harness rig rather than hanging straight down from a belt. Perhaps a variation on the Sam Browne rig but without the belt??

The holster is most likely legitimate, but it would be nice to identify its origin and use.