USGI 1911A1 M7 Tanker Holster?

Jack Lawman · 10-10-2007, 01:16 PM

Can anyone date this holster? I've been told it's pre-WWII, WWII, and post -WWII. I know somebody's right (haha!).

I cannot find any markings at all on the holster. Although it is fairly worn, it is not likely that a mark could have been worn off without leaving any trace. The retention strap post looks like hammer forged brass, the belt loop post looks like steel. There is a pigskin sleeve over the adjustment buckle.

Any help appreciated,
Thanks

Jack

lugerholsterrepair · 10-10-2007, 01:45 PM

Jack, This is a German Holster. The adjustment buckle is found on German slings. K98- MP40 etc. I would place it WW2 for sure. Jerry Burney

Edward Tinker · 10-10-2007, 02:16 PM

PS, the USGI ones I have seen are black.

George Anderson · 10-10-2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edward Tinker
PS, the USGI ones I have seen are black.

I was a tanker in the '70s and we were issued black holsters. WWII era US tanker shoulder holsters I have seen were natural or brown. The above shoulder holster is not a US issue holster.

RBorecky · 10-10-2007, 04:14 PM

I wonder if that is the German made for the Norwegian 1911 that they were making???? Rick B

Jack Lawman · 10-10-2007, 11:09 PM

From another forum where i made the same post:

Quote:

Posted by: dfariswheel
Your holster is actually an M3 "Tanker's" shoulder holster, and possibly a post-War reproduction or replica.
USGI holsters had the maker's name stamped on the back AND the "US" stamp on the front.
Since yours is missing BOTH, it's probably not a genuine USGI holster.

The M3 had a single strap that goes over the neck and shoulder.

The M7 was developed after WWII.
The M7 has an extra strap that goes around the chest to position and secure the holster better.

The WWII through the mid-1950's holster was a Russet (red-brown) or natural (pink) leather.
Age, use, dirt, oils, and leather treatments changed the color to dark browns.

After the mid-50's the color for most leather goods changed to Black.

The holster could be a German civilian reproduction of an M3. Thank you all for your opinions/expertise.

Jack

RBorecky · 10-11-2007, 04:32 PM

It resembles the shoulder holster for a Belgium FN Browning Hi Power on page 26 of Military Holsters of WWII by Eugene Bender. It looks aged and very well could be from just after WWII. Rick B

Ron Smith · 10-11-2007, 04:54 PM

The slide/friction cinch is definitely not U.S. issue. I still have my issue shoulder holster. It has the vertical shoulder strap with a wrap around clip chest strap. It is also black.

RBorecky · 10-11-2007, 06:29 PM

Full credits to this photo and information go to Eugene Bender. This is the exact stiching as yours and a few other things but the straping lock and some buckles are differnet. Rick B

wlyon · 10-11-2007, 07:02 PM

Excellent article on US Holsters of WW2 in the 5th edition of the Gun Collectors Digest. Has pictures and descriptions of the M3 And M7, along with several others. Bill

9885jim · 01-03-2008, 12:18 AM

Hello I was a tanker in 1959, m41's, m48's an m60 A1's for 6 years, finished my army career in self propelled artillery. the holsters we had in the tank unit were brown, later on they were black, hip an shoulder holsters.

9885 jim

John Sabato · 01-03-2008, 10:24 AM

It might just be my imagination, but the impression that I see in the body side of the holster appears to me to be from a Polish Radom...

Jack Lawman · 01-03-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Sabato
It might just be my imagination, but the impression that I see in the body side of the holster appears to me to be from a Polish Radom...

John,
Your imagination is pretty freaking good...

The holster did indeed hold an 1st series H prefix Radom (now seperated).

Jack

P.S. I'll bring it to Louisville if you want to see it.

10-10-2007, 01:16 PM	#1
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	USGI 1911A1 M7 Tanker Holster? Can anyone date this holster? I've been told it's pre-WWII, WWII, and post -WWII. I know somebody's right (haha!). I cannot find any markings at all on the holster. Although it is fairly worn, it is not likely that a mark could have been worn off without leaving any trace. The retention strap post looks like hammer forged brass, the belt loop post looks like steel. There is a pigskin sleeve over the adjustment buckle. Any help appreciated, Thanks Jack __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

10-10-2007, 01:45 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,866 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Jack, This is a German Holster. The adjustment buckle is found on German slings. K98- MP40 etc. I would place it WW2 for sure. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

10-10-2007, 02:16 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	PS, the USGI ones I have seen are black. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-11-2007, 04:54 PM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The slide/friction cinch is definitely not U.S. issue. I still have my issue shoulder holster. It has the vertical shoulder strap with a wrap around clip chest strap. It is also black. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

10-11-2007, 07:02 PM	#10
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,144 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	Excellent article on US Holsters of WW2 in the 5th edition of the Gun Collectors Digest. Has pictures and descriptions of the M3 And M7, along with several others. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

10-10-2007, 04:14 PM	#5
RBorecky User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Posts: 115 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I wonder if that is the German made for the Norwegian 1911 that they were making???? Rick B

10-11-2007, 04:32 PM	#7
RBorecky User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Posts: 115 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It resembles the shoulder holster for a Belgium FN Browning Hi Power on page 26 of Military Holsters of WWII by Eugene Bender. It looks aged and very well could be from just after WWII. Rick B

10-11-2007, 06:29 PM	#9
RBorecky User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Posts: 115 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Full credits to this photo and information go to Eugene Bender. This is the exact stiching as yours and a few other things but the straping lock and some buckles are differnet. Rick B

01-03-2008, 12:18 AM	#11
9885jim User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: tacoma wa Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello I was a tanker in 1959, m41's, m48's an m60 A1's for 6 years, finished my army career in self propelled artillery. the holsters we had in the tank unit were brown, later on they were black, hip an shoulder holsters. 9885 jim

01-03-2008, 10:24 AM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	It might just be my imagination, but the impression that I see in the body side of the holster appears to me to be from a Polish Radom... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*