Original Item: Only One Available. Before World War One, the M1912 Cavalry Swivel Holster was designed for the soon to be adopted Colt 1911 .45. It was produced from 1911-1916, although commercial models were also made well after WWI. The M1912 is identified by its extended hanger and swivel section. The holster was designed for mounted cavalry troops, so that it could still be tied to the leg while bent. A dismounted model was also produced under contract, identified by still having and extended hanger but no swivel section.

The M1912 holster can be seen in some pictures being worn by troops with the swivel section folded over the belt giving the impression of the shorter M1916 holster. This was due to problems with the swivel section, and resulted in the M1916 holster was adopted in that year. Like the M1912, the M1916 was intended for both mounted and dismounted troops. Even so, the M1912 holster still saw use throughout WWI.

This nice example is embossed U S in an oval on the flap, indicating that this was a military issue holster. The rear of the holster swivel (only markings) is stamped with maker and inspection stamps, which were stamped unevenly:

R.I.A.
1911
T.C.C.
W.H.M.

The “1911” date was most likely a mistake or from a trial period before mass production and it could even have been that someone forgot to replace the 1 with a 2.

Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois has been a major producer of arms and field gear since its founding in 1832, and continues producing today. Construction quality of the holster is excellent and it features a swivel belt hang extension. There is light overall wear on the holster, and also some damage on the rear side of the back which shows a later repair done from the inside. All of the rivets (1 was replaced) and snaps are intact, though we have not tried to move the swivel. After further inspecting the swivel portion, whoever made the repair on the interior must have done so with the swivel. In order to repair this swivel piece they stitched to the holster itself to mitigate any further damage or the risk of losing the swivel all together. The inside of the top flap is marked with “COAST ART.” for a Coast Artillery unit.

A wonderful genuine period Model 1912 holster, just perfect for your high grade vintage Colt 1911. We have had very few of these, and they are much harder to find than the M1916 on the market.

United States Army Coast Artillery Corps In WWI
As with the rest of the US Armed Forces, the Coast Artillery was undermanned and poorly equipped except for coastal artillery weapons when war broke out in Europe in 1914. The War Department formed a Board of Review that recommended an increase in strength, which resulted in 105 new CA companies in 1916–17, although these were initially undermanned. After the American entry into World War I, the Coast Artillery as a whole was ordered brought up to strength, and 71 new companies were organized by July 1917.

In response to the rapid improvements in dreadnought battleships, approximately 14 two-gun batteries of 12-inch guns on a new M1917 long-range barbette carriage began construction in 1917, but none were completed until 1920.

The Coast Artillery was designated to provide the personnel for all US-manned heavy artillery (155 mm gun and larger), almost all railway artillery, and later anti-aircraft artillery units. As with most US Army World War I equipment, these units were primarily equipped with French- and British-made weapons, with few American-made heavy weapons arriving in France before the Armistice. As with other American World War I units, the CAC units operated alongside French forces for the most part. The CAC units sent to France and Britain with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were organized into a total of 11 brigades comprising 33 regiments of 24 guns each, plus a replacement regiment, nine trench mortar battalions and thirteen anti-aircraft battalions (a.k.a. sectors). Many Coast Artillery companies were withdrawn from stateside coast defenses to provide cadre for the new artillery regiments. However, only 13 regiments saw action, while the remaining 20 regiments did not complete training before the Armistice, and up to 6 of these never received guns. A total of 61 regiments were organized; however, at least 23 of these were organized in the US shortly before the Armistice and were soon disbanded. The coast defense commands retained a company-based organization. Only one regiment saw action equipped with US-made guns, the 58th Coast Artillery armed with the 8-inch howitzer M1917, based on the British BL 8-inch howitzer Mk VI.

Ninety-five 6-inch guns were withdrawn from coast defenses, with an additional 46 weapons supplied by the Navy and 30 ex-Navy weapons from arms dealer Francis Bannerman. Seventy-two of the Army 6-inch guns (possibly with a few additional Navy weapons) and 26 5-inch guns also removed from coast defenses were mounted on M1917 field carriages and equipped four artillery regiments in France, but none of these completed training before the Armistice. After the war, some of the 6-inch guns were returned to coast defenses, but the 5-inch guns were withdrawn from coast defense service. Most of the 6-inch guns were stored and were eventually deployed in World War II.

No US railway guns existed when the US entered World War I in early 1917. Due to low production and shipping priorities, the Army's railway gun contribution on the Western Front consisted of four CA regiments operating French-made weapons. These were organized as the 30th Separate Artillery Brigade (Railway), also designated as the Railway Artillery Reserve (RAR), which usually operated mingled with French units in an Allied RAR. The 40th Artillery Brigade of three regiments was also a railway artillery brigade of the RAR; however, it did not complete training before the Armistice.

The US Navy manufactured and operated five 14"/50 caliber railway guns that were delivered in time to support the final Allied offensives. With a view to getting numerous US-made weapons into the fight eventually, the Army also converted some of the many US coast artillery weapons to railway mounts. A total of 96 8-inch guns, 129 10-inch guns, 49 12-inch guns, and 150 12-inch mortars could be taken from fixed coast defense batteries or spares. Twelve 7-inch ex-Navy guns and six 12-inch guns being built for Chile were also available.

None of the army weapons were shipped to France except three 8-inch guns and some 10-inch barrels (to be mounted in France), as few of any type were completed before the Armistice. Forty-seven 8-inch railway guns were ordered, with 18 completed by the Armistice and the remainder completed later. Eight 10-inch railway mounts of 54 ordered were completed by this time, and twelve 12-inch railway mounts were completed by 1 April 1919. Three railway mountings for the Chilean 12-inch guns were ready for shipment by the Armistice; the remaining three barrels were retained as spares. Ninety-one 12-inch railway mortars were ordered, with 45 complete by 7 April 1919 and all major components of the remainder also complete. It is unclear how many additional railway guns and mortars were completed, but all 47 8-inch weapons and probably the 91 12-inch mortars were. The 7-inch and 8-inch guns and 12-inch mortars used a common carriage, with outriggers and a rotating mount allowing all-around fire. This allowed the weapons to be used in coast defense against moving targets.

The 8-inch guns and 12-inch mortars were retained on railway mountings after the war, while most of the 10-inch and 12-inch guns were returned to the coastal forts. The 7-inch railway guns most likely became fixed coast artillery, although some were eventually transferred to Brazil as railway guns in 1941.

The official birthday of the Army Warrant Officer Corps is 9 July 1918, when an Act of Congress established the Army Mine Planter Service as part of the Coast Artillery Corps, replacing previous civilian manning of mine planter vessels. Implementation of the Act by the Army was published in War Department Bulletin 43, dated 22 July 1918.