{"product_id":"original-wwi-u-s-m1909-holster-for-colt-s-w-m1917-45-revolver-by-graton-knight-dated-1917-cavalry-draw","title":"Original WWI U.S. M1909 Holster for Colt \/ S\u0026W M1917 .45 Revolver by Graton \u0026 Knight - Dated 1917 - Cavalry Draw","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is straight out of the attic! Absolutely original that has not seen the light of day for maybe nearly 100 years. Before that it looks like it was barely used! This is a WWI AEF US Army\/USMC M1909 Leather Belt Holster for the Colt or S\u0026amp;W M1917 .45LC Revolver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe holster is in very good condition, with the leather still soft, and light wear around the edges. The bottom ring for the leg tie down is present, however the tie down is missing, easily replaced. The small leather tie inside the belt loop to secure it from moving when mounted is present, though a bit stiff. It has a clear US oval logo on the front of the flap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather has become a bit stiff overall, and definitely could use some conditioning. The stitching on the holster also is deteriorated, and looks to have torn out long the entire side and bottom, part of which was repaired with brown thread. The leather is still solid, so re-stitching should be possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the rear of the holster there are additional markings, which were not stamped well, so they are hard to read:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eG [\u0026amp; K]\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1917\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA.G.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eG\u0026amp;K is the marking of Graton \u0026amp; Knight Manufacturing Co., Worcester, Massachusetts, who made this holster in 1917. A.G. is the marking from the inspector at that location: usually it was their initials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis holster is not a left hand design. It was originally designed to be carried on the right side of the waist with the gun in the \"Butt Forward\" position known as the \u003cstrong\u003eCavalry Draw\u003c\/strong\u003e. The right hand would be used for holding a sword. Please see: page #216 in Edward Scott Meadows book \u003cem\u003eUS Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very good condition authentic example of an over 100 year old holster for your WWI collection. This would go great with an original WWI era M1917 pistol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCavalry Draw\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCavalry draw is a method used to extract a pistol from a holster, which is designed to carry the pistol butt-forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name and technique come from the leather gun holsters used by the cavalry of both the United States Army and the Confederate States Army, during the Civil War. The pistol was in a covered holster carried high on the cavalryman's right side, but was placed butt-forward for cross drawing by the left hand. The pistol was considered by the Army to be a secondary weapon, with the right hand used for the saber. Placement on the right permitted an alternate method to be used, allowing the right hand to draw the pistol if the sword were lost in battle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn practice, however, the \"alternate method\" became the standard, with the sword being left in its sheath until the pistol and its spare loaded cylinders had been expended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLater, it was found that the reversed holster can be more comfortable, especially when worn while sitting down, than the normal type holster. In addition, cavalry draw can be performed while sitting, as well as retaining the original off-hand cross draw capability. For these reasons, the FBI used the cavalry draw when they were equipped with short .38 Special revolvers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCavalry draw is performed in three steps:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRotate the wrist, placing the top of the hand toward the shooter's body.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlip the hand between the body and the butt of the pistol, grasping the pistol's stocks in normal shooting grip.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDraw the pistol, rotating the wrist to normal orientation as the arm is brought up to shooting position.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith practice, the cavalry draw can be as fast or even faster than drawing from a normal, butt-rearward holster, because of the assistance of the body in placement of the hand on the pistol stocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot all cavalry used this method of draw, or located their holsters on the right hand side of the body. In the 'Manual of Arms for the Sharps Rifle, Colt Revolver and Swords (1861)', which was used by the Union Army, the revolver would have been worn on the left side, in front of the saber-hook. To draw the revolver, the soldiers were instructed to 'pass the right hand between the bridle-arm and the body, unbutton the pistol-case, seize the pistol at the butt, draw it'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Wild Bill\" Hickok was known to have used this draw style to great effect. In modern times, some SASS members use the form of carry.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39912567472197,"sku":"ONJR22BL027","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONJR22BL027__01.jpg?v=1648582053","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-wwi-u-s-m1909-holster-for-colt-s-w-m1917-45-revolver-by-graton-knight-dated-1917-cavalry-draw","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}