Original M1916 US Army Air Service S&R 1917 Holster with Airmans name! 1911 WW1

Original M1916 US Army Air Service Sheffer & Rossum. This is a true rarity. This remarkable M1916 holster is a WW1 era US military holster in very good condition and with the name of its owner, Lt John A. Collins, a member of the Air Service, written in ink on the back. The Air Service was the aviation branch of the US War Department from 1918 to 1926.

It was assigned to the US Army and was the forerunner of the US Air Force. The Air Service became the Army Air Corps in 1926. This holster was part of the estate of an individual I knew well, but I do not know how he acquired it or even if he realized its rarity compared to more common WW2 era M1916 holsters. Written on the back of the holster in ink is Lt.

John A Collins, Air Service, USA. The photo of the signature is a bit bright to enhance the visibility of the image. I attempted to do a bit of research on Lt.

There are several references to him in old newsletters. A 1924 Air Service News Letter Vol VIII, No.

21 refers to Collins in an article about an US east coast night flight with a rather risky landing. In the 1932 Air Corps News (Volume XVI, No, 12) is a report that lists past winners of an Annual Machine Gun & Bombing Match, and notes that in 1924 2. Lt Collins was the pilot who won the bombing match. It is likely that additional research would turn up more information on Lt. There are a number of stamps and marks on the holster aside from the signature.

The holster itself is stamped S. S&R is Sheffer & Rossum of St. Paul, Minnesota not Sears Roebuck, which also made military holsters, and not S-B CO. S&R only made WWI era holsters.

Sheffer & Rossum holsters are relatively rare. 1917 is the production date and LMO is an inspectors stamp. Stamped on the belt slide is AS (possibly Air Service, but also perhaps an inspectors stamp) and an oval with the imprint Q.

HMK indicating that it came through the Jeffersonville Quartermaster Corp Depot in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The date on the oval slide stamp is too faint to make out.

From my readings this is the type of slide that would be used with a M1921 style belt. Inside the holster is boldly inked SUPCO 31G QMC 173. QMC is again Quartermaster Corp Depot. I dont know what the 31G or 173 refer to. The holster is in very good condition given its age 100 years! There is some drying and crazing to the flap, and leading edge (top of barrel) of the holster, but it is not severe and overall the leather is reasonably supple. There is age-related discoloration and mottling, but overall a nice patina. Of course there are scratches, scuffs and rub marks as might be expected from a used military holster, but again, no severe wear or damage. It has a nicely marked US oval logo on the flap.

The stitching is all good; this holster could be used to safely house and carry a 1911. The original brass hanger and internal leather block are present. I have not cleaned this holster (so as to protect the signature), and there is some green verdigris from the metal interacting with the acidic compounds used during tanning or oiling that should be cleaned. If you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask.

Specializing in stamps, equestrian tack, as well as vintage fishing and hunting. Also the occasional item we have around the house. The item "Original M1916 US Army Air Service S&R 1917 Holster with Airmans name! 1911 WW1" is in sale since Saturday, February 18, 2017.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW I (1914-18)\Original Period Items\United States\Personal, Field Gear". The seller is "amh061064" and is located in Columbia, Missouri. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, to Japan, to China, SE, KR, ID, to Taiwan, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, RU, IL, to Mexico, to New Zealand, PH, SG, to Switzerland, NO, SA, UA, AE, QA, KW, BH, HR, MY.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States