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Rare Indian War "Ropes" Pattern Holster for Colt Single Action and Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Rare Indian War  Ropes  Pattern Holster for Colt Single Action and Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver
Full flap military holster for the Colt Cavalry Single Action or Smith & Wesson Schofield revolver. The black leather holster has the tapered body and full flap of a late Civil War Army pattern revolver holster with two unique features: (1) an extended belt loop/skirt attached to the body by a riveted loop and (2) ten .45 caliber cartridge loops attached to the mouth of the holster and fully covered by the flap. The holster has a sewn toe plug, brass closure finial and leather closure strap sewn and riveted to the holster flap. The holster flap is stamped with unit markings: "C 139" and "42". An identical holster is illustrated on page 30 of "PACKING IRON" by Richard Rattenbury and the holster is illustrated and fully described on pages 146 and 147 of "U.S. MILITARY HOLSTERS AND PISTOL CARTRIDGE BOXES" by Edward S. Meadows. Both Rattenbury and Meadows describe the holster as an experimental pattern apparently designed by Captain James M. Ropes of the 8th Cavalry. A small number of these may have been manufactured by the San Antonio Arsenal between 1883 and 1890. The Ropes Holster was designed to provide the cavalry trooper with a holster with a large "Mexican Loop" that could fit over a loaded .45-70 cartridge belt and also provide easy accessibility for additional .45 caliber revolver cartridges.
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Condition: Very good. The holster body and flap have scattered flaking. All of the seams remain tight. The unit markings on the outside of the holster flap are faint but legible. The holster has no repairs or replacement parts. The condition of this rare holster is comparable to the Ropes Holsters pictured in Rattenbury's book. This is a very scarce Indian War cavalry holster in very good, completely original, condition.