WW2 US Model 1916 Leather Holster for a 1911 Pistol By Tex Tan Saddle Company. (Original)
SKU: US MODEL 1916 LEATHER HOLSTER FOR 1911
Original/Reproduction: Original
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: TEX TAN Saddle Company In Texas
Date Manufactured: 1940"s
Model: 1916
Holster Closure: Flapped top with original brass snap.
Material: Thick vegetable-tanned leather with original stitching & Brass
Measurements: Overall length ~9.5–10.5 in; flap width ~3.5–4.0 in; belt loop fits a standard 2 in web belt
Condition: 98/Excellent
Price: $195.00
Seller Type: FFL Dealer
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: KC-100
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
This is an original U.S. Model 1916 leather holster made by the Tex Tan Saddle Company, intended for the .45 caliber M1911 service pistol. The Model 1916 design was widely adopted by U.S. forces during the interwar years and remained in common use through World War II in officers’ and some specialist units. Tex Tan, a known harness/pack saddle and leather goods contractor during the period — produced service leatherwork to military specifications, and this piece shows the practical construction and patina consistent with wartime service.
The holster features the classic flap closure with brass snap, reinforced stitching, and a molded body shaped to the 1911 profile. The leather displays even age darkening, handling wear, and minor surface marks consistent with issued/field use; there are no major tears or structural failures. Interior shows typical compression where a pistol carried over time would sit.
History
The M1916 holster was issued to officers, military police, and crewmen across all service branches, including the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. It features a brass closure stud, rear belt loop for attachment to standard web pistol belts, and tie-down leg thong holes at the lower tip to secure the holster during movement. Its design provided both accessibility and protection for the M1911 sidearm under rugged field conditions.
The Model 1916 style holster evolved from earlier U.S. military holster patterns developed around World War I to securely carry the newly standardized M1911 .45 ACP pistol. Through the interwar years and into World War II, variations of the leather service holster remained common — produced by small civilian contractors and government contract shops — and issued to officers, NCOs, and certain enlisted personnel. By WW2 many units still used leather holsters (later war production and post-war years saw more synthetic and simplified patterns), making an original Model-style holster a period-correct accessory for any M1911 display or re-enactor kit.
