Camo Holster

[DJT]

Here is a very interesting item. A British Camoflauged web holster. When I got it, it was almost completely black with dirt, grime and gun oil. I gave it a gentle wash in warm soapy water. When it dried out, I was surprised to notice it had a camo scheme! To explain a little further. The holster along with the Colt 45 it housed came from a Phantom signals officer who served with the Belgian SAS 1944-45. I asked him if it was just a holster he had used post war and painted himself. He said no, he had been issued it with his COLT 45 when he joined the SAS and that it was already Camoflauged when he got it? He presumed it came like that so it would blend in with his Denison? Before, if I had seen this on a market stall or ebay I would have thought post war and left it. Anyone see this before? At the moment the holster is empty as I am in the process of getting an import licence for the Colt 45 (which is being stored in Canada for me). I really love this holster though How unusual and scarce! + the fantastic history behind it!

[DJT]

reverse

[DJT]

The holster is 1943 dated. And here is a photo of the COLT 45 it originally housed. Notice the internal weld marks from the deactivation

[Guy]

Really Really nice Des


I have a 44 pat waterbottle holder that has had the same thing done only the camo is more russet coloured.

[DJT]

Thanks Guy, Please post some photos of your waterbottle if you can. If you look at the holster, you will see black paint there as well, the classic "Mickey Mouse" scheme? Can you or any of the other Brit airborne guys tell me when the earliest use of that scheme was used?



I have a 44 pat waterbottle holder that has had the same thing done only the camo is more russet coloured.[/QUOTE]

[Guy]

Hi Des,

Will try to dig the bottle out. It's in one of the dreaded Beltring Drop Bags which I try only to disturb anually . Still will have a dig tommorrow and see how I get on. My camo is brown and black as opposed to your green and black. Maybe cos it was used tropically (post war being 44 patt ).

As regards MM camo I dont think I have seen it in photos pre 43 but I'me probably wrong. I reacon Ade is the man there.

Yours, Guy.

[Jean-Loup]

I think the brits has quite a few camo items like this for the invasion of southern France.
JL

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Des, interesting holster and I look forwards to it being reunited with the .45 Auto The earliest use of the "Mickey Mouse" camo scheme on vehicles was 1943.


Hi JL, I have never seen or heard of British troops involved in the South of France invasion using camo painted webbing? Of course this use of camo webbing was widespread in the US forces

Cheers, Ade.

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Sorry Des, I don't like it, the camo looks very dubious to me. I thought an experienced collector like you would have known better

All the same, thanks for showing, from Jack

[DJT]

Thanks for the comments guys! I had never seen a piece of webbing with camo on it before so this item was new on me. The thing I find funny is the thought of a QM painting holsters It strikes me as more a field done thing. Perhaps a more logical explanation is that another guy was issued the same Colt and holster before my vet and they did the camo paint job. They then simply handed it back in to QM stores and it was reissued to my vet? Who knows but its certainly a unique and cool piece

Yes Ade, you cannot begin to imagine how much I want that Colt back in my hands!! The killer is, I actually will have it in my hands in march when I visit Canada. But cant take it back until I get the import licence sorted out

[Guy]

Hi Des,

I went digging today and managed to locate the water bottle cover for you to see. It is painted brown and black; most of the paint has worn off but it still looks nice. The colours are most visible on the lift the dot fasteners.

Re your colt, if you have a friend who is an RFD he should be able to import it for you through his business I would have thought. I know Canada is very stringent regarding guns. Many antique calibres here are still current there for example making imports of even old guns a problem. Good luck, it's a lovely piece with great provenance.

Yours, Guy

[Guy]

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[Guy]

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[DJT]

Very interesting Guy! and quite comparable to my holster. Thanks for posting.

[Guy]

Very interesting Guy! and quite comparable to my holster. Thanks for posting.

Hi Des,

Thank you, Very good of you to say so but I wouldn't go that far. Yours is wartime and mine probably saw use in the 50's . Still, I think it cost me £2 so I am happy as old painted webbing is very unusual. I have a fabulous set of 58 which has been overpainted again and again so it is now a tan green combination, very yummy but modern. (60s/70s)
Yours, Guy