Original Item: Only One Available. Excellent original WWII issue leather shoulder holster for the Colt M1911 .45 pistol. Adopted towards the end of the war in 1944, the M7 shoulder holster rig was designed to improve upon the earlier M3 shoulder holster. The M3 could only really be worn in one position, and was not ideal for carrying a pistol under a jacket, and also often placed the pistol against the wearer's ribcage. With two adjustable straps, the M7 allowed the wearer to customize exactly where they wanted the pistol sitting against the body, for both comfort and easy of reach. This holster was often used by officers who preferred it to the hip holster. In combat areas, all sorts of troops found ways to "acquire" handguns and the regulations as to who was and wasn't permitted to carry them was rarely enforced.

Original M7's were made in plain, "natural" leather. The dark chestnut brown of the reverse of this original is from oil, use, dirt, and age. It also appears that the front was dyed black when in post war service, apparently with the Montana National Guard, who also put an aluminum tag on it. The cross straps are in fair condition, with the shoulder strap being a bit worse for wear.

The holster is embossed on the front U.S. meaning it was military issues (not civilian) and is nicely stamped on the reverse:

Offered in fair condition with functions lift-the-dot and snap, making this an excellent genuine WWII upgrade for your Colt 1911.