Verenigde Staten van Amerika - Rare US WW2 M-3 Tanker Holster - Airborne - Infantry - US Enger-Kress

Great leather shoulder holster for the Colt M1911 .45 pistol from WW2 marked Enger-Kress. and US. Enger-Kress was a famous maker of these holsters during WW2. Adopted in 1942, this holster was standard issue for aircraft and tank crews, and 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 were rarely enforced. The nice things is that the strap buttons are ALL functionial. The press studs are almost always broken! The holster has a beautiful patina and has a nice light brown color, with the characteristic green /dust residue on the brass parts that was build up for decades (this can be easily removed, is not stuck at all to the brass, but adds to the patina of the holster i think).

Original M3's were made in plain, "natural" leather, as they age they darken through exposure to oil, dirt, and sweat that turns holsters a russet brown color. It is embossed on the front U.S. meaning it was military issues (not civilian) and is nicely stamped on the reverse Boyt US.

Great item for your USA WW2 collection, fully functional!