I've heard before that this "hump" or the hard thingy in the 1911 holsters was removed to be able to pack more of them for storage purposes. You can imagine if packing a few hundred of these in a container that by removing that piece how much space could be saved. Hopefully others will speak up with more noted information.

 

...I'm wondering if the bump was removed to accommodate another pistol although there's minimal leather wear to indicate that.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm torn between returning it to the seller for a refund or keeping it.

You mean the wood block sewed inside the holster to help hold the pistol in place? I would return the holster since that wood block was the original design & correct for a WWII holster for the RR.

I've heard before that this "hump" or the hard thingy in the 1911 holsters was removed to be able to pack more of them for storage purposes. You can imagine if packing a few hundred of these in a container that by removing that piece how much space could be saved. Hopefully others will speak up with more noted information.

I don't see how removing the wood blocks would help save space.

 

The "bump" you referred to is known as the pistol rest. It is intended to keep the pistol positioned in the holster in a manner so as to prevent the magazine release button from being accidentally actuated.

M1916 holsters are occasionally encountered with the pistol rest removed. This modification was almost always done by someone who wanted to carry a different handgun in the holster than it was designed for.

Although I suppose that someone somewhere in the military might have done this sort of thing in the 70 +/- years that this holster model was in use this kind of substantial modification to the holster was not authorized. It most likely was performed by a civilian wanting to carry a Colt Woodsman or High Standard pistol or even a revolver. Holsters so modified are substantially devalued in the eyes of collectors.

HTH.

Regards,
Charlie Flick

 

Thank you all for answering my questions. The seller is willing to refund my money. I'm now in the market for another one. At least I'll know what to look for!

 

You might also get some member responses if this was posted over in the Kydex & Leather gear sub-forum.

 

I was given a 44 Boyt with the same issue, I had nothing to lose on it so I checked in Meadows "U.S. Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes" and Google, ended up carving a block out of maple. I un-stitched about 2 inches of the belt flap, fitted the block in the pocket (the top part of the pocket was already un-stitched), then saddle stitched the pocked then re-stitched the belt flap with a little heavier waxed flax thread. my 44 RR feels right at home.

 

There is a boyt 42 for sale with bump near me what is a fair price to pay for one? condition not mint but nice used.