Firing self-contained, waterproof, rimfire cartridges, the Smith and Wesson No. 2 Army was a very popular pistol among officers and civilians of the period- Custer owned a pair and one was even found on Wild Bill Hickok. This is nicely made holster for one with a 6-inch barrel, fitted with a sewn and riveted belt loop that would hold it on the wearer’s right with the but to the rear, and with a full flap pierced near the lower edge to fasten over a round, brass finial. The belt loop shows slightly brown in color and shows some rubs, indicating it was worn. The body is black and glazed or waterproofed, with the edges bound in leather that shows now as tan or reddish brown, but was likely a red morocco leather.

The interior is lined in smooth light brown leather as well, showing some darker areas and some lighter areas from rubbing by the pistol. The owner put his name in ink in the inside of the flap. His first initial is rubbed, and was possibly an “I.” “E” or “F,” but the last name is clear: “Herndon” with a final apostrophe-S that looks like a small comma followed by a supra-script small “s.” This would seem to offer too many candidates to narrow down the owner with any certainty, but is a nice bit of personalization, indicating the holster and its pistol were being worn. The condition is very good, though we note some wear to the edge binding, which was clearly a finer grade of leather, but subject to rubs and wear from use, with a spot on the leading edge near the belt loop actually worn through and missing a small piece, again, another sign the owner was actually carrying it.  [sr] [ph:L]

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