WWII USMC Shoulder Holster M3 (.45 ACP M1911) “ENGER-KRESS” Mint NOS Unissued.

Description

WWII USMC Shoulder Holster M3 (.45 Colt M1911A1 ACP) “ENGER-KRESS,” circa 1943 or 1944.
Mint NOS Unissued!
—
Deeply embossed on the rear of the Holster with the
“ENGER-KRESS”
name
and a second
"U.S."
surcharge
.
— The Blackened Brass
"Conway" BUCKLE
has been adjusted at one time.
—
ZERO
tell-tale rubs on the interior from a Pistol.
This example has NEVER had a M1911A1 slid inside!
-- ZERO creases, stains, cracks, 'crazing,' dry rot, personalized markings deterioration of any sort!!
-- Here is an absolutely
BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL
example from the
Enger-Kress
factory!  This is a bona fide
ORIGINAL
with the correct
"V-STITCHING"
at the attachment of the Shoulder Strap,
REAL  ORANGE LINEN THREAD
, correct
Blackened Brass HARDWARE,
i.e. the oval
"Conway" Buckle
and
D-Ring!
The
FINISH
on the adjustable
"Conway" BUCKLE, "Lift-the-Dot" SNAP,
and the
D-RING
is superior!
-- PERFECT
finish "
Lift-the-Dot" SNAP
on the
RETENTION STRAP
and the domed
Glove-Snap BELT-LOOP STRAP.
-- NOTE: The
Rau Fastener
Glove Snap has
NOT
pulled loose from the Holster  -- which occurs on 99% of these Holsters over time, due to verdigris buildup on the 'male' portion of the Snap.
— This has the deeply embossed "U.S." cypher on the front and the contractor's marking on the back of the Holster, "U.S. / ENGER-KRESS".
—This Holster is undated which is not exceptional, as it appears it was factory practice during the wartime contract years of 1943 and 1944 to often omit the date stamp.
— Needless to say, this one has never been 'named,' never oiled, never saddle-soaped! It retains it's
"raw"
LIGHT TAN
coloration! The Leather is NOT creased, or worn, but strong and STIFF!
*****
This is the iconic M3 Shoulder Holster, introduced in 1942 and worn by Paratroopers, AAF pilots, USMC/USN Aviators, Tankers, Armored personnel, Officers (USMC and Army), NCO's, and any MARINE or Infantryman who could "requistion" or get his hands on a M1911
. (An additional side-arm was "good insurance.")
There was an
M7 Holster
(with the additional chest strap) and there was a
BOYT
contract
M3 that was 'USMC' marked
on the back, but it appears that from the outset of the Island-hopping campaigns, starting at Guadalcanal,
ARMY equipment, tools,...and
M3 SHOULDER HOLSTERS
were generously distributed throughout the
U. S. Marine Corps'
supply system.
*****
Enger-Kress (Pocket Book) Company
history:
Drawn from Jean Mollet-van Beckum's,
City of West Bend.
The
Enger-Kress Pocketbook Company
was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1882 by two German immigrants: George
Enger
and August
Kress
After a fire destroyed the plant, the The
City of West Bend
offered
Enger-Kress
,000 to re-locate the factory to West Bend. The "invitation" was accepted and
Enger-Kress
moved to the old Fifth Avenue School in West Bend. In 1902, the company expanded to Moser Hall.
In January 1902 the
Enger-Kress Pocket Book Co.
acquired the property. The building was somewhat remodeled and used as a factory. Records show the “move was necessitated by the increase in business and to have the entire plant under one roof.”
In February 1911 the pavilion burned to the ground destroying the entire stock and facilities of the
Enger Kress
. The
Enger-Kress
continued at various sites until a new brick structure occupied this site. The company's product line included "fine leather goods," described as,
"...wallets, belts & personal leather products, Button covers, Caps, Tie holders, Chevrons, Gorgets, Shoulder boards or epaulettes, Belts or suspenders, Ties or scarves or mufflers, Hats, Gloves or mittens, Umbrellas, Sweat bands, Clothing hangers, Armbands, Garters, Tassles, Bandannas, Handkerchiefs, Headbands, Pocket protectors, and Goat leather products."
The history of the company is quite interesting in that they were among the first to hire women during the war. They also permitted the women to carry work home, which proved convenient for families at the time. The company also provided two beer breaks per day in which young boys brought cold beers on the factory floor. Quite innovative.
During WWII,
Enger-Kress
manufactured
800,000 pistol holsters, 500,000 machine gun cases, 1.7 million helmet liners sweatbands, and 1.3 million helmet chin straps.
The company finally closed in 2006 having succumbed to foreign products flooding the marketplace.