Original Norwegian WWII Kongsberg Colt 1911 Holster

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a scarce holster for the Colt M1911 pistols produced under license by the Norwegian factory Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk. These holsters are often more difficult to come by than the pistols themselves. This example has a hard insert at the bottom to strengthen the holster overall. 

The holster is in great service-worn shape with heavy verdigris on the metal knob and a bit of white staining on the front. The leather is heavily darkened from use. The securing strap is still fully intact, and the stitching doesn’t show any signs of damage. The belt loops are still firm and pliable. There is some leather crazing on the back but no serious damage across the holster. There is some service wear to the interior. This is a scarce piece to find and will pair well with the more-common pistol.

The holster comes ready for further research and display.

Norway adopted the 7.5 mm Nagant revolver (named M/1893) as the standard Norwegian military sidearm in 1893. Commissions to test possible new service pistols were active from 1904 till 1911. In 1911, a commission recommended adoption of the semi-automatic .38 ACP caliber Colt Military Model 1902 pistol, after field trials with 25 such pistols, all purchased from Colt's London Agency. However, as the US had just adopted the Colt .45ACP M1911 pistol it was decided to conduct further tests.

A pistol of the new M1911 design was received in Norway in January 1913. Following extensive tests through early 1914, it was finally decided, in August 1914, to adopt the Colt M1911 pistol in Norway. These pistols were to replace the Nagant revolvers (7,5mm M/1893) as the standard military sidearm in Norway. While the original pistol was known as the 1911 Colt, the designer and copyright owner was John Browning who had licensed manufacturing in the US to Colt. Norway attempted to get licensing through Colt, but discovered European production was through Fabrique Nationale. So in September 1914, Norway signed a contract with Fabrique Nationale of Belgium for manufacture. The pistol would be produced at Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk in Norway.

The Kongsberg Colt remained in service with the Norwegian Armed Forces until being replaced by the Glock P80 in 1985.