I just got this holster from an antique store. It has no dry rot or fraying, and the block inside is still in very good condition. The SEARS 1942 marking on the back is very clear. The only thing bad about it is the US logo is sort of worn out. Do you think $65 was a fair price? I also got a two medals for $8.
It sounds like you got a decent price on your stuff, but I don't collect American Militaria and don't know what the market brings on that stuff. Also, I too once had a 1942 dated holster made by Sears. I could tell you who owned it-which happened to be this Vet who lived two blocks down from us who had served in both WWI & WWII. The mans last name was Cole-and in WWI, had been a Captain in the Infantry. I don't know what his rank was in WWII-but this Gent came over to our house many-a-Sat or Sunday morning and had breakfast with my Dad and or just sat and drank Coffee and smoked Cigarretts. The sad ending to this story is, that I had found his holster lying in his backyard-remarkably still in very nice condition. Apparently after his wife passed away, whomever had control of their possessions (they had no children) those who moved the items out of their house-must have dropped the holster while taking it to the trash bin-and it must have fallen out of the box it was in. Also, I think they threw away all of his uniforms medals and such. Anyway, I had bought an M-1 Carbine-originally for my Dad-but by the time I paid it off-he had passed away. Well, I had the holster in my possession, and when months later I wanted to sell off the carbine, I guy came over to buy it noticing the holster and wanted it too. I had a severe case of the stupids, and just gave it to him.
