The black leather holster has the tapered body and full flap of a late Civil War Army pattern revolver holster with two unique features: (1) an extended belt loop/skirt attached to the body by a riveted loop and (2) ten .45 caliber cartridge loops attached to the mouth of the holster and fully covered by the flap. The holster flap is stamped with unit markings: "C 129" and "42". A similar holster is illustrated on page 30 of "PACKING IRON" by Richard Rattenbury and the holster is illustrated and fully described on pages 146 and 147 of "U.S. MILITARY HOLSTERS AND PISTOL CARTRIDGE BOXES" by Edward S. Meadows. Both Rattenbury and Meadows describe the holster as an experimental pattern apparently designed by Captain James M. Ropes of the 8th Cavalry. A small number of these may have been manufactured by the San Antonio Arsenal between 1883 and 1890. The Ropes Holster was designed to provide the cavalry trooper with a holster with a large "Mexican Loop" that could fit over a loaded .45-70 cartridge belt and also provide easy accessibility for additional .45 caliber revolver cartridges. Very good overall.