holster w/ buckled belt loop

[PogueMahone]

I just came across this on an online auction site and was wondering if anyone had seen anything like it before?

Hopefully these links will work correctly ...

Link to auction item (http://www.icollector.com/A-Rare-Confederate-Holster-With-a-Lead-Finial-T_i6969268)

http://www.icollector.com/images/255/12576/12576_72242_1_lg.jpg

http://www.icollector.com/images/255/12576/12576_72242_2_lg.jpg

What would be the purpose of the buckle? All I can think it is to buckle the holster to a saddle or something.

Informed comments desired.

[David Fox]

Never saw the like. Presume the purpose was to attach and detach the holster readily from waist belt or, as you suggest, carriage on a saddle part. British holsters sometimes had strap buckles, but this does look Amurikun.

[estephenson]

The buckle appears to be the cast buckle of a federal cartridge box or the Enfield box buckle. The Enfield buckle is longer but shared the same basic rounded corner shape.

[PogueMahone]

Or it could just be a buckle.