Bought an inexpensive AVIATOR holster for my model 10

[Pat Riot]

A while back @CraigC had a post about a beauty of a Tanker holster and it got me thinking. I hadn’t considered a tanker holster for carrying any of my revolvers. I was considering a chest holster but I recall having a chest pouch for hiking that literally lasted or rode on my chest for about 1.5 hours before I was carrying it stuffed into my backpack.

Wearing a heavier revolver on my hip sometimes just isn’t comfortable after a while. I guess as I get older having 40 ounces of metal pressing on the hip bone just ain’t all that fun any more.

After seeing Craig’s post on his newest Tanker holster I went in search of one for my Ruger GP100. I was having a hard time justifying spending $125-$250 on a holster set up I may not like. I was kind of bummed and then started looking at chest rigs again when I noticed a link to Amazon and a WW2 Tanker rig for a S&W M&P or model 10.
I thought to myself “Forty bucks is a lot less than one or two hundred dollars. I love that model 10 of mine. A .38 Special should be plenty powerful enough for WV man-eating wildlife.”
Besides, my model 10 has been “pretty” long enough. It needs some holster time so I bought the WW2 Tanker holster.
It arrived 2 days ago and was was too tight for my model 10, so I followed the directions of the maker and soaked the holster in water for around 15-20 minutes, wrapped my model 10 in plastic. Cling wrap then gallon baggie - the holster scraped a hole in the lone baggie I tried. I inserted the gun fully secured by the strap and left it hang at room temp until this morning.

Here it is:






I fitted the length of the strap to my svelte shape (round’s a shape) and carried it around a bit. I think I am going to like this holster. If I truly do after a few trips to the lake and the woods then I will look at options for my other favorite revolvers,

Almost forgot the link where I found this one:

World War Supply M3 Victory Revolver Premium Brown Drum Dyed Leather Tanker Shoulder Holster Marked JT&L 1943 Holster Only https://a.co/d/54ArwPn

 

[Mark_Mark]

Cool fitting method: here’s a dumb question. You don’t worry about the gun rusting on the wet holster?

 

[entropy]

Actually, that's an aviator holster. Tankers were issued M7 holsters for their M1911's.

 

[Pat Riot]

Actually, that's an aviator holster. Tankers were issued M7 holsters for their M1911's.

Thank you. I wasn’t aware. That would explain the number of 1911 holsters that came up in my search. I will keep this in mind moving forward.

EDIT: I was able to change the title. I wasn’t aware one could do that.

Thanks again.

 

[drobs]

Pacific Canvas and Leather had a going out of business sale. I grabbed a couple leather Left Hand Tanker Holsters and a couple 1916 style flap holster, also left handed.

Just a warning, I was carrying a FN Hi Power in one of the tanker shoulder holsters, while pounding in fence posts, and the snap proceeded to come loose, throwing my Hi Power on the ground. Something to be mindful of.

 

[Pat Riot]

Cool fitting method: here’s a dumb question. You don’t worry about the gun rusting on the wet holster?

To protect my revolver I wrapped it in cling wrap (Saran Wrap) then pushed the barrel into the corner of a gallon bag then literally stuffed it into the holster. Since it was wet there wasn’t much resistance.

Before wrapping


Wrapped and ready to go into the baggie then the holster.

 

[trackskippy]

What youre looking at there is a copy of the M3 holster, and was the predominant holster of that type in WWII. I dont think the M7 came in until very late in the war and was the upgrade and replacement for the M3's.

The M7s have a thinner man strap, usually with a "slider" on it to make it more comfortable/bearable. It also has an additional strap and is more adjustable and can be worn in more ways.

I've had a number of the aftermarket M3's and they are not all the same. A lot of them come with a pretty light leather and a skinny strap that can wear on you pretty quick. Even the original, heavy leather 1.25" strap can get old at times.

Ive always preferred the M3's over the M7's.

El Paso does a decent job of making the M3's, although the leather they use is not as heavy as the original GI holsters. Still, they are one of the best Ive seen of the aftermarket versions, and they will make them for pretty much anything and with options. They are salty, but worth it.

Ive been using this one on a daily basis for over 10 years now. Thats the 17 I use for weekly practice and daily dry fire. They are just great, handy, "grab and go" holsters.

 

[Pat Riot]

Pacific Canvas and Leather had a going out of business sale. I grabbed a couple leather Left Hand Tanker Holsters and a couple 1916 style flap holster, also left handed.

Just a warning, I was carrying a FN Hi Power in one of the tanker shoulder holsters, while pounding in fence posts, and the snap proceeded to come loose, throwing my Hi Power on the ground. Something to be mindful of.

Thank you. I will.

 

[CraigC]

Very good. I"m sold on the concept. I just got a flyer for World War Supply a nd have been meaning to check them out. I may have to try one of theirs. I started out with the 7X chest rig for my SRH. It's really the only way to carry a heavy scoped revolver afield. Then I got the DiamondD chest rig for my 4 5/8" Ruger Bisleys. Then two of the El Paso tanker rigs, then the two more I posted recently. I always wear my field holsters on a heavy gun belt and sometimes you just want something you can grab, throw on and go. These are perfect for that.

When I go to the field this week, I'll be wearing a Helikon Tex "Numbat" chest pack with a 9mm auto, among a bunch of other stuff. I also have a 5.11 chest pack I planned to use on our next offroading expedition. They work great when driving.

 

[doubleh]

I have used Saran wrap for years for moisture protection for the gun. I only do three wraps and never had a tear. It is tough stuff.

I have never liked anything pulling down on my shoulders and after rotator cuff repair on both I don't care for it at all. Even a seat belt putting pressure on either becomes very uncomfortable in a short time. I keep a large spring paper clip in each of our vehicles to keep a little slack in the belt. No shoulder or chest holsters for me.

 

[bangswitch]

Actually, that's an aviator holster. Tankers were issued M7 holsters for their M1911's.

The M3 was designed earlier (1943) than the "improved" M7 (1944), which has an additional strap to better keep the holster in place, but both were designed for combat use. Tankers and paratroopers both used both versions. They remained in use well into the 1990's as the P92 Beretta fits them. The basic design is still in use for other handgun types. Many preferred the M3 due to its simplicity. I like the M3 rather than a belt holster when hiking as it takes all the gun weight off the waist and doesn't interfere with backpack straps. I have a version made by El Paso Saddlery for my S&W N frames, and my SAA also fits it.

 

[Pat Riot]

I have a version made by El Paso Saddlery for my S&W N frames, and my SAA also fits it.

The photo with the revolver in the holster, is that holster made by El Paso Saddlery? I prefer the plain look with holsters.

 

[bangswitch]

The photo with the revolver in the holster, is that holster made by El Paso Saddlery? I prefer the plain look with holsters.

Yes, that's the El Paso "Tanker". It's made for a 6" barrel gun, but if you order it for a shorter barrel, it will be shorter. Workmanship is excellent.

 

[trackskippy]

This is the El Paso Tanker I have for my old S&W Victory M&P. It has a Pacific Canvas & Leather canvas shell carrier on the strap.

One thing to be aware of with El Paso in regards to the metal finish is, that if you order a plain holster, they will give you metal with a nickel finish, like the holster I posted with the Glock in it. If you want the more correct for the type of holster parkerized/phosphate type finish, you need to request a "stamping", like the "US", "CSA", ect.

 

[Pat Riot]

Yes, that's the El Paso "Tanker". It's made for a 6" barrel gun, but if you order it for a shorter barrel, it will be shorter. Workmanship is excellent.

Thank you. They do make some very nice holsters.

 

[Pat Riot]

This is the El Paso Tanker I have for my old S&W Victory M&P. It has a Pacific Canvas & Leather canvas shell carrier on the strap.

That’s also a nice holster. Love that cartridge slide. Thanks for the info on the hardware.
I can see myself ordering an El Paso Saddlery holster in the future. I will have to see how much I like carrying my model 10 in the holster I bought.

I would love to see a photo of your Victory revolver.

 

[trackskippy]

This is the one in the holster...

I have a couple of the British Victory S&W's in 38/200 with the 5" barrels too....

All three of those were probably the last "reasonably priced" S&W's I bought too.

 

[Sistema1927]

If you have a Simply Rugged belt holster that you like, you can convert it to a chest holster using their "Chesty Puller" system. It works well, and I imagine that it could be used with some other holsters just so long as they have the 2nd front belt slot.
https://www.simplyrugged.com/ecommerce/Chesty-Puller-Suspension-System.cfm?item_id=160&parent=672

 

[Pat Riot]

@trackskippy you have 3 very cool revolvers there. Thanks for posting the photos.

 

[armoredman]

Those look great, might have to get one for my Smith 64-3. BTW, anyone know what the little slot cut into the holster is for?

 

[Pat Riot]

Those look great, might have to get one for my Smith 64-3. BTW, anyone know what the little slot cut into the holster is for?

I am pretty sure it’s to relieve stress on the leather from the cylinder. The one I bought has a cut near the front of the trigger guard. I suppose it’s for the same reason, stress relief.

 

[entropy]

The M3 and M7 have those cuts. They are for the trigger guard. PatRiot's is a bit different, it is for the cylinder. The earlier aviator holsters do not have either. I had a footlocker full of all 3 types in my Arms room, because we had a dust off unit that had .38s, and some 1911s also.
We got one UM85 holster with each M9, plus a couple extra, but I still kept the M3s and M7s, the pilots preferred them for the M9s over setting up a UM85 up for shoulder carry.

 

[CraigC]

One thing I noticed regarding hardware and lining, is that this one came without lining and with nickel hardware.

This one came with pigskin lining and black hardware. I didn't order lining for either one. I prefer the black hardware but don't believe in soft linings, never line my own holsters and certainly don't pay extra for it. Weird.

I also meant to order CSA stamping for the other one and forgot.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

Here's a custom tanker rig I did for a good friend. I hand carved and tooled the US instead of embossing it like every other maker does. Completely handmade and hand sewn. Not handmade like most meaning my hand pushed it through a machine. Custom battle worn dye job. Extra mag pouch on chest strap and included a padded slider shoulder pad for more comfort. It has the straps so it can be used as a m3 style or later m7 style. First pic has my norinco holstered before shipping to friend. here's a pic my friend sent after receiving it with his ww2 1911setting in rig with a pair of matching US leather grip panels I made for him as well.

 

[Pat Riot]

Very nice work @Hillbilly Hydrographics

I have tried making holsters by hand. I have learned that a man must know his limitations.
My holsters looked like something a 3rd grader might cobble together with construction paper.