Going through one of the Boxes of Shame.

[jar]

About a week ago I was sorting through one of the Box of Shame holding old holsters and came across an almost new looking Roy Original Pancake for a 1911. IIRC I bought it in the mid 80s for a Colt Series 80 that was a nightmare. When the Colt got sent to Foster Care and I hope a Forever Home the holster went into the box and has slept there quietly for almost four decades. The Roy Baker was one of the first "Concealed Carry" designed holsters.



It had been under a bunch of old Brauer Bros and Bucheimer and Hunter holsters that were all still in pretty good shape and also deserved to go WalkAbout.

There were three other Bucheimer 1911 holsters.



The one on the far right has two snaps set for either a Government model or Commander size. There is also a hole and ghost of yet another snap way up near the hammer that I imagine at one time held a snap positioned for a sons toy pistol.

The one in the middle is for a full size Government model and works for either Condition 1 or 3. The strap goes over the grip safety but does not depress it and the thumb safety and trigger are totally enclosed. Here it is holding my Dan Wesson Pointman/Patriot so that places it around mid 1990s. The DW was also a nightmare and it too went to Foster Care and I hope a Forever Home.





The holster on the far left is for a Commander size and will not work with a Government full size 1911.

There were also about seven more really old holsters and I'll cover them in subsequent posts.

But come on now, are there any of you who don't have at least one Box of Shame with similar really neat period holsters?

 

[SterlingBullet]

Sorry, you're just an amateur.
I'm left handed and possess a full box of right hand leather and Kydex holsters that were purchased thinking, "Maybe I can modify this holster somehow to use left hand." Have not adapted one yet. Probably wishful thinking.

 

[jar]

The middle Bucheimer is also a perfect fit for my Bring Back 1941 Walther P-38 that was hard chromed.



I tended to like Bucheimer holsters and back in the 60s they were one of the biggest and most varied holster producers along with Hunter.

Here are three revolver holsters; two from Bucheimer and one from Brauer Bros. The middle holster is from Brauer Bros. and is shown with my Colt Police Positive in 38 New Colt (38S&W). The others are from Bucheimer with my Colt Army Special and my Detective Special.



There was also a small jewel from Hunter in another of the Boxes of Shame that is also perfect for my Detective Special and could also work with my Smith J frames.

 

[pbearperry]

I had a Roy Baker holster for a S&W K frame 4". I used it until it fell apart 30 years later. I loved it.

 

[doubleh]

This thread is a look into the past and shows us how holsters have evolved over the years to suit needs.

 

[jar]

I had a Roy Baker holster for a S&W K frame 4". I used it until it fell apart 30 years later. I loved it.

Simply Rugged has carried the Baker Pancake on but with heavier leather and without the thumb strap and calls it "The Sourdough". He also makes a "Tribute" version that has the thumb strap.

 

[Spats McGee]

The middle Bucheimer is also a perfect fit for my Bring Back 1941 Walther P-38 that was hard chromed.

View attachment 1154122

I tended to like Bucheimer holsters and back in the 60s they were one of the biggest and most varied holster producers along with Hunter.

Here are three revolver holsters; two from Bucheimer and one from Brauer Bros. The middle holster is from Brauer Bros. and is shown with my Colt Police Positive in 38 New Colt (38S&W). The others are from Bucheimer with my Colt Army Special and my Detective Special.

View attachment 1154124

There was also a small jewel from Hunter in another of the Boxes of Shame that is also perfect for my Detective Special and could also work with my Smith J frames.

View attachment 1154126

View attachment 1154125

I'm especially fond of the ones with easy access to the trigger.

 

[jar]

There were also some more revolver holsters on top of the Roy's Original.



The holster on the left is a Bucheimer that I used to carry my Dan Wesson with a 6" barrel. It's only a S&W M-19 4" in it above. The holster on the right is also from Bucheimer and was bought for my S&W Kit Gun, 22LR. Here is the Bucheimer with the Dan Wesson.



There was another Hunter in the second Box of Shame but it was for my Colt New Service and S&W 1917s.



Notice how in almost all the old revolver holsters the triggers were uncovered.

 

[DustyGmt]

I dug out my cobra and pulled it from the safe the other day and when I pulled it from the holster I saw mold growing on the inside of it. Not real thrilled about that, but the Colt in the middle is in a very old Hunter leather holster. Glock in an old DeSantis and don't know the make on the cobra but I know it's meant for a S&W, not a colt.....

 

[jar]

Continuing the trek.

Shortly after I got married (so in late 1967 or 1968) I bought a Beretta "New Puma" in 7.65mm/32acp and a Hunter holster. In the picture below it is on the left. On the right is yet another Bucheimer holding my post war Walther PP. The PP is a fairly recent arrival and an ex-Austrian Police handgun but the Bucheimer holster was one designated for the Walther PP or Colt 1903 and works with both.



There was also a couple ammo dump pouches, a smaller Bucheimer pistol cartridge and a larger likely WWI rifle pouch.





These days the latter would likely get filled with 22lr on one side and whatever handgun round worked for my bugout carry.

 

[jar]

Another holster that I'm trying to bring back into rotation is an old Strong holster for the S&W 39/59s that I used with my 5906 in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Today I tried wearing it with my 1985 S&W 469. I should have a Strong for the 469 in one of the boxes but it worked well with this holster.

 

[Piranha451]

I bought this Seldeen Leathersmiths Double Action holster in 1980. Its name was derived from the fact that you could have an empty chamber and charge the gun by pressing down on it to cycle the slide. There is a rubber block at the muzzle that holds the slide in place and allows the frame/barrel to cycle. You also could carry with the firearm cocked and locked as it held the grip safety in place. I found some for sale on eBay and the seller listed them as being for a double action revolver. I contacted him, explaining that they are for autos. He thanked me and to this day the title still has not been changed. Oh well~

 

[jar]

One of the little jewels that I found is an old HH Heiser of Colorado hand carved holster designed for the tiny Vest Pocket guns of the period. It will work with the FN/Colt Vest Pockets, the Baby Browning and in this image with my Beretta 1919 (what "M" took away from James in the book).

 

[bannockburn]

jar

What a nifty little holster for your .25s!

Had an H. H. Heiser holster that came with a Colt Model 1908 I picked up years ago. It was their version of a pocket holster and looked a lot like this one. They sure must have had big, sturdy pockets back then because that was one thick and heavy piece of leather to be totin' around with all day!

 

[jar]

jar

What a nifty little holster for your .25s!

Had an H. H. Heiser holster that came with a Colt Model 1908 I picked up years ago. It was their version of a pocket holster and looked a lot like this one. They sure must have had big, sturdy pockets back then because that was one thick and heavy piece of leather to be totin' around with all day!
View attachment 1156463

Is that a 1908 41?

When Colt abandoned Widdershins and adopted Deosil.

 

[bannockburn]

jar

Is that a 1908 41?

No it was a 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 pistol. Sorry for the confusion. I should have been more specific.

 

[jar]

jar


No it was a 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 pistol. Sorry for the confusion. I should have been more specific.

No problem. I was just guessing based on what was shown in the picture. I did find a couple 1903 holsters in the boxes though.

 

[jar]

Here's a close up of the hand carving on the HH Heiser with the straps undone so you can see the whole design.

 

[stonebuster]

I had a Roy Baker holster for a S&W K frame 4". I used it until it fell apart 30 years later. I loved it.

The Bucheimer "Concealer" holsters carry a 4" K frame high & tight and are very light.

 

[jar]

Today I let another denizen of one of the Boxes of Shame go WalkAbout. It's another Strong brand holster and is for the Walther PP series; PP, PPK and PPK/s. Today it's my ex-Austrian Police PP in 7.65mm.

 

[jar]

Continuing my Non-Tupperware Combat 32acp pistols theme; today I've been carrying on of my JP Sauer & Sohns 38hs. This one was made in 1941 and saw service throughout the war and afterwards was transferred to the East German VoPo. It's riding in a JayPee Large Auto pancake holster.

 

[jar]

Another really nice old holster has just returned from a neatsfoot oil and cucumber massage and spa day.

This is another Strong and in a nice burgundy color. Like so many of these older holsters it has a hard time with the thicker leather belts I've been wearing for the last few decades and that may have been part of the reason they got put in the Boxes of Shame.

BUT, I also found an old belt in almost the same shade of burgundy hanging on one of the Hangers of Shame with belts of all the varying waist size expansion and collapse. It fits and seems to support the holster.



The holster cleaned up well and honestly, it is as comfortable, secure, functional and concealable as any of the many custom OWB holsters I've purchased since then. Of course I no longer have the body that went with the holster back in the mid to late 1970s when the holster was new and it's entirely possible that it is just my current Michelin Man body rather than Perelli Calendar body that aides in the comfort factor. Either way, I'll make sure these old troopers get to at least go on parade from now on.

 

[jar]

Two duty holsters from Don Hume. Both were either loved or hated by those tasked to wear them. The first is a Jordan Border Patrol and I'll let some of our LEO who might have had to wear the latter identify the holster design.

 

[TriTone]

View attachment 1156613 View attachment 1156616 The Bucheimer "Concealer" holsters carry a 4" K frame high & tight and are very light.

I just bought a vintage bucheimer concealer for a 4” Python. (EBay)

Excited for it to arrive. Looks to be in similar condition to yours, spent $40, so if it is, I feel it was a great deal .

 

[usaral63]

Jar: #2 strongly resembles one of the Berns Martin retention rigs, least in profile...........is it a break front?

Far as the BP rig, still have my Tex Shoemaker version....owned an SD Myers when first starting out.....good leather but the TS variant was superior in that it provided a sight protecting extension..........My old '59 vintage M/19's front and rear sights are both rounded via carry wear and if not for that chunk of leather the rear blade would've likely been badly damaged.