"HOLSTER DETECTIVES: What Handgun Does This Holster Fit" ???

[David]

My recently retired LEO friend gave me one of his old holsters (about 10 to 15 years old).

It is called a "Pager Plus" holster (the type of holster that just reveals the pager holder).

My friend has no idea what type of handgun this holster was designed to fit.

Here is the only clue:

Embossed into the leather of this holster are the letters: "SEM"

That's it -- SEM.

One other thing, it appears to fit a smaller type handgun -- unknown whether wheelgun or semi-auto.

My friend thinks those letters indicate somehow the make and model of the handgun this holster fits.

Any ideas what handgun this holster was designed to fit?

 

[C.R.Sam]

Not "Pager Plus".....but Pager Pall holsters are pretty universal.
I think they come in small, medium and large.
Hence, any given holster will (sorta) fit many different guns.

Might try stuffin a few in it and see what works.

Sam

 

[David]

This is a Pager Plus holster (not a Pager Pal) and it appears to be "molded" to fit a particular handgun.

The only this I do know that it is a left handed holster.

I will try to post a photo of the holster below:

 

[BluesBear]

Based on the photo it's clearly made for a DA auto.

It would be easier to determine if the photo also showed the pager for a size comparison.

 

[David]

Here is another photo of the holster with a quarter in the picture for size:

If you look closely at the photo, you can make-out the handgun's barrel, front sight, trigger and trigger guard shapes.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Wow...
That looks like it would grip real tightly on the gun it was formed for.

And, I have no idea what gun.

Sam

 

[BluesBear]

Much better photo.
This one's easy.

That holster is for a Semmerling LM-4.

 

[lee n. field]

"SEM" -- possibly Semmerling (a .45ACP 4 or 5 shot microgun). I think American Derringer is making them (very slowly) now.

 

[David]

You THR folks are amazing!

A Semmerling?

I never even heard of it.

By the way, I mentioned the Semmerling to my retired LEO friend to see if he ever had one.

He seems to recall that the holster company sent him that holster to fit ANOTHER small gun he carried at the time (i.e. NOT a Semmerling), but he does not recall the handgun make or model.

What other handguns are there that might fit a holster designed for a Semmerling?

Thanks, again...

 

[C.R.Sam]

In awe here too. I, also, never heard of it.

Just looked in Fjestad's...
Semmerling. Currently owned by American Derringer Corp., Located in Waco, TX. Previously manufactured by Semmerling Corporation, located in Boston, MA from 1978-1782. Less than 600 LM-4 pistols were originally mfg by the Semmerling Corp.

There was a U.S. Army contract.

Pricy little buggers.
Semmerling mfg ones two to five thousand bucks depending on type of finish and condition.

Current production ones MSR over $2,500

Sam

 

[Jason Demond]

The Semmerling LM-4 is an unusual gun which utilizes the blow-forward principle which was said to help control the recoil of the .45 ACP in such a small gun.

To operate the gun, you insert a magazine, pull the slide fully forward, and release it. The gun incorporates a self-cocking striker mechanism that was activated through a long trigger pull. Even though it looks like an auto-loading pistol, it is actually a manually operated repeater. The slide must be pulled forward after each shot to eject the spent case and load a fresh round of ammunition.

The LM-4, made by Semmerling, was discontinued in the mid-1980's, but is now being manufactured again by American Derringer.

 

[David]

My retired LEO friend recalls he once carried an AMT Backup (in .380 ?).

Would an AMT Backup, in general, tend fit into a Semmerling molded holster?

Thanks...

 

[BluesBear]

I would imagine that an AMT Backup would work in this particular holster.

The pager style holsters suspend the weapon below belt level so the pressure of the trousers against the body and the tension of the belt should hold the slightly smaller AMT in place OK.

 

[Kevlarman]

Yeah, a Semmerling would be my guess too.

You learn a lot from reading/watching Gunsmith Cats and Riding Bean!
One of the characters in RB was named "Semmer."

 

[David]

Some questions:

What is the history of the Pager Plus holster company?

Is it still in business?

Does anyone use a Pager Plus holster?

This Pager Plus holster appears to be very well made.

Thanks...

 

[Semmerling]

Whereas the holster shown in the photo is for a Semmerling LM4, the details of the description provided by Jason are not quite correct. The LM4 was a completely manual loading .45. The barrel was slide forward by hand and returned to battery by hand. There are no springs utilized in it's loading or reloading of a cartridge, it is always manual.

The holster is in great shape and would have value to a Semmerling collector.
It would not have properly fit any other pistol of its day as the profile of the LM is wholly unique.

Note to all, the original Semmerlings were made of very expensive and very strong steel....not out of stainless (ADC). Every gun was assembled by one man, by hand and the parts were magnafluxed three (3) times for safety. They were...and still are the rarest of the rare .45 acps. Having said that, be aware, these were sold to professionals that needed a 2nd firearm on them at all times (second as in #2, the other gun, the tape gun, the hideout) as these pistols were not prepared to serve the primamry role...just the worlds smallest, most spectacular back-up .45. They will fire...every time...no safeties...

The number of these still in service would surprise you.

 

[rcmodel]

It would not have properly fit any other pistol of its day as the profile of the LM is wholly unique.

+1

Nothing else even close, then or now.

Many guns might drop in the molded holster pocket, but nothing except a Semmerling would really fit it properly.

rcmodel