I have an older (70-80s) leather holster that I carry a Model 19 4" BBl in. It fits like a glove.
Its a right hand thumb break with a belt loop.
Its russet brown /red.
It has the S&W badge branded into the rear and marked 27 94
Just like that.
My 686 2.5" fits it perfectly.
Now find a thumb break like this that will fit a 2.5" L frame and forget it , its not there anymore.
But there are 100s of pancakes, paddles super duper thing a ma jigs that have more leather on them that it took to make 2 of the one thumb break that 19 fits into.
I don't like all that leather and sewing, looks like they need to take a band saw to them after they build them and cutoff a few pounds of leather.
Just like to know who make the Smith branded holster and what the numbers 27 94 mean it fits?
Still on the quest for the molded lightweight thumb break for a 2.5" 686.
I may have to make it myself.
Ron

There were two model 27 holsters in the S&W line at different times. The first was a black Police holster called the Sure Lock holster, very similar to a Jordan or Border Patrol style holster. That model was phased out of the line in the early 1970's. The second style was called the Sportsman holster. It was a thumb break holster made for both autos and revolvers.
Try as I might I could not find a 94 size code. The size code for a 4" K frame revolver was 34.
That's about as close as I can get.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Like turnerriver I also looked for quite some time trying to find the size
94 with no luck. If turnerriver can't find it the answer to your question
must be what you have is a holster mis-stamped or maybe mis-read?

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In Omnia Paratus

Thanks to both of you.
I never saw one with these number on it either.
They are for a fact 27 94 just like that
up near the belt loop is the S&W round logo stamped into it.
It is a thumb break. it is russet brown in color and it fits the Model 19 4" perfectly, not loose but right.
My 2.5" 686 goes into it as well but tighter and the snap does still snap but with more attention than the 19 does.
Will snap a picture and load it tomorrow if I can.
Thanks for the help.
Ron