I picked-up the holster pictured below several years ago from a holster barrel for some ridiculous price. It is obvious what it fits and that it was intended for a "Sam Browne" using a hanger, but does anyone have an idea what company made it? This is what I can tell you that is not obvious from photos.

Model 551X, 5" for a .44 caliber. It is 1/2 lined, see stitch line just below strap tip. The lined area and above have some form of lining, probably fiber, as a stiffener. This is not steel. There are absolutely no other markings anywhere on the holster.

It will accept a target-sighted N-Frame from the gouges inside the holster. It fits a 1917 perfectly.

The shame is some idiot punched two holes at the toe for a tie-down! Must have thought he was a Cowboy! Wasn't smart enough to use the welt tab that extends below the holster.

If you are not familiar simply "mouse over" the thumbnails or click on them and they will open to nearly full screen so you can seen the details.

Attached Images

	Swivel Holster Rear B.jpg (63.3 KB, 80 views)
	Swivel Holster Front.jpg (77.7 KB, 85 views)

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I'm not sure I agree with your conclusions. The holes may really be for an ill advised tie down. But closed bottom holsters create a big problem if used out in the rain. It's pretty simple, they fill with water. Open bottom holsters are "self bailing". To make a closed bottom bucket bail itself, you punch holes. Or tip the bucket upside down every 15 minutes until you get off duty or whatever. Then go home and punch the holes!

Brauer made a blue million of those, but there are other makers, too.b

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Dick Burg

Dick,

No, it was for a tie down, it was still in the holster. If it had been intended for a drain a single hole on the back side, so it didn't show, would have been adequate. In this case there are a total of 5 holes, 2 outside and 3 inside. The idiot tried to drill these from both sides and the holes didn't align so it ended up with an extra. This was just a mutilation of what was a high quality Police holster. Ain't my first rodeo either!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

IIRC: Buchemir

+1. Swivel to ride easier in a cruiser. (or Jeep)

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Very likely JayPee, perhaps Bucheimer. The holes for your tiedown would have been added later by its owner; manufacturers otherwise would place them entirely on the backside of the holster and not through the front, too.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

My guess is Brauer Brothers. A while back I studied police swivel holsters
quite a bit. I was trying to find out what Jim Cirillo used to carry his 4"
bull barrel Model 10.
There is a photo of Jim in his book GUNS, BULLETS, & GUNFIGHTS on page
XIV. I'm sure a pistolero like Jim had many holsters, but I think the one
he wore on the Stakeout Squad was one similar to the Bucheimer that
I show below.
I have had 3 "witnesses" who knew Jim, and/or shot with him, tell me
it was either like the Bucheimer shown below or something very much
like it.
The Model 10 with bull barrel is shown in the holster, but as you can see,
the holster was made for something with adjustable rear sight like perhaps a model 15?
Bucheimer called this rig the PATROLMAN.
Jim said he made the 12 cartridge slide shown in the photo I mentioned.
The snap/unsnap feature on this rig would have been very handy when
getting in or out of a vehicle.

Attached Images

	SAM_0038.jpg (157.3 KB, 44 views)
	SAM_0095.jpg (123.6 KB, 32 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

Looks suspiciously like their product.

I second Jay Pee