I got a few.This is a pic of some of mine.

Well,I guess they don't.Are S&W logo marked holster's considered factory?

I would think anythink S & W marked would count as a collectables. Very nice group photo. Chop

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MSG US Army

I don't know if they count as collectibles but I have been actively buying them lately. In my area I can find examples in very good to excellent condition in the $5-$10 range. The seem well enough made and I don't think those low prices are going to last forever. Right now all the interest seems to be in CCW holsters and plastic tactical stuff. In my opinion thought revolvers NEED leather holsters.

Agree with this.....

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.............SmithNut

Of course they're factory! They started production early in the Bangor Punta go-go days of making everything under the sun. Production stopped after S&W was sold to Lear Siegler. They were good quality product.

Bob

I say they count big .

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

My belief as well!

BTW I'm looking for a holster for a 6 inch 22/32 Bekeart,
any leads on one?

I don't know about collectable, but they are real nice!!!!!

Collectible? Sure and I'd say especially the ones that were made specifically for the 3" bbl Lew Horton N-Frames (24-3, 629, 657,etc.).

I'd love to find one for my Lew Horton 24-3, but talk about rare as hen's teeth.

I recently picked up a Lew Horton 24-3 without the original holster also.
I havent even seen a picture of one.

Since I carry my guns, a good holster is more important to me than the box the gun came in.
Cheers.

The earliest dated price list I have for S&W holsters is Feb. 1969;the latest dated material is a May 1984 catalog & price list that is Lear Sigler marked. Smith & Wesson leather became,I believe,Gould & Goodrich after S&W stoppped marketing leather.S&W had a licensing/marketing agreement with Bianchi as well,but that was quite a bit later.I have a number of S&W holsters,some in the original blue & gold boxes,& have considered them collectible for some time.
Regards,

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turnerriver

Lew Horton 24-3 holster. Just out of curiousity I've been watching a Lew Horton 24-3 on Gunbroker, like new in the box with papers and tools, tools unopened even. It's at $785.00 currently and has 9 hours to go.

I was looking online for more info on the Lew Horton 24-3's and read about the holster that was made specifically for the 24-3's. I'm not sure what's more expensive these days, a clean set of N frame diamond magna's or the holster made for the 24-3's. Any idea what one of those holsters would go for still in the plastic? The holster model number is a BFW24.

Murphy2000

Searching online, I haven't been able to find out anything about this one I picked up recently, particularly which '84 "Limited Edition" it was made for, but fits my slightly later 2.5" 686, so it's a keeper.

S&W leather is a whole field of collecting in itself, starting with the Civil War period holster made for the Model 1s & 2s. The first holster market with S&W logos, to my knowledge, were the galvanized rubber-canvas clip on "pouch" style made by outside vendors, circa 1890s, for the Safety hammerless & .32-.38 DA revolvers. When the 1970s came along, the factory started the leather line, making numerous holsters for a variety of modern made hand guns, most in leather, but some in a faux leather called "Wessonhide" which was impervious to climate changes & moisture. S&W Leather Catalogs from this period are a must have to help identify the large number of different models & finishes. A complete collection would run into hundreds of holsters, some of which are seldom seen. Ed.

Hopefully, sooner or later a collectors catalog of all factory S&W holsters produced will be printed. Not sure exactly how big a seller it would be, but I'm sure a 1000 copies should go easy enough.

Murphy2000

I have a beautifully made S&W holster for my 2 1/2" Model 19.

Interesting to hear about the Bianchi connection 'cause a lot of S&W holsters look exactly like Bianchi 5BHL models.

They may not be great collectibles but the model 21 is a great holster. I try to keep one around for all my guns,if anyone has a 21 24 (4"n frame) you don't need please let me know;also I've got a B21 05 (5'' s/a colt ruger etc.) if anyone needs it.

I picked up this holster at a garage sale this past weekend.



That sure looks like a Smith and Wesson logo to me.



Does anyone know what the B 34 34 means?

The holster fits a 4" K frame nicely.

David

Never mind. I found ko41's thread on S&W holsters (Holster Details) and answered my question.

Thanks.

After seeing a gun show vendor a few years ago selling and getting 19.99 for coffee cups with a S&W logo. I'm convinced nearly anything with a S&W logo should be considered collectible.

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Dave

Especially if they couldn't give it away when it was available for sale. S&W used to force their distributors to carry the leather, in exchange for getting hard to get guns.

I'm convinced that's the ticket to a successful collection. Buy what nobody wants today.

I know the quality is excellent on most. If not collectable, surely a great value.

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FREEDOM ain't free!

All S&WCA members must come to the Orlando meeting! John Whitty, World's Greatest Authority on S&W leather, will display his collection and talk to the anointed about collecting S&W leather. Ed.

Here's a holster that came with a M27 I recently bought. I've never seen one like it.

It's leather except for the nylon fabric piping around the edges.
SW59 fb.JPG SW59 fa.JPG

It's swede-leather lined.
SW27-2-4 holster i.jpg

It has a fabric S&W label.
SW27-2-4 holster label.jpg

I don't know what gun this holster was made for, but a 4" N-frame revolver fits in it nicely.
SW27-2-4 holster fwg.jpg

Can anybody shed any light on about when this holster was made and by whom? Anybody have an old catalog that shows this line of holsters?

Thanks.

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Lorin

It's a wee bit late but here's a link to a photo thread on this forum for a left handed version:

The S&W left hand holster for the Lew Horton 24-3 3" revolver

Also, for potential future reference, here's a link for photos of a well worn 624 3" S&W holster:

S&W Holster for the Lew Horton Model 624 3"

Maybe it'll be of help at some point...