I recently aquired a J frame holster that has a "Franz-Loc" nickel silver clip attached - basically a metal spring loaded device intended for belt carry. Pretty nice on/off hoster for a J.

I can't post pictures right now, but Sports, Inc in Chicago held the patent on the clip from 1971-1992. Easy enough to google.

They look like they may have been sold to holster makers, hence my question.

My holster is stamped with the initials and address B.B. Smith, Ashland, Ohio

I can find any reference to Mr. Smith and his leather goods - anyone have any insight or knowledge of this maker?

I'll put up some pictures later.

thanks,

I had one for my Model 51. Bought it at a police supply place in Washington DC. I wet-molded it to my 51, and it was a fine holster. Really handy, and on the right size of belt, very secure. I think I sold it with my 51. Too bad. It would have been a great holster for my Model 43'

P.S. Don't remember who made the holster. Old folks like me would probably recognize the name.

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Pictures posted - model 36-7 with Badger grips

Just saw this so might be a little late.
Floyd B Smith made holsters in Ashland Ohio for many years.
For most part used the franz loc clips so holsters were easy to move or remove from duty /off duty belts. He was a career Police Officer in Ashland and retired as a Lt.
Made his holsters untill franz loc went belly up. Very well made holsters still in use, to some extent in my area of Ohio.
Heiser used these same clips on many of his holsters also.

Franz-Loc must have had something to do with Franzite grips, the "Franz" name and Sports Inc. of Chicago being common denominators.

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SWHF #448

Thank you for the information - interesting.

All my Js with the exception of a 60-4 3" are not Centennial models without external hammers so the holster is not much use to me right now.


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Talking with F.B.Smith's Son, Tom, he was also good at "Adding" a "Franz Loc" clip to your holster If you wanted one.
Picked up a Heiser 457 holster, with snap strap, for Colt OP or Smith M&P that had a "Clip" added. Am sure That Floyd B Smith attached this on this holster. Definite "easy on/off holster
Anyone who finds one of F.B.Smiths holsters and doesn't need it, would be willing to purchase same.

I recently acquired one of these and brought it up here.

A Special Gift From My Holster Guru Turnerriver

I have seen quite a few holsters with the same, or similar, belt clips. These were popular back in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's. There were usually some common traits:

1. Straight drop, neutral cant.
2. Low ride height, grip-frame at or near belt-line.
3. Open trigger guard.
4. Snap-strap retention.

Mens' trouser preferences changed considerably during the 1960's. Trouser "rise" was reduced, waistband located on the hips and a couple of inches below the navel. Before that most mens' trousers had much greater rise, with waistband located above the navel. Suspenders (braces, galluses, whatever you want to call them) were in much more common use. Trouser belts, if used at all, were usually quite narrow.

This change in mens' fashions required a different approach to holsters. Higher ride and butt-forward cant became the norm. Snap-strap retention started losing out to thumb-break retention (later 1960's). Covered trigger guards didn't make much of a dent until the late 1980's, as Glocks and similar striker-fired pistols came into the market (and required more protection against inadvertent/unintentional/accidental discharges).

Decline in the use of suspenders required sturdier belts, both to secure the trousers and to support a holstered handgun.

Not all of these changes occurred simultaneously. While the younger men took to the new fashions more quickly many older men stuck with the older preferences for the next couple of decades.

When I first put on a badge in 1972 most of the senior cops I worked with and for were WW2 and Korea veterans, and their wardrobe preferences were much different than us younger guys liked to wear. A gentleman's business suits still came with two pairs of trousers, usually a vest, and the coat. A good suit could last for 10 or 15 years and they were expensive, so the older guys continued using them as long as possible. The older guys were also accustomed to earlier holster designs, things they had been using for many years and were comfortable with.

The specific clip shown on the OP's holster photos was used pretty widely by a number of makers. I would expect that the larger companies would have insisted on the clip maker stamping their own trademarks and/or names on clips provided for their production. Smaller shops would have used the clips as shown.

Note the term "Nickel Silver" stamped on the clip. Nickel silver is an interesting material in itself, long used in jewelry, flatware, vases, bowls, and other decorative items. The actual composition is an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc, providing the appearance of silver along with some tendencies to oxidize and display tarnish similar to real silver products. Being a relatively soft metal alloy nickel silver is easily cast, punched, or stamped into just about any shape. It is relatively sturdy (relative to overall thickness, of course) but has no inherent qualities suitable for use as a spring; once bent it remains somewhat distorted even when straightened back to original shape. In short, not the ideal material for this type of application. At the upper hinge of the Franz-Loc clip there will be a tempered steel spring providing tension to close the clip and make it grip securely. Steel springs of this era were invariably carbon steel alloys, thus subject to rust, and locating the spring against the body ensured exposure to salty perspiration which, over time, can be expected to damage the spring and compromise the Franz-Loc's ability to perform as intended.

Another interesting example in the history of man's developments for carrying his necessary tools.