Unusual DeSantis Holster

koz5614 · May 10, 2014

While at the Allentown, PA gun show, I found this in a pile of holsters:

At first I thought it was an ankle holster, but it is a RH OWB holster. The holster is designed so that during the draw, the hammer spur pops the snap. Very unusual. The rear is simply marked "DESANTIS". Has anyone ever seen one of these before?

ColbyBruce · May 10, 2014

Yes, I got a LH one with a 2" S&W 10 about six (?) years ago. I gave it to a left-handed neighbor. It did ride high and hug the body well. Yours is the only other one I have seen.

-db- · May 10, 2014

I think Lou Alessi pioneered the "pull through" snap system. Him or another of the New York holster makers, I'm not sure. I see this feature on a number of NY makers' holsters, though (Alessi, DeSantis, Stein, etc.) so I assume it originated in that region. Lefty Lewis could probably tell us who first came up with it (perhaps it was Chic Gaylord).

lawandorder · May 10, 2014

db it may have been Paris Theodore of Seventrees that came up with that type of snap.Old memory though so could be mistaken.

koz5614 · May 10, 2014

It's got an FBI forward cant, and the ammo pouch is actually a pretty practical idea. I'm going to put some polish on it and clean it up. I'm guessing it's probably a late 70s/early 80s rig, but I'd like to call DeSantis this week and see if they can give me any info on it. I was able to locate a completed auction of a brown, four inch version of this holster. That's the only other one I've ever seen.

shawn mccarver · May 10, 2014

I know that Seventrees used the pull through snap. I now believe the pull through snap was used by Gaylord as well, but I base that on Post 12 (by Lefty, I believe) in this thread referring to a Gaylord holster that appears to have a pull through snap:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/concealed-carry-self-defense/90794-problem-bodyguards.html

I am not sure who used it first. It is still used on some models by the famous maker who now has all of the Seventrees patterns - Ken Null of Resaca, Georgia.

That particular model of holster in the original post was designed for, I think, the FBI and its 3 inch Model 13. The holster pictured appears to fit another "Federal favorite" - the 2 1/2 inch Model 19.

That holster "required" its user to carry a reload. The position of the cartridges is in accordance with the reloading procedure taught to federal agents before speedloaders: Weapon transferred to left hand as cylinder was opened, cylinder held open by middle and ring fingers of left hand, barrel pointed completely vertical, right hand slaps ejection rod to cleanly eject all empties, weapon stays in left hand and is pointed down as right hand then withdraws two cartridges at a time from the cartridge pouch and inserts into cylinder, repeating until reloaded. Works every time.

ColbyBruce · May 10, 2014

I would like to have one of those for a 4" K frame. I carry my 3" K frames in a DeSantis holster. I liked this design enough to buy a second one.

-db- · May 10, 2014

You guys are probably right. Seventrees fits with my theory regarding it being a NY design.

shawn mccarver · May 10, 2014

-db- said:
You guys are probably right. Seventrees fits with my theory regarding it being a NY design.

-db-: I did a quick look after my post, and I am now feeling like Gaylord and Seventrees used that pull through snap. As to which was first, I cannot say with any certainty.

-db- · May 10, 2014

I've got an older Alessi IWB rig for a Commander-length 1911 with the pull through snap setup:

DeSantis also makes a similar version of this design.

koz5614 · May 10, 2014

Sweet holster, -db-. I'm a big fan of old leather.

ColbyBruce · May 10, 2014

This idea got carried over to semi auto pistol holsters. Blackhawk makes holsters with a single mag pouch attached in front of the holster.

bronco45 · May 11, 2014

Holster was around in the 80s just when LE was switching over to the 9mm and semi-auto. Idea was to have your firearm and 6 extra in one piece, one location. Most guys loaded their revos with the strong hand. Better hand/eye coordination with dominant hand.

Didn't have one but wanted one. We were morphing into 45ACP.

george minze · May 11, 2014

The late Lou Allesie made a holster some what like you have posted for years...I was lucky not long ago and bought a new old stock pull trough holster I imagine was for a 39 series Smith.....I bought it for a Smith Shield and it fit like a glove with just a little adjustment for the slightly thicker barrel housing....Put shield with a few thicknesses of plastic wrap and now it is great. Pull trough snap is perfect...How those snaps work so well baffles me considering past history with simple clothes snaps. Lou was great I still miss talking to him and mostly Mary Lou...Great folks...... Lou was a master at the holster making business........He had the knack.......I hear somebody has tried to revive the brand with limited success......Lou's holster were great and his attention to detail was unsurpassed.......

chief38 · May 11, 2014

I've got 3 or 4 of the pull through snap holsters that were custom made years ago by Bruce Nelson, but have not seen the integral cartridge loops like yours. Actually pretty cool!

younggun456 · Aug 28, 2015

That is the same holster my father used off duty in the 80's to carry his 4 inch colt diamondback. I buy that holster whenever I see one, I only have 2 so far. I posted a picture of it holding a 3 inch model 10 a few months ago the link is below.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/gun-leather-carry-gear/406696-one-my-favorite-setups.html

BC38 · Aug 28, 2015

I'd pick one of those up in a heartbeat if I saw one somewhere.
I'd like one of this style even better if the ammo pouch was a molded "box" with a snap closure that flipped down & open to reval a speed strip loaded with 6 rounds...

crazyphil · Jun 9, 2021

I believe the first pull through snap was on Chic Gaylord's Thunderbolt.
As we know, it is no secret, that Seventrees copied many of Gaylord's
creations. But Seventrees was probably 2nd with the pull through snap.
Alessi created one that he used, and apparantly DeSantis did too.
We know that Ken Null bought Seventrees patterns, and Ken still
uses the pull through snap on his VAM horizontal cross draw holster.
(VAM is short for Vampire). I'm not sure what Seventrees called their
horizontal cross draw with the pull through snap, but I think it was
called a Scorpion? Very rarely an old Gaylord or Seventrees will turn
up on the auction sites. Problem is they both stamped their holsters
in the rough part of the leather, so it wears off easily. But there is hope.
I learned from Red Nichols about the "stitch signature". I will post the
signature of Gaylord on the left and Seventrees on the right, so you can
authenticate one of their holsters if you should happen to find one.
I just noticed this thread has kinda long whiskers, but perhaps
some of you will enjoy the post anyway?

ajgunner · Jun 9, 2021

Hey Phil, thanks for resurecting this post. I know I missed it the first time around and learned from it this time. Would love to find one similar---no big deal if the snap is draw release, or thumb break, but I sure like the concealed loops. Would love to see them both front and rear and the holster sized for a J-frame. Pretty certain it would quickly become my new favorite.

xtrtsqrt11 · Jun 11, 2021

That's a cool old design. I'd love to have one for my M 12-2.
It's a pity that this thread is so old, I'm wondering if the ammo loop cover is spring loaded for the closure so to speak...

ETA: I would want one with the trigger guard covered half way and a thumb break maybe. Thinking of seeing about if someone could do a replica...

Unusual DeSantis Holster

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