Just picked up a beautiful like new Roys Leather Goods Magnolia AR holster doubt a S&W M-19 2.5 was ever been in it. Also a late edition Roys catalog. Anyone else notice sales of holsters has skyrocketed along with all the popular vintage revolvers/pistols?
Roys Pancake Holster
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I should hope sales of holsters have skyrocketed. If millions of new gun owners are not buying holsters one would presume they're all keeping them at home. That, of course, would be very far from the truth. So they NEED holsters.
But I notice that holsters stay available, unlike ammunition!
But I notice that holsters stay available, unlike ammunition!
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
A Roy Baker original pancake holster is a nice find. Baker is generally credited with the pancake design, if not the first ever his products were certainly the first widely marketed holsters of that type, and continue to serve as a point of comparison.
The design provides one of the best combinations of comfort, accessibility, security, and concealment.
Baker's real genius was very effective marketing of his products. Just about any established sporting goods business with a good track record was provided displays and products on a "floor plan" basis; everything provided at minimal up-front expense and generous terms so the retailer could pay for the inventory as the products went out the door. For several years it was very common to see a rack of "Roy's Original Pancake" holsters prominently displayed in stores all across the country.
I believe that Baker started his business from his home in Indiana, later moving to Magnolia, Arkansas. Quite a success story for years, but when he passed on the company quietly folded up. All the assets went at an auction sale, including cutting dies, stitching machines, all the patterns and other tools of the business went for pennies on the dollar.
Typical of the period (1960's to 1970's), Baker's holsters usually featured trigger guards either fully or largely exposed, and holster fit was somewhat generic (small revolver, medium revolver, large revolver, small automatic, large automatic, etc). The pancakes were offered unlined or suede-lined, with and without thumb-break, plain or basket-tooled, and a fairly broad range of belt-slot options (strong-side, cross-draw, forward cant, rear cant, neutral cant).
For a general production holster line the quality was very good and the marketplace responded with strong demand. A very interesting example of the holster-making business during a period of much competition.
The design provides one of the best combinations of comfort, accessibility, security, and concealment.
Baker's real genius was very effective marketing of his products. Just about any established sporting goods business with a good track record was provided displays and products on a "floor plan" basis; everything provided at minimal up-front expense and generous terms so the retailer could pay for the inventory as the products went out the door. For several years it was very common to see a rack of "Roy's Original Pancake" holsters prominently displayed in stores all across the country.
I believe that Baker started his business from his home in Indiana, later moving to Magnolia, Arkansas. Quite a success story for years, but when he passed on the company quietly folded up. All the assets went at an auction sale, including cutting dies, stitching machines, all the patterns and other tools of the business went for pennies on the dollar.
Typical of the period (1960's to 1970's), Baker's holsters usually featured trigger guards either fully or largely exposed, and holster fit was somewhat generic (small revolver, medium revolver, large revolver, small automatic, large automatic, etc). The pancakes were offered unlined or suede-lined, with and without thumb-break, plain or basket-tooled, and a fairly broad range of belt-slot options (strong-side, cross-draw, forward cant, rear cant, neutral cant).
For a general production holster line the quality was very good and the marketplace responded with strong demand. A very interesting example of the holster-making business during a period of much competition.
I have an old gun magazine clipping that says Pioneer Tent & Awning,
the company that bought Eubanks, bought Roy Baker's Leather in 1983.
I wonder how that can be when Pioneer Tent & Awning went out of
business in 1972? I guess we can't believe everything we read.
I had a Roy Baker the Pancake Maker holster, but gave it away.
Then, when I read Holstory I realized how important Baker was
in holster history, so I went searching for another one.
I wanted the open top. No retention strap. I don't think he
made many because it took quite a while to find this one.
It is shown with my Colt's Agent, with Craig Spegel stocks.
the company that bought Eubanks, bought Roy Baker's Leather in 1983.
I wonder how that can be when Pioneer Tent & Awning went out of
business in 1972? I guess we can't believe everything we read.
I had a Roy Baker the Pancake Maker holster, but gave it away.
Then, when I read Holstory I realized how important Baker was
in holster history, so I went searching for another one.
I wanted the open top. No retention strap. I don't think he
made many because it took quite a while to find this one.
It is shown with my Colt's Agent, with Craig Spegel stocks.
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I own and use several of Roy's Pancakes. The one for my S&W 66-1 2.5 inch I've had since the 70s. Pancakes weren't all he made. A friend has a shoulder holster from his company for a 1911.
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1978 sale of original Roy's
We found this after publication of the book to better nail down the date of the sale of the company by Roy Baker:
"Roy's Custom Leather Goods Inc. advises that the firm, originator of the
popular Pancake holster, changed hands on July 13, 1978.
Calvin M. Porter, president; ...the total assets of the corporation
remain intact, including the plant, property, equipment, and patents.
Porter also advises that improvements have been made on the patented Pancake holster and that a line of concealment holsters called Hidden Thunder has been introduced."
Roy started out in Rockford, Illinois and then moved to Arkansas.
Red has said that the Askins Avenger was originally designed to evade the Baker patent.
We found this after publication of the book to better nail down the date of the sale of the company by Roy Baker:
"Roy's Custom Leather Goods Inc. advises that the firm, originator of the
popular Pancake holster, changed hands on July 13, 1978.
Calvin M. Porter, president; ...the total assets of the corporation
remain intact, including the plant, property, equipment, and patents.
Porter also advises that improvements have been made on the patented Pancake holster and that a line of concealment holsters called Hidden Thunder has been introduced."
Roy started out in Rockford, Illinois and then moved to Arkansas.
Red has said that the Askins Avenger was originally designed to evade the Baker patent.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Grayfox
US Veteran
Roy also made standard style holsters as well. I have one I bought way back around 1980 for my then brand new 6" 586. Just an ordinary field type OWB holster with a thumb break. Very nice basket weave design on it too. 
Roy's Pancake holster
Possibly of interest on making a decision to buy a used Roy's Original Pancake Holster: He used very simple marking to identify the fit of each holster, for example, for S&W "10", "19", "36", "39" etc. indicated the S&W Model number, sometimes with a barrel length added and "SH" is Standard Hammer, while "TH" is Target Hammer". "PYT" is Python and so on.
Possibly of interest on making a decision to buy a used Roy's Original Pancake Holster: He used very simple marking to identify the fit of each holster, for example, for S&W "10", "19", "36", "39" etc. indicated the S&W Model number, sometimes with a barrel length added and "SH" is Standard Hammer, while "TH" is Target Hammer". "PYT" is Python and so on.
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DevilDog72
US Veteran
Roys for 3 inch 36-nd
I really like my Roy's for my comp'ed Officer's Model. I bought it in the early '90s. I had to cut it down a little because my gun is a Commander length, and the holster was originally for a full size 1911.
The Baker “Pancake” was one of my favorite off duty holsters back when I was a LEO. I had several for a variety of sidearms, but foolishly sold them off.
A few years back, I scored a Pancake rig from a guy who had bought the stock from a gun store that had gone out of business. This one was NOS and it was made specifically for a Browning Hi Power:
A few years back, I scored a Pancake rig from a guy who had bought the stock from a gun store that had gone out of business. This one was NOS and it was made specifically for a Browning Hi Power:
bronco45
Member
Simply Rugged makes a holster called the "Tribute" that is a mirrored copy of the Roy Baker Pancake.
Ray my first Baker pancake holster was purchased in 1974 from L&S police supply. Aka Loose and Slick police supply. Paid a whopping $6.00 for it. As with most holsters of that era it was generic fit. Known as a one size fits none.
Do you have any idea if L&S is still in business?
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
L&S Distributing was a partnership including James Lilly and Daniel Schull, two Colorado Springs cops. The partnership lasted until early 1980s or so. Jim Lilly was promoted to command level in the department, became divorced from Carol who ran the retail store, not sure how Dan Schull's interest ended up. Hopefully a peaceful and equitable settlement. Carol remained in charge at the store until the late 1980s as I recall. Haven't heard anything about L&S Distributing since that time.
I think Jim Lilly was a deputy chief in the early 1990s; I remember seeing him at events sponsored by the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police.
Dan Schull retired from CSPD, later became chief at Canon City (about 2005 or so), and I stopped in to say hello about that time. Very good guy by any standards.
You may also remember Luis Velez. Rose through the ranks and ended up Chief of Police, then retired and went on to the chief's position in Pueblo. Very impressive gentleman.
Of course, none of us will ever forget Joe Kenda, now famous as "Homicide Hunter". We both worked with him as a patrolman, dispatcher, and later patrol sergeant before he went on to international fame and fortune as Lieutenant Joe Kenda with the Hollywood folks. Incredibly intelligent man with a wonderfully dry sense of humor. I can tell Joe Kenda jokes for hours at a time!
More pages have fallen from the calendar, old friend.
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