Gentlemen:

I am almost finished unpacking from last week's S&WCA Symposium in North Carolina. The Symposium had so many fabulous aspects to it. One of them was this little S&W brand holster that needed a new home, and I happily gave it one.

This holster is a Model 22, which indicates that it is lined. When I picked it up it appeared to be brand new. Indeed, until I placed a Model 36 Chief's Special in it today for these pics I don't believe that it had ever been touched by a revolver.

I especially like the snap which bears a sharp looking S&W insignia, a feature that regrettably was dropped in later holsters.



It also bears the code 62 which indicates that it is for a 2 inch J-frame revolver. My old flat latch M36 fits it well. I believe that the W mark indicates that it is a basket weave style.



My guess is that this one was made in the early to mid 1970s. Can anyone confirm that or offer a more accurate date?

Regards,
Charlie

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Charlie, the model 22 holster appeared in the 2nd S&W Holster catalog in September 1969 and was in the line well up into the 1980’s. A 1974 catalog showed holsters with the S&W snap, I couldn’t find any other catalogs that did.
That’s a great looking holster.
Regards,

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turnerriver

The first S&W branded holsters I saw were at a sporting goods store around 1974 or '75.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

1970 catalog:

1970 (3)a.jpg

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thanks, guys. I will go with mid-70s as an approximate date.

Charlie

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

That is a great holster! The S&W marked snap definitely pushes it over the top in the coolness spectrum.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Red, that’s the model 02 Off Duty holster, major difference is it’s unlined. Here’s the cut for the model 22 holster from the same catalog dated September 1969.

Regards,

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turnerriver

Did S & W make them or did Someone else?

Smith & Wesson Bangor Punta bought the Wolfram Co. in 1968-9 and started marketing their own line of holsters. Wally Wolfram had mentored a young John Bianchi and also made Colt brand holsters prior to being acquired by S&W.

Regards,

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turnerriver