... have you ever seen one like this.


I found this holster, marked - "police special" LEWIS L.A. CAL. belt thru both loops 38 2.


I Google searched "Lewis" with no results for holsters. It sure fits a C prefixed M&P like a glove.


So has anyone seen/owns a holster like this? Lewis Leather?

Old leather for old revolvers is a must and this combo looks like a match!

GF

Lewis holsters were popular in the 1940's & 50's & maybe the '60's as well.Detectives,plainclothes & even uniform officers used them.I have a number as like you I find them interesting & very period appropriate for a number of my revolvers.Here's the only Lewis shoulder holster I've ever seen.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426
NRA Endowment Life member

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turnerriver

You have the classic plainclothes officer's crossdraw rig. Many of the LAPD officers that I served with had one for their 2". they were popular until the advent of auto pistols in the 80's. I didn't have the shoulder holster but I recall seeing several, most of those were for 4" or 6" revolvers. Lewis was located on Sunset Boulevard near downtown. Watch any episode of Dragnet and all most every plainclothes officer has one.

These holsters were prominent among LAPD officers. All the guys in the LAFO of USSS had them too. I bought one for my Model 19 2.5" and Model 36 when I was hired in 1976. They were still making them then.

turnerriver, that shoulder rig, and the stag grips with it come close to Grail status for me. (Insert Baby Chief here.) Thanks for the eye candy but now I have to go get a towel to swab up all the drool.

Froggie

I bought a Lewis Leather holster from a forum member several months ago that fits a K frame 4" in excellent condition. It's a very well made holster. Nice combination you have there GF.

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Mark, good to see you're using and enjoying that lefty holster.

Gail, that's a great one you found. I hope to find one of those snubby models myself someday.

John, thanks for the photo of the shoulder rig. I've seen Lewis shoulder holsters before, but they're always the flat-sided versions, not having the cylinder pocket like yours. Very nice.

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SWHF #448

Bucheimer Clark also made a version of the Lewis "Police Special" featuring the cylinder pocket they called the "Sheriff" model:

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SWHF #448

I'm so old, I've used holsters like that.....for duty purposes in my LE days.

Mine were Buchiemers (SIC, I think), not the Lewis.....They usually were quite good and usable holsters.

I dug mine out and compared the markings. The one I have, for a 4" gun that is marked: Made by Lewis-L.A. Cal.for F.M. Pitt San Gabriel Cal. Under that the no.s 44-4. is stamped. Anyone got any info on Pitt?

I guess that makes me old too as I used some of them (wish I still had one) during my LEO days.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I believe Pitt was likely a supply house/outfitter or something like that, as I've seen other holsters by other makers carrying that "Made by so-and-so for F.M. Pitt" line, too.

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SWHF #448