Post-WWII US Military Revolver Holster.

TomcatPC

TomcatPC

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Hello

Since I have so few actual S&W Revolvers to talk about and show off...thought I would post this.

Here is a US Military Holster for a medium frame revolver with 4" barrel. My Model 10-5 fits perfect in this holster. I think this holster would date from circa 1960-1980's? I think a version of this holster was used in the War (WWII)...but would have been brown at that time?

Anyway, just thought I'd post this, I'm certain others have first hand knowledge about this holster, and Post-WWII use of S&w Revolvers.
Thanks
Mark

DSCN0989.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That looks like the type of holster issued to US Army, US Navy, and US Air Force aviators from the Korean War era through the Vietnam War era. A LOT of WWII surplus S&W M&P 4" .38 Special revolvers were issued to cargo, tanker, transport, and helicopter crews in combat zones.
 
TomcatPC said:
Hello

Were all of the .38 Special revolvers used by the US Military post-WWII Victory Models from WWII? Or were post-WWII commercial S&W Model 10(and any other makers) revolvers bought for the US Armed Forces?

Thanks
Mark
Click to expand...


Both. And the USAF adopted the Combat Masterpiece (M-15 S&W) as standard in the early 1960's. See the thread, with pics, on one in the section covering guns to 1980, I think. It's in one of these forums.

Colt and Ruger .38's were also bought. Some Army people say they saw many round-butt commercial M-10's.

And snubs were issued to CID and similar investigators. Some had hammer shrouds, if Colts.

A variety of holsters were issued, and some were privately purchased. During the Vietnam war, many locally made gunbelts aped the TV western styles. I served with a guy who wore one of those. I preferred the Tom Threepersons sort.

T-Star
 
Its a least a US "type" revolver holster, but not WWII.

The things that would make it a later issue, if it is a genuine USGI issue holster, is the snap instead of the "lift the dot" fastener, and the non-standard double border "US" stamp.
The color would also make it a later issue.

Pacific Canvas & Leather makes a fair replica of the WWII issue "Victory" holster.
Note the "Lift the dot" stud and spring fastener, and the "US" stamp with the single oval border.

Pacific Canvas & Leather Co. INC
 
Its not a fake if its Cathey Ent. I have one of those too. It is a genuine issue, as Cathey Ent. is a contractor for holsters for the military. They still are to this day as far as I know. I was issued a M12 holster (Bianchi designed) for my M9 when I deployed in '02 as a medic with the KY National Guard and it was a Cathey Ent. made one, not Bianchi. As a matter of fact, I have two at the house.
 
Sonny Crocket said:
Its not a fake if its Cathey Ent. I have one of those too. It is a genuine issue, as Cathey Ent. is a contractor for holsters for the military. They still are to this day as far as I know. I was issued a M12 holster (Bianchi designed) for my M9 when I deployed in '02 as a medic with the KY National Guard and it was a Cathey Ent. made one, not Bianchi. As a matter of fact, I have two at the house.
Click to expand...

So if I wanted to get a period correct holster for a 1956 M&P, would the black Cathey Ent. be the right one?

I'm a southpaw, and they even offer it in left hand!! :)
 
I have that same holster still in the original packaging. It is an issue holster, not a fake. The NSN is 1095-00-973-0521 and the part number is 7791495. Mine is dated 3/85 and shows a contract date of 1984. It is a late issue holster, true, but it is the genuine article.
 
TomcatPC said:
Hello

Were all of the .38 Special revolvers used by the US Military post-WWII Victory Models from WWII? Or were post-WWII commercial S&W Model 10(and any other makers) revolvers bought for the US Armed Forces?

Thanks
Mark
Click to expand...

I once had a pre model 10 in the C serial block with US marking on it. I did not letter it since it was crushed. I am pretty certain it was US issue as in why woudl some one fake a US marking on a crushed revolver? It was a round butt IIRC. That would be a post war purchase of a S&W M&P.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
So if I wanted to get a period correct holster for a 1956 M&P, would the black Cathey Ent. be the right one?

I'm a southpaw, and they even offer it in left hand!! :)
Click to expand...

I don't know enough to give you a correct answer, sorry. I didn't even know they sold to the public. Do you have a website I could check out?
 
Here's a pic that I've posted before. This S&W was carried in Vietnam during a couple of tour of duties, by two Army officers.

The "western" style holster was in-country made; the model 10 is a U.S. Army contract revolver that shipped in August of 1963.

gunSWmod10-5Vietnam.jpg
 
I pick up those black GI flap holsters whenever I can as they make excellent field holsters; compact, comfortable, secure, and will fit belts as well as GI pistol belts with the wire hangers. They fit any fixed sight K frame S&Ws, the Model 15s, and both the Service and Security Six Rugers. The M19/66s will not fit.

I just checked and found one unmarked as to mfr and one marked Hunter.

There was a book on US military holsters out by Meadows about 20 yrs back that I wish I had. I do remember looking these up; they also made them for 2" guns. I forget the official designation on these but they are darned handy holsters.
 
Cathey Enterprises was a USGI holster maker from early Vietnam on so it would not be "correct" for a 50's issue.
They also sold the same holsters commercially.
To this day, many surplus stores are still selling commercial Cathey marked Model 1916 hip holsters for the 1911 pistol.

A 1956 holster would have been a straight WWII type, either in natural tan or dyed black, or possible a new production in black.
More than likely, it'd be a WWII production holster.
After the war, there were MANY thousands of WWII production holsters still in the system, and they were often dyed black in the 50's or often just issued in the original tan color.
 
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Mark-

If you want it locked, I guess they'll do that. But I don't think anyone posting here accused you of anything. You just asked a question!

And your holster may have been made later than you might have thought, but it seems not to be a fake. It may very well be a GI holster, or a contract overrun one sold to the public.

Seems more like a Vietnam or later item, but that isn't bad. Those are also collectible, as well as being good "using" holsters.

I'll butt out, but I think you misunderstood what people were posting.

T-Star
 
I'm confused...:confused:

I don't believe the holster is a fake at all. It's a post war black holster made by Cathey (a holster contractor for the US Military). As mentioned by some of the other posters, it's more than likely a Vietnam era or later holster.

The holster does have value and is easier to find than some of the earlier WWII holsters. Sometime during the Korean War era, "brown" holsters were replaced by "black"; and some of the older WWII "brown" holsters were dyed black.

I would think that anyone that collects military guns, especially Vietnam era, would want one of these for their collection.
 
Likewise. The successor company mentioned in the link states that they sell it both commercially and to the govt., with US, USMC, USN, or no markings at all. Obviously they are legit. The Meadows book I mentioned was $65 back in the 1980s and not cheap. There was a LOT of info on US military holsters in there that many of us didn't (and still don't) know. I just wish I had bought it anyway.

I think it's called the learning process.
 
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