Sir, great timing on your thread for I picked up one for a Model 36 S&W yesterday! Only I cannot find the same numbers on your posting. This one is a beautiful basket weave for a 2 inch chief special. Spring holster with the Marshal logo on the top, logo next, and below that is the numbers 31-42W. Then a patent number under that. The 36 dates as far as I can tell to 1968. Hope this fill in a gap somewhere. Best regards. The toolman.
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Bucheimer and Bucheimer-Clark holster fit charts - 1953-1975 & later
- Thread starter SG-688
- Start date
RangerRWB
Member
I went through all the charts and couldn't find any of the codes for my holster. It is marked B 01 006 14 C - can you tell me what it would fit? Many thanks in advance!
B 01 006 14 C
A black number 006 holster for fit code #14 - a 4 inch S&W K frame.
P.S. I searched for a meaning for the "C." Perhaps C for a belt clip as used with some other models.
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For late Bucheimer holsters with a multi-digit system, as on the FBI Concealer holster 01-604-16.
The first two digits denote the type of product.
01 = holsters
02 = belts
03 = clubs and saps
04 = ammunition and magazine carriers
The second series of digits indicate the holster model.
The third series of digits indicate the holster size code.
A black number 006 holster for fit code #14 - a 4 inch S&W K frame.
P.S. I searched for a meaning for the "C." Perhaps C for a belt clip as used with some other models.
===============
For late Bucheimer holsters with a multi-digit system, as on the FBI Concealer holster 01-604-16.
The first two digits denote the type of product.
01 = holsters
02 = belts
03 = clubs and saps
04 = ammunition and magazine carriers
The second series of digits indicate the holster model.
The third series of digits indicate the holster size code.
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spdguns
Member
I have an 01-003L-42.
01 means holster
42 is for a Colt Detective Special
What is the 003L? I can provide pics if needed.
Thanks!
01 means holster
42 is for a Colt Detective Special
What is the 003L? I can provide pics if needed.
Thanks!
That's a great find.
A black model 650 holster without a fit designation. My chart doesn't have a listing for Sig in any case.
And what does the "E" designate??? I don't think we've seen an "E" before.
Is the holster designed to ride horizontally - a driver's holster - or was the loop intended to slide on a suspender or some such item? Oh, wait. I think now that I see a 4-way belt loop: vertical or horizontal.
Does the snap at the top match the other side to make a safety strap?
Wild guess: The top profile suggests German police holsters, and that's where you are, so perhaps a prototype for the German police, like the previous Steyr holster.
A black model 650 holster without a fit designation. My chart doesn't have a listing for Sig in any case.
And what does the "E" designate??? I don't think we've seen an "E" before.
Is the holster designed to ride horizontally - a driver's holster - or was the loop intended to slide on a suspender or some such item? Oh, wait. I think now that I see a 4-way belt loop: vertical or horizontal.
Does the snap at the top match the other side to make a safety strap?
Wild guess: The top profile suggests German police holsters, and that's where you are, so perhaps a prototype for the German police, like the previous Steyr holster.
Thank you, I somehow smelled I had to do with something kinda weird
It actually comes from a stock I bought from a retired German officer, I could have asked him but I lost contact.
And yes, the snap at the top does match either way. Definitely not intended as a shoulder holster though.
Looks like for a SA to me...
46 = Colt Official Police 6”
edit to correct my response.
The model 77 Guardsman is a thumb break swivel holster by Bucheimer-Clark rather than Bucheimer. W for basket weave in this case. (Not always.)
I'd guess it was in the B-C line for all or nearly all of the B-C operation from 1959 to 1978.
The similar Guardian model by Bucheimer was the first thumb break holster in about 1955.
edit to correct my response.
The model 77 Guardsman is a thumb break swivel holster by Bucheimer-Clark rather than Bucheimer. W for basket weave in this case. (Not always.)
I'd guess it was in the B-C line for all or nearly all of the B-C operation from 1959 to 1978.
The similar Guardian model by Bucheimer was the first thumb break holster in about 1955.
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Thanks a lot! For the record, its a near perfect fit for my 6" 686. It is basketweave, does have the thumb break.
Whats the difference between Bucheimer and Bucheimer-Clark? In your estimation, this holster is 1977 or older?
Whats the difference between Bucheimer and Bucheimer-Clark? In your estimation, this holster is 1977 or older?
They are sister companies.
It's all very muddled, even after looking for corporate records. Red has an as-much-as-we-know summary in one of his recent blog entries. This is discussed in a couple of previous entries.
J. M. Bucheimer Co (Frederick, Maryland)
An old line company dating to the turn of the century (that other one) as a holster company. Bucheimer ended in the late 1980's, acknowledging guesswork because of our lack of official records.
Bucheimer-Clark Corp, 6314 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 3, California.
A merger of Bucheimer and the LA based Clark holster company - dating to about 1930 - incorporated in 1959. Dissolved in 1970 when both came under the Tandy corporation. The last B-C catalog we have is dated 1978.
Some of us consider B-C to have had a slightly higher quality product, in general, as also the Clark product line. Original owner Ed Clark patented a spring retention holster (Berns-Martin had to acknowledge the Clark patent). Both Ed and son Earl were prolific designers with Earl later working for Safariland. Bucheimer had some top designers - Kippen - on payroll too, but I'm a fan of Clark, so I'll emphasize them.
And then there were holsters marked Thompson, Thompson-Clark and Clark (Anaheim) using the B-C designs. Red was acquainted with Thompson as an LA company attempting inroads into the 70's police market. Then holsters from the other two have popped up recently. Dunno...
clark holster co. LA California
http://smith-wessonforum.com/redire...cheimer-clark?postId=5f09274e743f7a0017461abd
It's all very muddled, even after looking for corporate records. Red has an as-much-as-we-know summary in one of his recent blog entries. This is discussed in a couple of previous entries.
J. M. Bucheimer Co (Frederick, Maryland)
An old line company dating to the turn of the century (that other one) as a holster company. Bucheimer ended in the late 1980's, acknowledging guesswork because of our lack of official records.
Bucheimer-Clark Corp, 6314 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 3, California.
A merger of Bucheimer and the LA based Clark holster company - dating to about 1930 - incorporated in 1959. Dissolved in 1970 when both came under the Tandy corporation. The last B-C catalog we have is dated 1978.
Some of us consider B-C to have had a slightly higher quality product, in general, as also the Clark product line. Original owner Ed Clark patented a spring retention holster (Berns-Martin had to acknowledge the Clark patent). Both Ed and son Earl were prolific designers with Earl later working for Safariland. Bucheimer had some top designers - Kippen - on payroll too, but I'm a fan of Clark, so I'll emphasize them.
And then there were holsters marked Thompson, Thompson-Clark and Clark (Anaheim) using the B-C designs. Red was acquainted with Thompson as an LA company attempting inroads into the 70's police market. Then holsters from the other two have popped up recently. Dunno...
clark holster co. LA California
http://smith-wessonforum.com/redire...cheimer-clark?postId=5f09274e743f7a0017461abd
BTW
An ad from 1976 pops a surprise in the BTW holster touted for having belt loops for 2 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 inch belts so that one holster could be used for on and off duty - presumably by police officers.
The holster appears to be the same as the wrap-around front-welt Plainsman with an added strap. Not pictured, so we don't know how the dual loops were managed.
Of course, the big question is what does BTW stand for. ???
===================
Update October, 2021 with information from a 1976 catalog showing the BT Series of holsters with the BTW now labeled BT.
Opinions vary as to the significance of BT.
The other BT holsters share lines with the known Thompson holsters, so my guess is B for Bucheimer and T for Thompson. YMMV.
An ad from 1976 pops a surprise in the BTW holster touted for having belt loops for 2 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 inch belts so that one holster could be used for on and off duty - presumably by police officers.
The holster appears to be the same as the wrap-around front-welt Plainsman with an added strap. Not pictured, so we don't know how the dual loops were managed.
Of course, the big question is what does BTW stand for. ???
===================
Update October, 2021 with information from a 1976 catalog showing the BT Series of holsters with the BTW now labeled BT.
Opinions vary as to the significance of BT.
The other BT holsters share lines with the known Thompson holsters, so my guess is B for Bucheimer and T for Thompson. YMMV.
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Clark Coachella, CA BTD marked holster
This recently surfaced holster in the Bucheimer pattern like the Plainsman with the basketweave pattern like the Thompson/Clark Annaheim/Thompson-Clark holsters is marked Clark Coachella, CA with the stagecoach T stamp.
Coachella, CA might explain the coach mark.
The new information from Susan Clark and the discovery of Wray and Jon Thompson in the management of Tandy leather lead to guessing that one or both of them are the Thompson in the Thompson/Clark holsters. An inquiry with the Thompson family is pending.
Red has more on his Holstory blog.
Edit to add that Red has quibbled with my Clark & Thompson summary, but I was trying to simplify the story.
This one is marked BTD-45S. BTD model which fits with the BTW designation in the ad posted above, and 45S = .45 auto with swivel or perhaps short .45 since this fits a Commander.
Pictures attached. The 2 photos of the T Coach stamp are the same stamp with varied lighting in an attempt for maximum clarity.
.
This recently surfaced holster in the Bucheimer pattern like the Plainsman with the basketweave pattern like the Thompson/Clark Annaheim/Thompson-Clark holsters is marked Clark Coachella, CA with the stagecoach T stamp.
Coachella, CA might explain the coach mark.
The new information from Susan Clark and the discovery of Wray and Jon Thompson in the management of Tandy leather lead to guessing that one or both of them are the Thompson in the Thompson/Clark holsters. An inquiry with the Thompson family is pending.
Red has more on his Holstory blog.
Edit to add that Red has quibbled with my Clark & Thompson summary, but I was trying to simplify the story.
This one is marked BTD-45S. BTD model which fits with the BTW designation in the ad posted above, and 45S = .45 auto with swivel or perhaps short .45 since this fits a Commander.
Pictures attached. The 2 photos of the T Coach stamp are the same stamp with varied lighting in an attempt for maximum clarity.
.
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I'll add this picture of the front of the holster showing the unusually low front opening for duty holster.
I thought the two views of the stamp were more important in the first post but that hit the maximum.
P.S. The pistol is my Heinie Commander from 1977.
I thought the two views of the stamp were more important in the first post but that hit the maximum.
P.S. The pistol is my Heinie Commander from 1977.
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Ugly Hombre
Member
Thanks Much OP! Very useful info!
I have a Federal Man Bucheimer holster I got of fleabay- its likely a 1960s built rig. The leather is astonishingly thick and strong, its supposed to fit a Commander but its super tight..my circa 2010 Commander with the bigger front sight is a snug as heck fit.*
It seems the old holster got a lot of use from the old owner daily carry perhaps? Its worn- but its still tight and strong, model number lettering is worn off of the bottom of the belt loop strap. "Pat. Pending" stamped on the upper end of the thumb release "Bucheimer made since 1884" on the metal snap itself.
Thanks again for the information-
*Addendum: was able to bring the model number up seems to be "450" for a Smith K frame or a Walther P38!? marked as "Commander" with photos on fleabay- no wonder its a bad fit duh buyer beware! lol
I have a Federal Man Bucheimer holster I got of fleabay- its likely a 1960s built rig. The leather is astonishingly thick and strong, its supposed to fit a Commander but its super tight..my circa 2010 Commander with the bigger front sight is a snug as heck fit.*
It seems the old holster got a lot of use from the old owner daily carry perhaps? Its worn- but its still tight and strong, model number lettering is worn off of the bottom of the belt loop strap. "Pat. Pending" stamped on the upper end of the thumb release "Bucheimer made since 1884" on the metal snap itself.
Thanks again for the information-
*Addendum: was able to bring the model number up seems to be "450" for a Smith K frame or a Walther P38!? marked as "Commander" with photos on fleabay- no wonder its a bad fit duh buyer beware! lol
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Federal Man
Someone sent along a picture from a late Bucheimer catalog showing the distinctive styling of the revolver and auto versions of Federal Man holster.
Before about 1970, the strap was sewn on.
P.S. The first Safariland straps were also sewn onto the body of the holster.
Addendum: adding a fit chart from the 1971 Bucheimer catalog here and in the first post.
Someone sent along a picture from a late Bucheimer catalog showing the distinctive styling of the revolver and auto versions of Federal Man holster.
Before about 1970, the strap was sewn on.
P.S. The first Safariland straps were also sewn onto the body of the holster.
Addendum: adding a fit chart from the 1971 Bucheimer catalog here and in the first post.
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Gotta pic? I may can help, I've been handling quite a few fedman holsters last couple years
