CARRYING MY K FRAME

[crazyphil]

This old model 10 K Frame has been around a long time. It was
previously known as Military & Police. It has been in S&W's
catalog for well over a hundred years. Jim Cirillo, and a lot of
other pistoleros have had pretty good luck with it.

Here, left to right, are a few of my options for carrying the 4" model 10:

Heiser (HHH) I guess it was made before they called it 457,
but that's what it is. Probably the best gun to holster fit I
have ever known.

Brill that turnerriver let me have. Just call me luckyphil.

Eubanks early model, made at least 70 years ago.

Pioneer Company holster who took over Eubanks for a while
from around 1950 to 1955. Not a Eubanks Pioneer, just a
plain old Pioneer Company holster.

Hunter carved model 3100. Almost bbq quality?

I put these Jay Scott grips on my model 10 because they are
thick and fit my big old ham hock hand quite well. At least
I shoot better with them on. I know faux stag looks a little
cheezy to some folks, but to me hitting what you shoot at is
what it's all about.

 

[StrawHat]

I like that Brill. It shows the revolver well.

Kevin

 

[Lee Barner]

Phil, you made me dust off a few of mine this morning. left to right: Buffalo carved, Alamo Leather, Viking(Mexico), and two HH Heisers. the black one has my only nickle M&P in it. lee

 

[turnerriver]

Here's a few for the 4" K frame revolver, an all time favorite barrel and frame size of mine.
Regards,
turnerriver
Colorado Saddlery holster with a Combat Masterpiece.

Left handed Myres with a Combat Magnum.

I bought this belt and holster from S.D. Myres when I was 17, I correctly predicted that I'd always have a 4" S&W K frame revolver to carry in it.

 

[BC38]

I don't have any as pretty as those posted in this thread, but I picked up and unusual one a couple of days ago.
A Bianchi 6X suede IWB for 4" K-frames. The first IWB I own for a 4" gun.

 

[crazyphil]

Here are a few more K Frames with some OK leather,
left to right:

Ken Null's RSS (Revolver Super Speed) with Model 10 2" barrel.

Lawrence Special Agent (pigskin) with "dog ear" with 10 2" again.

Seventrees with my Model 19 Combat Magnum.

Berns-Martin with Model 19 again.

Myres #624 with Model 67 Combat Masterpiece.

 

[Xfuzz]

My model 64 with an old Lewis Holster.

 

[crazyphil]

My model 64 with an old Lewis Holster.

Here is my model 10 2" barrel with a snap on Lewis holster.

 

[crazyphil]

Here is my model 10 2" barrel with a snap on Lewis holster.

You, and I, Friday, and
Malloy all like the Lewis. It must be a good holster.

 

[ContinentalOp]

When I had a 3" 65 and a 2" 64 I carried them either in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II or a VMII-style holster by another maker (no longer in business). I have neither the guns nor the holsters anymore.

Several years ago I carried a 4" S&W Model 10 as an armed guard in a black basketweave Safariland thumb-break duty holster (Safarilaminate with suede lining). The holster was actually meant for a L-frame, but it seemed to work ok with my 10. IIRC, I bought it at a gunshow from a big holster box for $15.

 

[P.44]

M 66-1 (with different wood on) with/in:

1+2). BUCHEIMER Federal Man
3). BIANCHI X 15
4+5). KM Saddlery

P.44

 

[P.44]

...some more:

1+2). RADAR
3-5). SICKINGER

P.44

 

[P.44]

and:

1-3). Brian C. Foster CrossDraw
4+5). Harry Maacken (with a "problem" = got my money back from the seller)

P.44

 

[Walter Rego]

Here are a couple of mine. The black basketweave holster for the M&P .32-20 is completely unmarked and the edge lacing is almost maroon in color. The Lawrence 120 has the laced edge and sight protector options.

 

[crazyphil]

Here's a few for the 4" K frame revolver, an all time favorite barrel and frame size of mine.
Regards,
turnerriver
Colorado Saddlery holster with a Combat Masterpiece.

Left handed Myres with a Combat Magnum.

I bought this belt and holster from S.D. Myres when I was 17, I correctly predicted that I'd always have a 4" S&W K frame revolver to carry in it.

That basket weave and laced Colorado Saddlery holster with your
Combat Masterpiece is stunningly gorgeous John.
poorphil has the plain jane rendition of what appears to be the
same Colorado Saddlery model. Shown with my model 10 4".
I put a 3 pc. buckle set on the famous $30 belt to jazz it up a
bit.

 

[crazyphil]

I'm not too ashamed of the re-lacing job I did on this Eubanks-Pioneer
Leather holster. The revolver is a model 10-5 with 2" barrel, wearing
Grasshorn stag grips. The knife is a Puma Prince.

 

[Walter Rego]

Crazyphil or Mr. Witty, is the vertical (with the holster being worn) basketweave stamping on the Colorado Saddlery holster a characteristic of that maker ? Usually the basketweave pattern runs diagonally on holsters, but I really like how it looks on that example.

And I must also say that the 5 screw Combat Masterpiece is one of the most handsome revolvers that S&W ever made. Every line, dimension and proportion just seems in perfect harmony.

 

[crazyphil]

I haven't seen enough of them to know about the basketweave, but John
probably knows. It is a mighty handsome holster, and Combat Masterpiece.

 

[turnerriver]

I'm on the road and away from my catalogs and holsters, from memory I think the one or two other CS basketweave examples I have are stamped the same way. I agree with you regarding the holster and revolver.
Regards,
turnerriver

Crazyphil or Mr. Witty, is the vertical (with the holster being worn) basketweave stamping on the Colorado Saddlery holster a characteristic of that maker ? Usually the basketweave pattern runs diagonally on holsters, but I really like how it looks on that example.

And I must also say that the 5 screw Combat Masterpiece is one of the most handsome revolvers that S&W ever made. Every line, dimension and proportion just seems in perfect harmony.

 

[rednichols]

Crazyphil or Mr. Witty, is the vertical (with the holster being worn) basketweave stamping on the Colorado Saddlery holster a characteristic of that maker ? Usually the basketweave pattern runs diagonally on holsters, but I really like how it looks on that example.

And I must also say that the 5 screw Combat Masterpiece is one of the most handsome revolvers that S&W ever made. Every line, dimension and proportion just seems in perfect harmony.

Yes there are two basic patterns for basketweave in vintage gunleather; the angled version became the de facto standard from the 1960s onwards and is used today. The inline version is most often associated with Brill; anyone who copies it today uses that pattern with the copy.

turn of the last century, horizontal

Brills, both early and late, always used the vertical pattern

This Lawrence is in the now-standard, angled variant

Early Hoyt's went oppositely and almost carelessly; one can clearly see the 'H' tool shape floating off by itself here

And the pattern itself is meant to emulate real basketweave.

The pattern, called 'set stamping', is accomplished with an 'H' pattern tool, aligning the free ends of the 'legs' to create a 'set'. This can be accomplished skillfully, to create that Lawrence pattern, or carelessly to appear like the Hoyt layout.

Notice also that two styles are used: one with a simple three-line crossbar set for the 'H', and one with a rope crossbar. Originally all set stamps were made from giant iron nails used for fencing; a famous old timer, a woman, explained and showed off her original, hand made stamps circa 1970 that were made from them.

It will surprise you that the angled variant is very easy, and can be done very quickly. The inline version is very hard to do well, and is slow. Ideally one uses a large stamp, too, for the angled variant; Brill compounded the difficulty for themselves by using a very tiny 'H' tool.