Casting call: Roy Baker Pancake holsters

[SG-688]

No time for pictures... My favorite Baker was my first early style of the 2-3 design variations. For me, the slot locations make a big difference in how the holster rides.

I was one of those using the more vertical forward belt slot as I prefer less rake. I don't think anyone has mentioned that slot was suggested for cross draw use, but that came no where close to working for me.

Two of my 2nd style holsters had room for an added second rear slot to drop the holster lower on the belt.

From Baker, I also learned to prefer a short, thick thumb snap.

I'll add my praise to the versatility of the Baker pancake holster. I used mine in uniform, in plain clothes - even concealed under a loose polo shirt, and even once in an early IPSC match.

 

[majick47]

Roy Baker Holsters

Noticed in the catalog photos my plain black Anderson Speed Clip pouch for 45 mags made by Roy Baker.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I won't quite so as no such thing as too long a holster, but there is plenty of leeway to go longer. Carried 2.75 Speed Six as a duty gun in various 4in holsters. Likewise 2in J frame in holster for 4in J frame.

The shorter gun in longer holster will be carried just as securely, and drawn as easily or better as ( intended bbl length gun). The only issue is when.the extra bit of leather compromises concealment. For field use, OC, or duty-ish no problem.

Do to the sublity of Roy Baker's genius, his holsters can conceal was well at the longer length, as most knockoffs one step shorter.

 

[SG-688]

Catching up ... A couple of ads

1975 first generation with partially covered trigger guard and folded thumb snap strap.



1980 2nd generation with fully covered trigger guard for autos & folded thumb snap strap.



No ad, but the 3rd generation had a conventional thumb snap strap, as seen in some of the other member photographs. This pattern was continued by Strong.

Mine for Government model, Commander and M39 open top, trimmed of some excess leather. Two of my 2nd gens have my patented (just kidding) 4th belt slot. The upper right Commander holster is a 3rd generation. My personal favorite is the first generation.

 

[TAROMAN]

My old pancake used as a chest rig for hunting with a 29-2:

Ignore the old coot in the image.

 

[Dennis]

I only have a Roy Baker "Hidden Thunder" shoulder rig for my 6" 29-3.
When I bought my 6.5" 29-2 in the late 70's, the shop had a shoulder rig that somebody had payed for 2/3s o and sold it to me for what was owed.
It was a helluva a deal for a young married Marine Sgt. LOL.
That rig has carried both of those 29s for a lot of miles. Including pig-huntin' in the Hawaiian bush.
Extremely comfortable.
I have never seen or even heard of another.
Great to see that he invented the Pancake.
Sorry to get a bit off-topic...

 

[SuperMan]

I have this one for 6.5" N-frames and what is probably an unlined black clone....



As said...if one is carrying a big gun this one works well... Simply Rugged is probably the closest thing today and I actually like them a little more because they don't have a thumb-break....

Bob

 

[rednichols]

Patents can be a crude club against competitors because the inventors, and the attorneys, rarely known enough about the prior art and therefore what is 'novel' to write them well. Baker's is an example of the inventor and his attorney not knowing how to draft a patent that protected what Roy actually created.

Patents include the claims, the specification, and the drawings; the latter two illuminate the claims and it is the claims that are controlling. In Roy's case his first (independent) claim is limited to a reversible holster, and all the others to a three-slot holster.

That third slot was not, and is not, the selling point of his design. Some makers thought they needed to avoid stitching around the slots, which is where these came from, using a tunnel:

View attachment 287026

View attachment 287027

I recall that Safariland did it that way, too, in the Seventies. I've no pics.

Did recently stumble across images of the Safariland:

 

[doc540]

What handgun would fit a Roy's pancake, basket weave thumb break marked on the back with "LMA"? Thanks

 

[-db-]

What handgun would fit a Roy's pancake, basket weave thumb break marked on the back with "LMA"? Thanks

Most likely a Llama pistol.

 

[doc540]

Most likely a Llama pistol.

Thanks, that's the only "LMA" I could put together, too.

There's one on Ebay currently for $30.

Found it searching for a pancake for my 2" J frame.

 

[les.b]

Hey, even the Germans got in on the Baker copies!! Sometime ago, I was looking for a hokster for my Walther P5, and I found an original German holster on eBay for I think less than $20.00!!! Made in Germany, marked for a P5, and fits like a glove. I think I got it and another from the same German company for less than $40.00, not sure where the other one is right now.

Best Regards, Les

 

[jimgoldth]

I have had others but am down to 2 both are lined and Basket Weave stamped. Have model number 001 and 003 Roy's Original PANCAKE HOLSTERS Magnolia, ARK pat#3,731858 S&W SMALL 2 (001) And S&W MED 4 (003)

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Good to see all the enthusiasm and info for Roy's holsters! Used em a lot in the old days but somehow I did not retain any for my old age. Imagine my delight a few years ago whilst rooting around in a used leather box there was two unlined black basket weaved absolutely like new Roy Baker holsters! One for a 6 1/2" N frame and one for a four inch K-frame, held em up and asked the counter guy, how much, ten bucks each, ding-ding a no brainer there. The only thing that could have made it better if they were russet brown rather than black.

 

[Tom-R2]

I bought one for my only handgun back in 1976-77, a Ruger Service-Six. It would hide well under a T-shirt. Later, around 1987 or so, I sold it to a friend (what was I thinking???). Missed it ever since. Of course the number of handguns increased over the years, but I kept my Service-Six. A little over a year ago, I found the same model on sale on eBay, it had some of the stitching coming loose in one place. Got it cheap. Took a few minutes of work with some stout thread and a needle to fix it as good as new. It ain't going anywhere unless it's on my belt with a pistol or revolver in it. My kids will find it in the holster drawer when I leave this world.

 

[Borderboss]

I bought my Roy's holster sometime in the 1980s. I needed one for a Commander-sized 1911 but could only find the 000 size for the full-size 1911. I ended up cutting the bottom part off. I still carry the gun in it quite often in the colder weather months where I can wear heavier clothes over it. It's a great holster.

 

[crazyphil]

Coincidental that this thread should come up at this time. I am giving
away a Baker Pancake tomorrow night. Drawing a name from those who's
orders were received in August. See BAKER PANCAKE, CALENDAR, AND
BOOKS in Accessories for sale classified. Holster is shown here below
with my S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum.

 

[crazyphil]

Don't know if this will work with my crude photographic skills, but I
will try. Here is an old ad, and a few of my notes.

You can click on the image once or twice to enlarge it.

 

[mic214]

I have had a couple of Baker rigs over the years. They are great holsters. The only one I have at the moment is for my Browning High Power:

 

[-db-]

This is a nice suede-lined version with a magazine pouch affixed for a 1911:

 

[-db-]

I sold this one recently, an early version marked patent pending, made back when Roy was still in Illinois, for a Mauser HSc .380:

 

[crazyphil]

THE SHERIFF IS THE WINNER!

Coincidental that this thread should come up at this time. I am giving
away a Baker Pancake tomorrow night. Drawing a name from those who's
orders were received in August. See BAKER PANCAKE, CALENDAR, AND
BOOKS in Accessories for sale classified. Holster is shown here below
with my S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum.

Sheriff Russell Cottle's name was drawn. He gets the Baker
Pancake.

 

[les.b]

Congratulations Russell Cottle!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Warren Sear]

The second holster I ever made was in the late 1980s, and was from this Tandy kit. I came with full sized patters for most Colt and Smith & Wesson large and small pistols and revolvers.

The Roy Baker "influence" is obvious...

 

[rednichols]

I sold this one recently, an early version marked patent pending, made back when Roy was still in Illinois, for a Mauser HSc .380:

Oh my. Didn't know he was making holsters from IL, would've been a great pic for The Book!

 

[Warren Sear]

Here are pictures of my recently purchased (from another Forum member) Roy Baker pancake holster labeled "M19" with my Model 10 and 66...

 

[EX 501 CHIEF]

Roy's Holsters

I have an early one made in Rockford, Il by himself at 2729 Carnon Street Rockford, IL. This was just prior to his moving to Magnolia, Ark. The reason for the move was that he got a large order from the FBI. He obtained an old pickle factory in Magnolia. This holster is stamped ROY'S 2729 Carnon Street Rockford.IL 61109. Pat. pending M39. was made for the model 39 Smith & Wesson.

 

[EX 501 CHIEF]

Roy's Holster

Here are pictures of my recently purchased (from another Forum member) Roy Baker pancake holster labeled "M19" with my Model 10 and 66...

I have 2 Roy's for the M19 one basket weave one plain. All three of Roy's that I have were worn off shift as a Police Officer. There for show quite some wear.

 

[Murphy2000]

Roy's place in Magnolia, Arkansas is about 120 miles from me. I was in law enforcement back in the early 80's and a lot of the local law enforcement wore Roy's rig's. It wasn't just his signature pancake that he was well known for locally. I have seen a few custom rigs he made for some of the guys. A true craftsman.

I keep 3-4 of his pancake rigs around for various guns. Mostly 4-6" inch barreled K & N frames.

Sadly, I don't use them that often. My body and Roy's holsters conflict with one another. I'm barrel chested, short armed and long bodied...if that makes any sense. It's almost a sure bet the holster will ride too high for me to seriously consider using it for anything other than a woods bumming holster. Darn shame.

Murphy