Holster afficianados....Please help ID this one! **MORE PICS ADDED**

[policerevolvercollector]

It is very rare that what appears at least to be the original duty holster stays with one of my PD revolvers for many years. This is a Colt New Army .38DA from 1904 marked "JPD 37" (unknown dept. for now). I hope that someone here can give me some info about the neat leather.



Thanks!!
Charles

 

[fat tom]

I've seen a couple of those,but have no clue as to the maker. Pretty efficient design if you ask me.
f.t.

 

[lawandorder]

Unmarked holsters

Charles it is very hard to pin down the maker of a holster unless it has a makers mark or cartouche on it.

Keep in mind that nearly every town in the country had a Cobbler or Saddlery shop. Kinda like Auto parts stores of today are on every corner. Shoes and horse leather were essential to transportation in those days of long ago.

Most of these shops supplemented their income by making other items including gun holsters. Often times a popular style ( maybe produced by a specific holster maker) would be copied by the dozens.

Some of the first LE issued handguns as you well know were intended to be carried under the coat, or in a pocket. In a time where very few LEOs carried spare ammunition on their person this was a pretty forward thinking design.

Very neat combo you have there.

 

[royal barnes]

I have seen one of similar design. I believe it was made to carry in the right hip pocket. The wearer's belt would be thread through the loop keeping the holster in the pocket during any activity. Since most men, especially lawmen, wore suits during that period the gun would be carried in the pocket with grip exposed for an easier draw.
Neat design.

 

[DoubleAdobe]

It was a great design, not yet a speed loader obviously, but in 1990 in my department we were still loading from belt loops.
We skipped the speed loader thing altogether mainly because we were a small department and had a very old fashioned chief.
He was gone a couple years later and we transitioned to the Sig P229 under new leadership. Some of us repeated transition training, I wonder why?
By the same token, I learned to love and trust that Sig and now love some of the bottom feeders. The Block, not as much.
Training and inspired leadership is a good thing.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Here are some more pics:







Thanks for the replies!!

Charles

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The numbers stamped on the holster indicate serial production, probably identifying which revolver(s) the holster would accept, for inventory control, use in catalogs, etc. Probably manufactured on contract for one of the police supply catalog companies, hence no maker's trademark so future orders would have to go to the company rather than the manufacturer.

As late as the 1970's there were several police supply companies that sent out catalogs to police departments, sheriffs' offices, prisons, etc. Many also utilized traveling sales representatives. I remember notices on our department's bulletin boards announcing when the various sales reps would be there for taking orders, uniform fittings, etc. Some of the catalogs were very extensive; you could order anything from uniforms, leather gear, shoes & boots, to firearms and ammunition, all shipped right to the department for you. Many offered charge accounts, small monthly payments (our salaries were also small and very few of us qualified for the credit cards then available) that could be deducted from our paychecks.

As I recall, in 1972 we received an initial uniform and equipment allowance of $300, then $240 per year as a uniform maintenance allowance. We purchased all of our own uniforms and equipment, paid the dry cleaning bills, and were expected to show up at the range with ammunition to qualify with. Uniforms were almost entirely wool, so dry cleaning was a regular expense (the cleaners also ran open accounts for us). The police supply catalog companies were pretty competitive on pricing, well below retail on most things. Most were licensed distributors for Colt, Smith & Wesson, and others. LEO pricing on a new Model 10 was about $75, Model 15 about $90, Model 19 about $110, Colt Government Model or Commander was about $100. We just had to get a boss's signature on the order declaring that it was for official business (bypassing the 11% Federal Excise Tax), then make the "easy monthly payments" that never seemed to go away.

Sorry to drift here. Old memories.

 

[Russell Cottle]

The numbers stamped on the holster indicate serial production, probably identifying which revolver(s) the holster would accept, for inventory control, use in catalogs, etc. Probably manufactured on contract for one of the police supply catalog companies, hence no maker's trademark so future orders would have to go to the company rather than the manufacturer.

As late as the 1970's there were several police supply companies that sent out catalogs to police departments, sheriffs' offices, prisons, etc. Many also utilized traveling sales representatives. I remember notices on our department's bulletin boards announcing when the various sales reps would be there for taking orders, uniform fittings, etc. Some of the catalogs were very extensive; you could order anything from uniforms, leather gear, shoes & boots, to firearms and ammunition, all shipped right to the department for you. Many offered charge accounts, small monthly payments (our salaries were also small and very few of us qualified for the credit cards then available) that could be deducted from our paychecks.

As I recall, in 1972 we received an initial uniform and equipment allowance of $300, then $240 per year as a uniform maintenance allowance. We purchased all of our own uniforms and equipment, paid the dry cleaning bills, and were expected to show up at the range with ammunition to qualify with. Uniforms were almost entirely wool, so dry cleaning was a regular expense (the cleaners also ran open accounts for us). The police supply catalog companies were pretty competitive on pricing, well below retail on most things. Most were licensed distributors for Colt, Smith & Wesson, and others. LEO pricing on a new Model 10 was about $75, Model 15 about $90, Model 19 about $110, Colt Government Model or Commander was about $100. We just had to get a boss's signature on the order declaring that it was for official business (bypassing the 11% Federal Excise Tax), then make the "easy monthly payments" that never seemed to go away.

Sorry to drift here. Old memories.

Your holster was probably made for an 'eastern' department to be worn under a uniform jacket. Beyond that, your quess is as good as mine.

Lobo, thanks for the reminder of the 'good ol' days'. My salary at the time ('73) was $412.00/mo, but uniforms were funished, cleaning on me. Everything else was 'on me'. My M-10 HB cost $78.00 and when I upgraded to a M-19 a year or two later it was $125.00.

 

[bronco45]

My first S&W was a Model 19 4" at $104.00 and I purchased a Browning High Power new a year later for $74.00

Holsters were made of heavy leather and predominantly black. Out west Basketweave was standard for Sam Browne belts and accompanying leather products.

Smith&Wessons owned Police markets in the west. Colt dominated in regions of the east.

The comment about an under the "tunic" rig makes a lot of sense.