Holster Compatibility

[Ohsheepdog]

I'm having a hard time finding a vintage, used holster from the period the 2nd & 3rd Gen guns were made. It appears the 9 & 40 guns would fit securely in a 45 holster but it's obviously hard to tell just by looking at the pictures. I'm not worried about barrel length, just the other dimensions being compatible. Can anyone confirm if the 45 holsters will work?

 

[federali]

On Holsters

In many instances, such as with 1911s, manufacturers used the same machining to make the gun in different calibers but the overall external dimensions remain the same. Hense, caliber interchangeability in the same holster. Holster manufacturers must obtain cast dummy guns for each gun model they make and also design and order the punch dies necessary to cut a holster blank for hide skins, all of which adds up. They must also add a skew for the new holster and amend their websites and catalog. So, if a newer model of a gun is a nearly perfect fit in the existing holster they offer, they won't go through the trouble of making a holster from scratch.

I'm not aware of a wholesale change in holster offerings that followed the Generation 3 offerings.

 

[stansdds]

The S&W 645/4506 pistols are a little taller from the top of the slide to the bottom of the trigger guard and longer from the rear of the inside trigger area to the rear of the slide. I can fit an early 6906 (long, hooked trigger guard) into holsters for my 645 (hooked trigger guard), but the fit is a little loose. I suspect the 9mm/40 pistols with the round trigger guard would fit even looser in a 645/4506 hooked trigger guard holster.

A frustration that I have with my beloved S&W pistols is the myriad of trigger guard and hammer configurations and finding holsters for these old pistols.

 

[toddstang]

White Hat holsters made me a very nice IWB for my 6906.

 

[TercGen]

The fact that our beloved 3rd (1st, and 2nd) Gens are long out of production does make finding a good holster challenging. In general, the 45-framed guns will have their own holsters, as will the 9/40-framed guns, and often times the many models will work within those two categories. Hooked vs round trigger guards will come into play, as will the railed TSW models and certain variations in dustcovers, but I have found leather to be much more accommodating than kydex.

My favorite production holsters for S&W 3rd Gens are the DeSantis leather OWB models. DeSantis uses excellent molds and offers very good functional holsters for the money. I'm not exactly sure that they still currently offer these, but I have had great success scouring eBay for them, and often find them at very reasonable prices. My Belt Slide holster for a 6906 in particular fits a wide variety of 3rd Gens - 6906, 5906, 3913, 4040PD, 915. Of course, it's well-broken in, but I find that I use it the most when carrying OWB.

 

[Doc1500]

Love my Don Home H721 ot.

 

[reccpd101]

I have a Roy Baker pancake for a Colt commander that fits my model 59 and 439. I did add a 2nd snap on the thumb break to tighten it up. I left the original in place to fit my Colt Commander.

 

[mbliss57]

The fact that our beloved 3rd (1st, and 2nd) Gens are long out of production does make finding a good holster challenging. In general, the 45-framed guns will have their own holsters, as will the 9/40-framed guns, and often times the many models will work within those two categories. Hooked vs round trigger guards will come into play, as will the railed TSW models and certain variations in dustcovers, but I have found leather to be much more accommodating than kydex.

My favorite production holsters for S&W 3rd Gens are the DeSantis leather OWB models. DeSantis uses excellent molds and offers very good functional holsters for the money. I'm not exactly sure that they still currently offer these, but I have had great success scouring eBay for them, and often find them at very reasonable prices. My Belt Slide holster for a 6906 in particular fits a wide variety of 3rd Gens - 6906, 5906, 3913, 4040PD, 915. Of course, it's well-broken in, but I find that I use it the most when carrying OWB.

Spot on. I have several DeSantis repurposed holsters if you want leather. They are much less expensive than a custom holster and they are more than adequate. Galco will also have the same. I love a Don Hume holster too. Other more customized brands are really nice. It's a matter of money spent on returns of practicality. IMO of course.
What gun(s) are you looking for specifically to buy a holster for? Someone here (me included) probably has one and a holster to fit that particular gun. Also plus 1 on buying used. many used are barely used and half the price.

 

[Ohsheepdog]

Spot on. I have several DeSantis repurposed holsters if you want leather. They are much less expensive than a custom holster and they are more than adequate. Galco will also have the same. I love a Don Hume holster too. Other more customized brands are really nice. It's a matter of money spent on returns of practicality. IMO of course.

What gun(s) are you looking for specifically to buy a holster for? Someone here (me included) probably has one and a holster to fit that particular gun. Also plus 1 on buying used. many used are barely used and half the price.

Thanks everyone! So far I have a round trigger guard 915 and I just picked up the square guard 6906 in the post above. The next purchase is a square guard gun... I'm bidding on a 5903 & 5904, and I found a like new 5906.

Please PM me with the holsters you have in mind for sale that would fit the above guns. I'm looking for OWBs with as little forward cant as possible. I appreciate it.

 

[NovaJoe]

It's been said that holsters for a Colt Commander often will fit the Models 39, 59, x39, x59, etc. Maybe not true for retention-strap models expecting a cocked & locked hammer, because DA/SA models are carried with hammer down.

 

[jsbethel]

Love my Don Hume H721 ot.

That's the best holster for a full size squared trigger guard I have found but it does have a forward cant.

 

[Ohsheepdog]

It's been said that holsters for a Colt Commander often will fit the Models 39, 59, x39, x59, etc. Maybe not true for retention-strap models expecting a cocked & locked hammer, because DA/SA models are carried with hammer down.

I tried an open top Safariland for a Commander and the round Smith trigger guard was too big for the holster.

 

[jsbethel]

The G+G B733-4006 is a great fit for the 915.

 

[mbliss57]

DeSantis 002F4 Scabbard holster
Works well with my 457, 5906 sq trigger, and 910, ( bottom pic) and I can use my 4506 if I don’t care about the barrel length. I love this holster.
It’s also works well on my Sig P229 rail.
It’s adjustable for width for a tight fit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stansdds]

It's been said that holsters for a Colt Commander often will fit the Models 39, 59, x39, x59, etc. Maybe not true for retention-strap models expecting a cocked & locked hammer, because DA/SA models are carried with hammer down.

I think that a 1911 holster that does not cover any part of the trigger guard would work with a S&W 9mm pistol. The S&W pistols are taller from the top of the slide to the bottom of the trigger guard than a 1911.

 

[Ohsheepdog]

Anyone tried to use a CZ-75 or Sig P22X holster for a Smith?

 

[mbliss57]

I found another holster that works great. It’s well broken in. It fits the 3rd Gen
5906/910/915 with either trigger guard configuration and I also have a 457 and CS45 that fit it very well.
This is a:
Bianchi #3S for a S&W 459.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ohsheepdog]

I just won this like-new one on eBay for $10. Looks like it will fit both trigger guards. And assuming the mounting holes align, the newer paddle and belt mounts should fit as well.

 

[Ohsheepdog]

Info for anyone else looking for a holster: the one I mentioned above fits 4 different 3rd 9 & 40 guns I've tried, regardless of trigger guard. I've seen similar holsters on eBay for less than $30. The paddle screw mount holes also match the current Safariland belt loops and paddles, so win win!

The model and fit numbers are:
S&W 2313, 518 18

 

[hammy5150]

Just going to piggyback off this thread, will a 10XX gun fit in a holster for a 45XX and vice versa? They seem to built off the same frames.