Holster for First Model .32

[eric77]

I own a Smith & Wesson FIRST MODEL .32 Safety Double Action Revolver aka The Safety Hammerless New Departure. I am interested in a holster for it, but cannot find one. Can anyone tell me if one is being made, or another holster that can substitute?

 

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum. I'm not aware that any current holster maker sells a holster specifically designed for the 1st Model Safety Hammerless, however there are many generic holsters made for small frame revolvers that, depending on your barrel length, will fit your gun. You can also find, at most larger gun shows, period holsters, circa 1890- 1930, as sold by the larger sporting goods companies and stores like Sears, Roebuck & co,. Montgomery Wards, etc., to fit Safety Hammerless revolvers. Most of these will be belt or pocket holsters, however sometimes a nice shoulder rig can be spotted. Ed.

 

[eric77]

Thanks for your suggestions, and the prompt post. I have been to a couple of gun shows and local gun stores, but cannot find what I'm looking for. I'll chase this rabbit to Sears and Wards. If nothing else, I may have to find a holster maker and have one custom made.

 

[Chubbo]

Holsters for S&W safety hammerless revolvers

Hi, All:
It just dawned on me that I have a small collection of S&W Safety Hammerless revolvers, and have never looked for, or found suitable holsters for them. Are there still nice ones out there? Where are they all hiding? I just saw pictures of a couple of them shown by Digishot of this forum. That got me started on this subject.
Chubbo

 

[digi-shots]

Just about all the holsters I have came from gun shows or eBay. I keep my eye out for unusual ones. Many of the older, smaller ones are perfect for the safety hammerless.

Now and then I find a holster that just doesn't fit anything I have... Which leads me on an interesting search for another gun!

 

[thadheth]

In one of the earlier posts opoefc mentions that Sears Roebuck sold these in the 1890-1930 period. Nobody has mentioned the type of holster they are looking for. Sears had at least 4 types - pocket, flap, open top, and shoulder. The thumbnails show a page from the 1908 Sears Roebuck catalog and a couple of real life examples.

 

[opoefc]

Smith & Wesson sold a small belt style "inside the pants" holster for their Safety Hammerless revolvers, circa 1900. They were made of a black. rubberized canvas, as recently invented by Goodrich, and had a metal belt hook/clamp attached to the back of the holster. A S&W logo was stamped on the front of the holster, in red or blue. I believe they were made by a vendor for S&W, as I've seen the identical holsters at gun shows & in collections, w/o the S&W logo. Perhaps one of our members has a photo of these holsters he/she can post. Ed

 

[thadheth]

Smith & Wesson sold a small belt style "inside the pants" holster for their Safety Hammerless revolvers, circa 1900. They were made of a black. rubberized canvas, as recently invented by Goodrich, and had a metal belt hook/clamp attached to the back of the holster. A S&W logo was stamped on the front of the holster, in red or blue. I believe they were made by a vendor for S&W, as I've seen the identical holsters at gun shows & in collections, w/o the S&W logo. Perhaps one of our members has a photo of these holsters he/she can post. Ed

There appears to be a similar rubber holster in the Sears catalog above (which, by the way was mistakenly identified as 1908 - it is actually a 1902 catalog) - that holster is in the second catalog photo and is the second holster down.

 

[opoefc]

thadheth is correct. There is a picture of that style of holster in the Sears catalog. Sometimes the maker's name & patent info. is stamped on the metal hook - other times it's blank. I've only seen maybe 1/2 doz. of these over the last 60 yrs. that had the S&W logos on them. The Sears type, w/o any logos, show up occasionally. Ed.