Holster for Smith Fitz Special

[mrstang01]

I just acquired a nicely chopped Brazilian 1917. I'll need to find a set of vintage looking round butt grips, but other than that, the only thing I need is a good quality concealed holster that would look appropriate for this older carry piece. Can anybody recommend a good design?

I'll also be looking for an open carry style holster, but for that I'm leaning towards a Lawrence #120 or Threeperson style.

Michael

 

[crazyphil]

Tom Selleck's carry gun on Blue Bloods is a Fitz special. Google Blue Bloods Season 1, Internet movie firearms database, click on season 1. Some have speculated that the gun he is carrying is a Detective Special. I think it is an Official Police, which is about the same size as your 1917? The holster, I believe is a Bucheimer. Probably a Combat model, made prior to WWII because it has no retention strap. I think it was made to wear cross-draw, but Tom is carrying it back on his right hip. It is period correct and quite flexible as to what guns will fit. For example, I have one that will accomodate a 2" J Frame and a 2" K frame equally well. They are often available on the auction site.

 

[okiegtrider]

Tom Selleck's carry gun on Blue Bloods is a Fitz special. Google Blue Bloods Season 1, Internet movie firearms database, click on season 1. Some have speculated that the gun he is carrying is a Detective Special. I think it is an Official Police, which is about the same size as your 1917? The holster, I believe is a Bucheimer. Probably a Combat model, made prior to WWII because it has no retention strap. I think it was made to wear cross-draw, but Tom is carrying it back on his right hip. It is period correct and quite flexible as to what guns will fit. For example, I have one that will accomodate a 2" J Frame and a 2" K frame equally well. They are often available on the auction site.

I was looking at that very page just yesterday over at Internet movie firearms database. Reading the Blue Bloods thread had me heading over there.

 

[mrstang01]

The 1917 is an N frame, so I doubt it's the same size as the OP. But I will check it out. Anyone else?

 

[Warren Sear]

The 1917 is an N frame, so I doubt it's the same size as the OP. But I will check it out. Anyone else?

The OP is the same size as an L frame S&W, which is considerably smaller than an N frame S&W.

 

[crazyphil]

So what is the barrel chopped to? Length?

 

[mrstang01]

Chopped to 3". I'll get some pics up soon.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

If the Barrel has been chopped to 3" You will definatley need a custom made Holster for it.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I think such short barreled guns definitely need a covered trigger guard to keep tension on the gun. like with this 1917 S&W (which belongs to another forum member).

 

[Iggy]

Trigger isn't "Fitzed" but I carry this 1915 vintage 45 Whatchamacallit every day.

 

[rednichols]

If the Barrel has been chopped to 3" You will definatley need a custom made Holster for it.

Except that a 3-1/2" N frame wouldn't be at all off the mark. The pics of the crossdraw holster from a film (but there employed as a side draw), is a great idea because a true Fitz has no front hoop on the trigger guard. The pictured one could be any one of a dozen makers of this style including those companies one doesn't normally think of, such as Hunter and Brauer. The style abounds on eBay from all these dozen makers.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Standard spring holster available from all sorts of manufacturers in the past, but only one that I know of now. Boston Leather still offers this design, but theirs has a safety strap, but it is removable, I think.

Springer Holster | bostonleather.com

Forum member Rbbt, I think he goes by, always has a few used ones listed in his posts, and you can probably find one on ebay.

The same basic holster body was offered by most manufacturers with several different attachment methods. One type was a traditional belt tunnel sewn at the top and bottom on the back of the holster. Another type was an early type of "paddle" design. The paddle resembled the sole of a shoe with the heel intact, and the "heel" would catch on the bottom of the belt so the holster would stay put when the revolver was drawn. The third type is known nowadays as the "semi-shoulder" holster. A steel lined belt attachment had a steel piece was backed by a leather tab with a snap. The steel piece slid into a slot on the back of the holster and the snap on the leather tab mated with the other half of the snap on the back of the leather holster, if I recall. I owned all three types many decades ago. I had the paddle type by both Don Hume and Brauer Brothers, and it is the one example where I thought Brauer outdid Hume. Perhaps there are other companies making that holster now, and if so, I would sure like to know who still makes it.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Except that a 3-1/2" N frame wouldn't be at all off the mark. The pics of the crossdraw holster from a film (but there employed as a side draw), is a great idea because a true Fitz has no front hoop on the trigger guard. The pictured one could be any one of a dozen makers of this style including those companies one doesn't normally think of, such as Hunter and Brauer. The style abounds on eBay from all these dozen makers.

3 1/2" N Frame Holsters are not exactly common place,especially in the vintage style the OP is looking for.If You are going to have to order a Holster why not order a 3" and be done with it?

 

[rednichols]

3 1/2" N Frame Holsters are not exactly common place,especially in the vintage style the OP is looking for.If You are going to have to order a Holster why not order a 3" and be done with it?

Mine was a suggestion only, I wasn't picking on you.The 3-1/2" N frame, though, dates from the 1930s, and holsters from that era definitely qualify as "vintage". There will be plenty to choose from; I owned a 3.5" M27 once myself circa 1970 and of course at Bianchi we made holsters for them (and was I ever shocked the first time I discovered that my Bianchi designs 1970 to 1990 are listed as 'vintage' on eBay these days!)

What I liked about the suggestion that the Clark cross draw be suitable (Clark invented this particular cross draw design) was that a Fitz has no guard to rest on the welt of a three persons style, and the prior Myres style with a covered hoop represents a hazard. And this holster style also fits varying frame and barrel sizes quite forgivingly because of the spring and the blocked fit. I thought everyone got that.

All this from us without actually seeing the revolver in question

 

[mrstang01]

I'll get some pics up shortly. Mine hasn't been completely Fitzed, in that the trigger guard is intact, although it has been slightly narrowed.

 

[Iggy]

Bill Jordan had such big hands, along with the rest of him that he thinned the trigger guard too.

Mebbe ol Bill had your gun and one time.......


rednichols,
and was I shocked to find my Bianchi designs 1970 to 1990 are listed as 'vintage' on eBay these days!

Ain't it a shame what these young whippersnappers think is old these days?

Come to think of it, they may be right....

 

[rednichols]

I'll get some pics up shortly. Mine hasn't been completely Fitzed, in that the trigger guard is intact, although it has been slightly narrowed.

Goodness gracious, why didn't you say so; the missing t-g defines a Fitz.

So, given that you've all of your t-g, and want vintage, and have what is effectively a 3" N frame (I shot a Colt Shooting Master 6" from an N frame holster in my PPC days) you will be right on the money with a Myers like Jerry Campbell's:



Of course, at 18 I was such an overachiever that I hand made my OWN Hoyt spring holster for that borrowed Colt, using my own spring, because I couldn't pony up the money for the real thing. Later I cleaned it up and press moulded it with a M29 in the Bianchi factory; now it's lost to history and most likely the rubbish dump when I left the company and didn't bring it with me (or anything else for that matter).