Rigger made shoulder holster for S&W Victory model?

[mdmorrissey]

I have had this sitting around for quite some time and noticed it just a few days ago. It looked like a good match for a 4" barrel Victory model (even had some cylinder impressions of a revolver that had once been carried in it). The S&W that I tried in it, slid in and the holster fits it like a glove. I appears to be some sort of rigger made shoulder holster and has no markings. My question would be whether anyone has seen a similar one of these and guesses on the timeframe when it might have been made? I know they used these revolvers up through Vietnam, so could be as late as that? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[opoefc]

definitely Rigger ( or home made) . It's similar to many others I've seen but it has a Vietnam flavor to me - The WW2/Korea ones I saw & used mostly came from the carpenter's or sail makers shops on navy ships. I believe the green web belt portion is an M1 carbine sling.

Ed

 

[Piwo]

Not a bad piece of work! Put a retention strap across the trigger guard and I would carry something like that in the woods or on the 4 wheeler. It looks very simple and very functional. Hats off to whoever made it.

 

[glowe]

Interesting contraption, but guess it was originally an I frame or other similar sized holster. The holster with belt were commercial and highly modified at some point, maybe after the stitching started to come apart. If it were still stitched, that K frame would have been much too wide to fit.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Mdmorrissey:

Your holster is not "rigger-made" nor was it designed to carry a revolver. Instead, in my opinion it is a modified USGI holster originally designed to carry the Colt Model M (the Pocket Automatic) in either .32 ACP or .380 ACP. These holsters were made during WW2 by the Texas Tanning Co. (brand name "TEXTAN") of Yoakum, Texas. They were unmarked.

Your holster was probably used at some point in the past to carry a revolver. That left the cylinder imprint on the inside that you noticed. It also probably caused the edge stitching to split which in turn caused the user to insert a leather thong along the edge to keep the holster together. That misuse of a neat and very scarce US military holster has unfortunately considerably damaged it.

The unissued example below is one from my collection. You will note the similarities immediately. Below that is a quick photo I took of the Ordnance Department drawing of the holster taken from Meadows' "U.S. Military Holsters and Accoutrements", page 467.

It is possible that your holster can be salvaged if repaired by a skilled and knowledgeable person. I would not recommend continuing to use it as a revolver holster.

I hope that information is helpful to you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[mdmorrissey]

"Thar she blows..." Charlie, I think you are absolutely correct. Thank you for the info!! Great!

 

[mdmorrissey]

I found this article on another forum. Looks like this type of holster was originally made for the OSS?

 

[ordnanceguy]

It's intended use was for OSS, General Officers, and all other personnel authorized to carry a concealed pistol. The latter would include couriers and certain Intelligence personnel.

Regards,
Charlie