help with holsters?

[rajko84]

I got this from a vet who served in WWII and Vietnam. He was a Navy pilot.
The first rig is what I think for S&W .38 special revolver. It still had original ammo with it dated 1966 same year as a holster.
5 normal bullets and 5 tracers. And the other I have no idea.
So any help with other holster would be appreciated.

regards RD

[rajko84]

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[Johnny Peppers]

The first holster dates to the 1960's and was made by several contractors for the military. The Air Force purchased a quantity of S&W K 38 revolvers with 4" barrels about the same time, and this holster was primarily for those. Pilots often carried tracer ammo to signal approaching aircraft in the event they went down. The red or orange tip indicates tracer.

The web holster appears to be of European manufacture. I have some two cell magazine carriers for the FN FAL that uses the same closure system.

Pardon the bad photography, but the photo is of a box of WWII .38 Special Tracer.

[rajko84]

The first holster dates to the 1960's and was made by several contractors for the military. The Air Force purchased a quantity of S&W K 38 revolvers with 4" barrels about the same time, and this holster was primarily for those. Pilots often carried tracer ammo to signal approaching aircraft in the event they went down. The red or orange tip indicates tracer.

The web holster appears to be of European manufacture. I have some two cell magazine carriers for the FN FAL that uses the same closure system.

Pardon the bad photography, but the photo is of a box of WWII .38 Special Tracer.

Thank you JP. Did the US pilots use foreign pistols in Vietnam? He told me that he also used that holster, but unfortunately the vet has Alzheimers so he could not remember what he used it for.

[Johnny Peppers]

Thank you JP. Did the US pilots use foreign pistols in Vietnam? He told me that he also used that holster, but unfortunately the vet has Alzheimers so he could not remember what he used it for.

I would think that the Air Force would be less likely to use a foreign made pistol unless he was over there early on. Have a friend that was SF in the 1965/66 time period when they were still under CIA, and they could carry just about anything they wanted. He carried a Swedish K and a Browning High Power. The pilot may have liked the canvas holster, and carried an issue pistol in it.

[Richie B]

Looks similar to the Canadian holster for the Browning Hi Power.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/pistols.htm

Scroll down the page to near the bottom.

Regards

Richie

[rajko84]

I would think that the Air Force would be less likely to use a foreign made pistol unless he was over there early on. Have a friend that was SF in the 1965/66 time period when they were still under CIA, and they could carry just about anything they wanted. He carried a Swedish K and a Browning High Power. The pilot may have liked the canvas holster, and carried an issue pistol in it.

Could be, the vet is a great guy to talk to but more and more of his story is missing.

[rajko84]

Looks similar to the Canadian holster for the Browning Hi Power.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/pistols.htm

Scroll down the page to near the bottom.

Regards

Richie

Richie,
I think you are right. It looks almost the same. But why he would have it, we still do not know.