S&W model 12 ?

F

fastlane

New member
Kevin from K&D Holsters is trying to make me an holster for a S&W model 12 square butt, 2" barrel. He dose not have a model to work from. Is there any other model revolver that would match my model 12?
 
Two-inch Model 10.

I don't know Kevin (or K&D Holsters), but I think I prefer someone who knows a little more about weapons making a holster for me.
 
Why's that such a problem that he's not familiar with the Model 12?

I know quite a few gun/revolver knowledgable people who have no clue that S&W made an alloy K-frame.

Not many were made, compared to other models, and they're certainly not seen every day in the used cases.
 
Maybe my expectations are too high. I just don't see a Model 12 as being that rare (and certainly not that hard to find out about)--and certainly if you are in the custom holster business. I mean, if nothing else, look it up in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson--if your job (livelihood) is making holstes. If somebody was going to make a holster for me (versus buying one off the shelf), I would expect a higher level of knowledge.
 
Gimme a break..a holster make is a holster maker, and a gun nut is a gun nut, they can quite easily be mutually exclusive. I would have a lot more problem with a guy making a holster assuming he knows what it is, than asking to make sure.
 
BUT, when we look at the good holster makers--for example Chic Gaylord, Bruce Nelson, even Milt Sparks--they were gun people first. It's kind of hard to have one without the other when you get right down to it, isn't it? Do you really want a holster from someone who doesn't know the butt from the muzzle. ;)

Probably half a dozen times a year on various forums you get a thread where everyone is complaining about the general lack of knowledge of gunshop employees (or even worse counter help at Wal-Mart). It seems everyone expects at least a minimum level of general knowledge what somebody selling you ammunition. Why not from somebody making you a holster?
 
So the guy should know every single Smith variation made...yeah, ok. And while hes at it, go ahead and memorize all the Taurus model numbers, and the various Astra, Llama, and other assorted copycats, just in case someone brings one in..
 
First: If the onus is on anyone, juliet charley, it's the owner. This may have been why he was trying to do some research here.

Second: It'd be nice if everyone knew every variant of S&W revolvers, and the Model 12 isn't all that obscure. On the other hand, my downstairs neigbour and my landlord up the hill are both gun people, and I'd bet money that neither of 'em knows what a "Model 12" is off the top of their heads, 'cause they just ain't Smith buffs...

Last: Lilysdad, people who own Astra and Llama revolvers don't get custom-made holsters done for them, so that's a kinda specious point. :p
 
I have the answer to my question. I appreciate all of the posts. I will find a model 19 to carry that will allow the use of 357 magnum rounds. A very knowledgeable lady on another forum said that she uses Remington target loads in her model 12 and hinted that they would not make a good defence round. :)
Thanks again...
 
"they were gun people first. It's kind of hard to have one without the other when you get right down to it, isn't it? Do you really want a holster from someone who doesn't know the butt from the muzzle."

One of the best holsters I've ever had was made for me by a shoemaker who didn't know a muzzle from a mutton.

"It seems everyone expects at least a minimum level of general knowledge what somebody selling you ammunition. Why not from somebody making you a holster?"

Define "general level of knowledge."

I expect the people at the gunshop to be able to fog a mirror (at least intermittently), know which end the bullet comes from, how find information that they don't know, and not repeat complete BS.

Anything else is a bonus.

Mike walks into the gunshop...

"I need ammo for my .982 Kerblatzensplatzer revolver, please. What? You don't know that in 1915 Spittlesplatz made automatic revolvers in .982 Kerblatzensplatzer?

WHAT? YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF .982 KERBLATZENSPLATZER, THE FINEST GENERAL PURPOSE ROUND EVER INVENTED? ARE YOU SOME KINDA MORON WHO DOESN'T HAVE A GENERAL LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE?"

While I agree that this guy should have been able to look up this information in either a book or the internet, not everyone has a 700 volumn firearms library (I do, but it's far from comprehensive) or access to the internet.
 
"A very knowledgeable lady on another forum said that she uses Remington target loads in her model 12 and hinted that they would not make a good defence round."

As long as you don't sweat iffy penetration, they should work fine. I'd never carry them, though.
 
The thing that makes M12s different from other K-Frames isn't the front of the gun, It is the rear! What do I mean? The grip frame on M12s is not standard. Nice grips have to be fitted. How do I know this? I bought a nice set of stag grips for my 2" M12 and I ended up using them on my M10. In other words the holster maker should be able to use any K-frame with the correct barrel configuration for molding your holster. Regards, Richard:D
 
Possibly K&D holsters is just getting into revolver holsters from other hand gun areas. We would hope they would develop some resources to find out which models were compatible. I agree that any 2" K-frame square butt should be comaptible but it might be necessary to further define "K-frame" and "square butt" for K&D.

Also in regard to ammo suitable for personal defense. It shouldn't be necessary to limit your choice to target loads for the Model 12. Standard pressure 38 special hollow point ammo designed for personal defense can be used in properly maintained alloy frame revolvers like the Mod. 12. Winchester Silvertips, Federal Hydra Shoks, etc. provide decent stopping power although not up to 357 magnum specs. Standard pressure Federal Nyclad ammo expands well from snubby revolvers and is still available occasionally although it isn't currently being manufactured.

http://www.ammoman.com/webstore_38-Special.htm
shows 38 SPECIAL NYCLAD 125GR. NYLON COATED HOLLOW POINT (Non Plus P) as still being available.

Alan
 
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