DISCOVERED: A SCARCE LAWRENCE KEITH HOLSTER
I AM A HOLSTER PICKER. AMONG THOSE THAT I PICK ARE LAWRENCE HOLSTERS, THE GEORGE LAWRENCE CO. WAS IN THE LEATHER BUSINESS (IN PORTLAND, OREGON) FROM THE 1850's TO THE 1980's. THEY MADE SOME MIGHTY FINE HOLSTERS, MANY OF WHICH I AM PROUD TO OWN, AND KNOWN TO USE. INCLUDED IN THE MODELS THEY MADE WERE A MODEL 120, THEIR KEITH STYLE HOLSTER.
I RECENTLY SAW A 120 ON EBAY, IN A SIZE 534 (6.5" N FRAME) THAT IMMEDIATELY caught my eye. IT WAS CUT FOR A REVOLVER WITH OPTICS AND THE CUT LOOKED TO BE FACTORY BECAUSE OF THE SMOOTH BORDER ALONG THE CUT OUT. I HAVE SEEN LAWRENCE HOLSTERS THAT WERE "DIY" CUT-OUTS BUT NEVER A FACTORY TYPE CUT-OUT. THE HOLSTER WAS BASKETWEAVE AND WAS MODEL120KB, THE "B" FOR BASKETWEAVE BUT THE "K" BEING A HERETOFORE UNKNOWN FEATURE LETTER CODE TO ME.
THERE ARE LAWRENCE HOLSTER SIZE/MODEL CHARTS out there ON THE INTERNET BUT NONE I CAN FIND HAVE A "K" CODE IN THEM.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE HOLSTER AND A S&W MODEL 625-7 45 COLT POWER-PORT (1 OF 308 EVER MADE):
THE BELT LOOP WILL ACCOMODATE A 2.25" WIDE BELT BUT NOT A MY MOST USED 2.5" WIDE GUN BELTS. THE HOLSTER MAKES MY POWER-PORT SMITH A PRACTICAL BELT GUN FOR SOME OCCASIONAL FIELD CARRY.
BEST PART OF THE STORY MAY BE THAT THE HOLSTER HAD A $30 "BUY NOW" PRICE ON IT.
K CODE UPDATE: WAS LOOKING THROUGH MY LAWRENCE HOLSTERS AND FOUND A PLAIN LAWRENCE 120K FOR A RUGER SINGLE ACTION. THE ONLY XTRA ON THE HOLSTER WAS A FACTORY OPTIC CUT-OUT, SO NOW I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE K CODE ON A LAWRENCE HOLSTER MEANS: OPTIC CUT-OUT.