How to Find Holsters for Discontinued Handguns

To find a holster for a discontinued handgun, start with a holster maker that still lists your exact model. If nobody lists it, ask a maker to build a one-off holster for your gun. A used holster, or one made for a similar gun, can work as a fallback, but only if it fully covers the trigger guard and holds your gun tight.

FALCO Holsters, a company crafting custom-fit handmade holsters for almost any handgun and light, has made holsters since 1989. Fitting the guns other makers stopped supporting is a big part of our work. We make holsters for more than 3,600 handgun models, including the Makarov, the Walther PPK and the HK P7.

Why is it hard to find a holster for an older or discontinued gun?

Most holster makers stop offering holsters for a gun once it stops selling well, and some uncommon guns never get holsters at all. Bob Campbell made this point in his custom holster guide for USCCA: "Still, while the most common handguns are covered by both leather and Kydex makers, something less common, such as your Beretta 84 or a brand-new release, may not be supported right away, if at all."

To build a holster that fits closely, a maker needs your gun, a copy of it, or a mold made from it. Campbell notes that "Some craftsmen still use an actual firearm as a mold."

We mold every custom-fit holster around a replica of the gun it's made for. Before each holster ships, we test it against the firearm. Working from replicas is why the range of guns we fit keeps growing, including guns most makers stopped supporting years ago.

Where to find a holster for a discontinued handgun

Work through these options in order. The first two get you a holster made for your gun. The last three are fallbacks, and you'll need to check the fit yourself before you carry in any of them.

1. A holster maker that lists your exact model

A maker that lists your exact model is the best place to start, because the holster is made for your gun and nothing else. On our site, go to Shop by handgun on the homepage and choose your gun. The site then shows only the holsters we make for it, in every carry position and material we offer for that model. Tom McHale made the same suggestion in American Handgunner: "FALCO is known for its vast array of gun and accessory fits, so check the website for your particular handgun."

Pick the right variant when you order. A holster molded for one version of a gun is made for that version only, so check your gun's exact model first. If you're not sure which listing matches your gun, ask us before you order.

2. A one-off holster, if nobody lists your gun

If no maker lists your gun, a one-off holster made for it is the next best option. We make one-off holsters through Falco Bespoke, our custom commission service. It covers holsters for rare firearms, along with other one-off leather work. You email our customer care team, describe what you need, and we send you a personalized quote. Once you approve it, we build the holster by hand. If you can explain what you want and how it should work, we can usually build it, as long as it's safe.

These details help us give you an accurate quote:

• The exact model and variant of your gun 
• The caliber 
• Any light, laser or optic mounted on it 
• Which hand you carry with 
• The kind of holster you want, such as IWB, OWB or shoulder

Email [email protected] or use the chat on falcoholsters.com. We don't publish Bespoke prices, so the cost comes with your quote.

3. An original or used holster

Original and used holsters turn up at gun shows, auctions, online holster classifieds and shops that sell police trade-in guns. Frank Jardim of American Handgunner found an old shoulder holster in a bargain box and guessed it dated from the 1940s or '50s. A used holster made for your model is a good find, especially if you want one from the same era as your gun. Before you carry in it, check the leather as well as the fit.

4. A holster made for a similar gun

Some holsters made for one gun also fit a similar one. Gun forums are a good place to see which holsters other owners of your gun have tried. A similar-gun holster is often the quickest fix, because you can buy one off the shelf. Small differences in the trigger guard or slide length can leave the trigger exposed or the gun loose. Before you carry in one, run the checks under "How do you check a used or similar-gun holster before you carry it?" If it passes, use it until you have a holster made for your gun.

5. A universal holster

Our Multifit holsters are our best price-to-value option. They're cut to fit a range of similar guns instead of being molded to one, so one holster can fit more than one of your guns.

Which older, retired and hard-to-fit guns can still get a made-to-fit holster?

Many older, retired and hard-to-fit handguns can still get a holster made for them. Here are some of the guns we fit, each linked to its page on our site:

• Walther PPK and Walther PP 
• Makarov 
• Smith & Wesson 39 
• Smith & Wesson 5906 TSW 
• Smith & Wesson 6906, square trigger guard version 
• Colt Detective Special 
• Colt Python 
• HK P7M13 
• SIG Sauer P225 
• Browning Hi-Power 
• CZ 83 
• Beretta 92 F 
• Ruger P89 
• Star, Astra and Llama pistols
  

These are only examples, and we fit many more. As one customer wrote in a review: "Could not source the holsters anywhere else." If you carry a revolver, our guide to revolver holsters explains how to order by make, model and frame size.

How do you check a used or similar-gun holster before you carry it?

Before you carry a used holster, or one made for a similar gun, check that it fully covers the trigger guard and holds your gun tight. In Shooting Illustrated, Chris Cypert writes: "It's essential to choose a holster that is specifically made for the make and model of your handgun."

Small differences between versions of the same gun matter most at the trigger guard. For example, we list the CZ 83 with a square trigger guard as its own fit, separate from the standard CZ 83. A holster molded around one trigger guard shape may not cover or hold the other shape properly.

Test any holster that wasn't made for your gun before you carry in it:

• Unload the gun and seat it in the holster. 
• Check that no part of the trigger guard is exposed. 
• Move around and check that the gun doesn't shift or rock.

For a used leather holster, also check these:

• The leather. Bend it back on itself. As Jardim puts it, "If the leather's surface cracks when the material is bent back on itself, it has dried out and will not stand any use." 
• The stitching. Look closely around the trigger guard and the belt loop or clip. Loose, broken or rotted thread is a reason to pass. 
• The mouth. It should hold its shape when the holster is empty.

If a holster fails any of these checks, don't carry in it. Our post on what makes a good holster explains how fit and retention work together.

How long does a made-to-fit holster take, and what does it cost?

A made-to-order holster from us typically takes about two weeks from order to delivery, which is weeks faster than most custom leather makers. Production takes about ten days, and FedEx delivery adds three to four more. Each product page shows the date your holster will ship if you order that day.

As of October 2026, most of our custom-fit leather, Kydex and hybrid holsters cost about $70 to $160 before options. Each product page shows your exact total as you configure it.

Check whether we already fit your gun

If you own an older gun and can't find a holster for it, start with Shop by handgun on our homepage and look for your exact model. If it isn't there, or you're not sure which variant you have, email us at [email protected] or ask in the chat on falcoholsters.com. Tell us what you carry, and we'll tell you what we can make for it.