Because the gun was left unsupported by the holster when the clamshell opened up, there was a tendency for the trigger finger to grip the trigger in an attempt to keep the gun from falling, especially if a proper grip had not been achieved before the release button was activated. Gould & Goodrich | A passion for protection Bravo, Sir! The safety strap also had a second position where it could be fastened, which enhanced security for situations that required a higher degree of retention, such as crowd control or prisoner escort. Copyright 2023 4.6 out of 5 star rating (14 reviews) Quick View. The hardest part was finding one for a 4 inch ( Im a short guy and could never carry a 6 inch). There are four methods of retention: straps, trigger guard locks, flaps, and friction. Duty Holsters - Holsters - Police Lexipol. Ill still be carrying firearms though for the rest of my life and Ill be coming back to Ted Blocker Holsters so theyll ride in the best. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. speaking of LAPD what type of duty gear do they wear? I was not aware these dangerous holsters were even still made. FOR ORDER STATUS & QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL (956) 744-3219 - 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM USA CENTRAL TIME. The clam shell was an awesome system for those who were well trained with it. The holster would beat your leg to death if you didnt hold it when you ran. I quickly mastered the technique of re-holstering with one hand. Belt Clip: Metal Belt Clip. Jordan, William H. No Second Place Winner. Find Your Perfect Fit Now! Duty Gear products from CopQuest | (800) 728-0974 Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. I packed them for 7 years. Bianchi experimented with a series of evolving prototypes and limited production models for the better part of a decade before he finally catalogued his first breakfront duty holster, the Model 27, in 1970. Whereas the typical open top, safety strap, police holster of the time did a poor job of preventing the uninitiated from snatching the gun out of the pouch by simply gripping the gun and pulling on it with great force, the Jewett clamshell did an admirable job of defeating this kind of disarm. Alas, weve lost a bit of the fine art in sidearms today. A nice touch! The MSRPs forthese holsters start at $108. Copyright 2023 Police1. It's built to last with a reinforced solid-core polycarbonate frame and a rotating belt clip for vertical or horizontal use. For more information, visit unclemikes.com or call 800-423-3537. Minneapolis, MN. For additional security, the holster uses a Pivot Guard that covers the back of the slide. I really enjoyed this article about the clamshell holsters. swivel holster - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com North Hollywood, CA. I bought it originally for a 4 K frame, but had Safety Speed convert it to fit a 4 L frame when my department switched to the 686 from the Model 15 in the early 80s. It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. The most obvious was a fast and unobstructed presentation of the gun. One of my sergeants used one of these for a while (we were issued S&W M66 at the time). Jay-Pee | sku: 28CS. Thanks for the article. $1500 by the time it was done. Best Design ROCOTACTICAL Universal Radio Holder, Basketweave Radio Pouch for Duty Belt 569 $18 90 These are Good/New Condition. USAF Security Police Revolver Holster Rig-S&W Model 15-Vietnam War We all had nick names it was a street cop thing. For most officers, the breakfront offered an ideal combination of speed, security, and ease of use, which made it the King of police duty holsters in the revolver era. Bianchi continued to improve and refine their breakfront designs for revolvers into the 1990s (changing materials, construction and features along the way), and even launched a breakfront designed for the 1911 semiautomatic pistol (the Model 3000 Auto Draw), but the Model 2800 was always the standard by which other breakfronts were . (206)678-6640/P.O. Many duty holster designs have come and gone. I saw a swivel holster on an old rerun of Andy Griffith the other day. Now, at 66, its just stories. Radio & Pager Holders | Cases and Holders - CopsPlus But thanks so much!!! In the WRATH, the polycarbonate spine was replaced by features which accomplished the same goals without the extra weight and bulk. or Best Offer. There are currently 33844 users online. 1978. My leather maker (mentioned in earlier posting) refers to the materials he uses as Premium Bovine Epidermis (we used to bumfuzzle folks at trade shows with that name. It did raise eyebrows of our brass when I started carrying my old Model 19/Safety Speed. I did think it wouldnt be a bad deal for a handgun hunter, considering draws and holstering are mostly deliberate in such a situation; not a lot of quick draw scenarios when youre hiding behind a bush waiting for Bambi or ol Wiley. They probably produced more holsters of this design than any other company, and cemented their position as a leading manufacturer of police leather goods. If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. I about broke it trying to figure out a way to sneak the gun out of it. Overall this is a very cool vintage holster that would make a very cool addition to any collection. Photographed with 9mm compact carry not included. Retiring an Old Friend: The Emerson CQC-7, Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 19, 2018 | Active Response Training. The MSRP starts at $110. Sorry for being long winded. The pocket had an open, breakfront-style seam down the front, and was held closed by a safety strap that wrapped around the front. Im working on an article that I think youll enjoy. Gould & Goodrich Gould and Goodrich Adjustable Tension Level 2 Leather Duty Holster. As low as $102.99. Rogers accepted the deal and updated the WRATH with a few cosmetic changes, to create the Safariland Model 275. Barney had one. Thanks for your service on LASD. First, the holster body had to be longer than necessary, which could lead to interference when sitting. Jewett hoped to accomplish several objectives with his novel design. I do not have a law enforcement back ground so this has been very educational for me. With polymer pistols, thats all gone. Show: Sort By: Items: Previous Page 1 2 Next Page View All I dusted off the clamshell and my S&W 19 and practiced with the rig and my Second Six loaders for a couple weeks. This way when I stand it falls into place and rests there. The leather-Kydex laminate WRATH was a breakfront design with a closed muzzle at the bottom. The clamshell holsters were first adopted by Southern California lawmen in the pre-war years. I did this by dropping my finger behind the trigger until I felt the notch the trigger guard hung on and then closed the holster with the same hand. With a minimalist design and innovative movement system, the Swivel Drop Leg stays secure, adds a new range of motion, and utilizes less leg space for users who prefer this style of carrying. it allows me to sit in the car and have my gun readily accesible on my lap and still keep it holstered. While placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw was a commonplace practice during this era, and was encouraged by almost every popular police holster design of the 1940s through the early 1970s (such as the Jordan-style police holster), it created a special hazard in the clamshell holster. In an effort to quantify these improvements, Rogers created a testing protocol in 1975 that awarded retention "levels" to holsters. When the LAPD settled on six inch .38 Special revolvers in the late 1930s, they also embraced the clamshell, issuing the Safety Speed model by the 1940s. All rights reserved. Ace. The closed muzzle achieved a similar effect to the muzzle lock on the BOSS, without use of the polycarbonate spine. Im glad you enjoyed the article, and hope youll feel free to poke around here in the various pages and discover the other fun stuff weve written about. 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. The Model 2800 Judge incorporated other helpful features, such as a Bucheimer-style thumb break that was more easily operated than the finger-release of the Model 27 or early Safety Speed, and also more resistant to a snatch attempt. I know about 3 of the guys I work with have 'em. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. The actors received careful coaching from real lawmen, who taught them how to look and act the part. I really miss the term decoy snap. So many officers had these when I was completing my internship in 1987. The design required . See the article or comments above for a link. Thank you so much for making this for me. At the time of the patent, most uniformed police officers (especially those who worked the highways and rural areas) favored revolvers with long, six inch barrels, which were carried in open top pouches and secured by a safety strap. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw . The MSRP starts at $147. Enjoyed the history. Your email address will not be published. Copies of the Bulletin came with a letter from J Edgar Hoover. Operating the safety strap was a motion that took some time, and the officer could not establish his grip to draw the gun until this step was complete. These holsters are available for a broad range of firearms, and they are customizable for duty belt size, color and light/laser attachments. But it was a great piece of gear. This didnt happen very fast. The Safety Speed Holster company (est. The Safety Speed Holster company (est. It sold well in the United States, but it was the selection of the BOSS as the standard issue holster for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and all the provincial and territorial police departments in Canada, which kept Rogers in the holster business. Original West German PP/PPK Police Swivel Holster Safariland & Bill Rogers: The Rise of the Modern Security Holster, American Handgunner Magazine, July-August 2016, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/. This [SW402] is the ONLY holster worthy of my 1985 Stainless Steel 6 Colt Python (150th Anniversary Model). A password will be sent to your email address. I had no idea that the clamshell holster was still being used by some officers in the early years of the 21st Century! This page was generated at 06:57 AM. Hey Mike! ), improved shape retention, the ability to use less expensive cuts of leather and cheaper tanning processes for the outer layer of leather, and improved rigidity for protection of the gun. Safariland 070 SSIII. The Bianchi Model 2800 Judge (U.S. Patent number 3,977,583, issued 31 Aug 1976) was designed to solve this issue. In operation, the two halves were folded together against the spring pressure and were held closed by a latching mechanism in the front seam of the holster. As for the Clam Shell (I have one in my collection), LAPD Motors used to use them. Two-way Radio Carry Cases - Motorola Solutions The holster features the Grab-Resistant. The clam shell may not have been perfect, but it worked for me as well as hundreds of other skilled police officers. Thats one heck of a testimony for the clamshell! Box 69, Coupeville, WA 98239-0069. C. Rusty Sherick still makes one. Best iPhone SE (2020) Belt Clip Cases in 2023 - iGeeksBlog While improved weapon retention training has contributed to saving many officers lives, there is little doubt that quality retention holsters can help keep the duty pistol out of an offenders hands. Additionally, since the closure springs went around the cups, the cups helped to obtain a uniform clamping force on the gun in the holster. I bought one from Saftey Speed Montibello around 1982. Please see my other web gear and US Military Police auctions. Prescott, AZ. With a pop of a spring and a flash of motion, a bad guy immediately found himself staring down a sixgun barrel before he could even blink! Never had the weapon fall out and with the security system, never met another officer that could get it out until I showed them the trick, which was natrual and easy to do when the holster was worn. Wow, thank you! We fought the bad guys head on. Carried that until I retired in 2010. Yes, clamshell coppers had to hold onto their holsters when they ran, had to get them readjusted once in a while so their sixgun didnt go tumbling, and often longed for a third hand when it was time to reholster, but they thought the tradeoffs were worth it to have the fastest rig around for a six inch duty gun. Lots of officers wanted that holster when I retired but I still have it. Would love you to do an article on the Audley holster and its variants. police holster vintage for sale | eBay Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement, SP100 Belt Loop for Safariland Duty Holsters, SP100 Duty Holster (Glocks and many others), SP100L Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) Tactical Lights, SP100H Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) High Ride, SP102 Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models), SP102L Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) Tac Light, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. Great department, great people. Perhaps the only thing worse than being shot in the line of duty is being shot with your own weapon. Did they replace the outer part of the shell, or just reshape it when you went to the 686? The MSRP starts at $147. 1955. Slow down, Mr. Cosgrove. From premium leather duty gun holsters and magazine pouches to belt keepers, handcuff cases and everything in between, we make the best lightweight, full-grain leather duty and plainclothes police gear you need to do your job best. Lexipol. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Hooray! This rear-quarter disarm technique had become popular with savvy criminals by this time, and the BOSS muzzle lock protected against it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Glad to have you here, and THANK YOU for your 15 years of service during a dangerous era for LE. If you wanted to look cool, it was your huckleberry. As a result, many officers were forced to tuck guns into their belts or use some other inefficient (and potentially dangerous) workaround when the gun was no longer needed, such as trying to cuff a suspect using only one hand. Unlike many of the more modern retention holsters, the 070 relies on snaps and a particular motion to draw the gun. In April of 1974, Bianchi acquired all rights to the Berns-Martin Holster Company (which was in the possession of acclaimed knife designer Walter Blackie Collins), including their designs, patents, and equipment, cementing their interest in becoming the foremost manufacturer of breakfront duty holsters. Also, it was easy for the pushing motion of the index finger to continue after the gun had been drawn, with the finger now on the trigger. Fighting Leather: The Breakfront, Part II - RevolverGuy.Com They had their warts, but so did the other police duty holsters of the 1930s to 1980s (and beyond). Been wondering the same thing, Ace. Dont discount a clamshell holster because you were not able to operate it. For more information, visit blackhawk.com or call 800-379-1732. I have a good source to help me find some . it was easy for the pushing motion of the index finger to continue after the gun had been drawn . Great Part II! Vtg Rawhide "Jay-Pee" Made - NJ State Trooper/Police Belt w/Swivel Holster. Your duty holster keeps your trusty sidearm close at hand; it can and should be as unique as you are. When I came on board in L.A. we were issued a Shoemaker breakfront that I quickly replaced with the 2700 and then the Judge. The best Gun Leather Products for Shoulder Holsters, Law Enforcement, Western Rigs, Concealed Holsters, Police Duty Rigs. When I told him I was left handed, he balked and said hed have to custom make it and itd be expensive. So, the Serpa has an ancestor from the revolver era. The heart of the holster was a polycarbonate spine that began at the bottom edge of the holster and worked along the rear edge of the holster to the trigger guard area. Thank you Sir! . Sad to hear these are no longer available. 2023 All Rights Reserved. Swivel Holster Clip (PMLN7939) Swivel holster allows you to wear the radio on your belt, leaving your hands free for the job on hand. Go figure. I realize that the fixed-position holster can sometimes interfere with how you sit in a vehicle, but for many years we had a holster that would swivel, and after a few years and it spinning around, you would always worry that the holster would break off and fall off your belt. Work continued on the type, and on the heels of the phenomenal success of the Model 27, Bianchi introduced the Model 2800 Judge, which advanced the art considerably. Vintage Police Swivel 38 Cal Revolver Leather Holster $53.81 Buy It Now or Best Offer See Details Vintage BRIDLE Leather Jay-Pee SAM BROWNE Belt Size 36 !! Specializing in hard to find vintage gun holsters, ammo accessories, gun belts and gear with worldwide shipping. Note: The author would like to thank LAPD Sergeant Kevin Ahlemeir and Vintage LA Coppers for their assistance with this article. Jack, no explanation is needed here. In the post-war era, the design continued to grow in popularity, particularly in Southern California, the heart of clamshell holster production. Two Way Radio Carrying Cases and Belt Clips An excellent Vietnam period USAF Air Police swivel holster belt rig for the S&W Model 15 Revolver, which was used until the early 1970's. Please advise which garrison belt you want."Cathey Enterprises 1974", size 30, or "BLCO 1995", size 38. They were a particular hit with officers in the various city and county motor units, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), who favored the six inch revolver and needed a design that was secure, yet fast into action. However, the 7TS uses a new nylon blend material that is extremely durable, impervious to temperature changes and weather, yet is completely non-abrasive to the guns finish. Would you email me please? ; ^ ). While Ive never been a fan of the holsters that had an opening on the entire front section of the holster, the design did lead to some development of hybrid breakfront/top draw rigs. Im thinking a Hi-Point would be OK in jackalope hide. The laminate produced by Rogers Holster Company offered many advantages over traditional leather construction, such as resistance to moisture (including water, blood, gasoline, etc. German Police Surplus AKAH Swivel Leather Compact Holster, Like New . I left before autos came in. And that didnt just look cool . When Uncle Sam adopted the Italian-made, Beretta 92SB/F pistol as the M9 in 1985, it accelerated a trend that had already begun in American law enforcement of switching from revolvers to semiautomatic pistols. I hope youll stick around and check out the other great stories here on RevolverGuy. The C.A. For more information on this holster, visit gouldusa.com or call 800-277-0732. The markings on the back are 4S 357M 57 4. Using the companys popular Automatic LockingSystem (ALS), the Model 6360holster from Safariland is one of the most popular holsters in service today. This holster has not been used ammo loops have never had any ammo in them and holster has a scratches from having a revolver been inserted. From my experience in working with many officers from many states California police officers are some of the best trained and competent officers around. Oh, and most of you are right. Service Mfg. Co - Yonkers, Ny. 1911. 5 Inch. Leather Lined Plastic The Rogers Type I Paddle Holster was a leather-lined breakfront holster with a shell made from polymer (Kydex-type material). Thats kind of you to say, and Im glad you enjoyed it! . Besides, they had panache. In the Judge, the metal cups that surrounded the cylinder added strength and helped the holster maintain its shape. Case Shape: Fitted. I'm thinking about buying one for my 1911, but I am concerned with retention in a gun grab. Hello Mike: Like the other readers, I really enjoyed the history on how the clamshell holster came to be. The K391 has a suggested retail price of $166. Mine sprung almost 180 degrees, so it was tough to put the weapon back and next to impossible with one hand. Thank you for writing in and adding to the story of these iconic holsters. The holster is just as good today as it was decades ago. If youre looking for an argument youve come to the wrong place, because I wont allow it here. Ted Blocker Swivel Holsters - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums It was similarly adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department. LUITON Radio Shoulder Harness Holster Chest Holder Universal Vest Rig for Police Firefighter Two Way Radio Search Rescue Essentials 570 $21 99 $26.99 A double shoulder holster with adjustable straps to be worn over or under jackets. The varieties of grips, wood and synthetic, allowed one to make a statement on what fit their hand the best. They do indeed offer breakfronts, and they look neat! Buyer's Club $29.69 Non-Member $32.99. Were having fun here and Im glad youre enjoying the ride! The author would like to thank John Bianchi and Bill Rogers for their assistance with this article and for their outstanding contributions to holster development. In an article in the FBI Bulletin, he credited his response to FBI training the department received the year before- drop to the left, learn to fire from the hip. : No Item Description: Old Akah holster (Leather) will work with swivel but not included. For most officers, the breakfrontofferedanideal combination of speed, security, and ease of use, which made it the King of police duty holsters in the revolver era. Neat.thanks for mentioning that. I hope well hear more from you here on RG. He jacked a round in while I yelled to stop, but I had my S&W in my hand instantly and fired first at 70 ft. Rogers first holster design dated back to late 1972 (U.S. Patent Number 3,902,639, issued 2 September 1975) and gave birth to his holster business after he was awarded an FBI contract for it in 1973. Bianchi didnt give up though, and the company was successful in meeting the demands of large agencies like the California Highway Patrol (1970) and the Los Angeles Police Department (1972), whichmade the Model 27 holster standard issuefor their officers. I was in a few shootings in my career and it always worked like a charm, when we were qualifying no one could beat me on the draw. Fortunately, Bill Rogers hadnt got the word. Lastly, the leading edges of the cups were covered by leather that had been skived to smooth the forward drawsomething which had not been done on earlier designs. This Bianchi holster offers long lasting durability under the most brutal conditions. It uses a rotating hood and an anti-blade device to help secure the gun from an offenders grab. Thanks, Andrew. The SW602 features a level 2 security thumb break and a 6" drop. Designed for 9mm P10, fits similar small compact models up to 6.25" Black leather Swivel for easy draw standing or seated The mags had a dual spring system for constant feed rate so they never lost tension as the mags emptied. No breaking down and then out and up. Buyer's Club $11.25 Non-Member $12.50 Was $24.99 . Thank You for the article on breakfront holsters. Classic & vintage holsters | Smith And Wesson Forums The advantage to the design was that a full and uninterrupted grip could be achieved on the gun while it was in the holster. I love the "quality workmanship!". Best wishes. As low as $90.99. This could happen when the holsters release mechanism was worn from use, or out of spec because the holster bodys alignment had shifted over time. I owned at least 5 clam shells and carried one for 17 years. Oakland was a tough city to police for 39 yearsthank you for all you did to make it safer for the good folks. Haha!!! Fabulous quality. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Holster Finder | Shop Our Collection at LA Police Gear Thanks for adding to the neat history of the clamshell story. The absolute monarchy of the Service Revolver has been supplanted by the Polymer Parliament. Larry Mudgett #15467. Ask for Model 890-LAPD. One can draw from a level III holster just as fast. TAU GX4 9MM 3 BLK 2-10RD MFT BW HOLSTER | Grove Gun Shop Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. The K391 is available for many of the popular duty pistols in use today. To draw these guns, officers had to release the safety strap, pull them upwards from the pouch until the long barrels cleared the top of the leather, then rotate them to orient the muzzle towards the target. Indeed. The most popular was the G&G holster that used a short section of leather covered spring steel on the front seam. This belt holster features a non-slip rubberized finish and button cutouts for easy access to all functions and controls on your iPhone. 9 Top Retention Holsters For Law Enforcement. . I had heard about them from other officers. In contrast, with Jewetts design, the shooter established a normal grip on the gun and punched the hidden button with the fingertip almost simultaneously, at which point the gun could be rotated into the firing position without first having to draw it upwards. Is it for a 4 gun with a big frame? Unfortunately by the time the holster designs had benefitted from that long development process, the revolver era was just about over. But it wasnt just a slick show for the tube. It employs a lot of the features of those early breakfront holsters but is still essentially a modified top draw rig. Thanks for visiting and sharing. Very fun and informative reading. I carried the standard 4 inch smith with a safety speed clam shell. Pachmayer rebuilt it for me. Vintage Leather Police Swivel Holster - Etsy These are a source of complaint for my poor wife and I have no real argument for my continued love for them. Wow, what a great follow up in part 2. IWB (18) OWB (23) Cross Draw (5) The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. All times are GMT-6. Mine was a LH Safety Speed swivel, purchased in the late 70s. German Police Surplus Shoulder Holster, Used. Happy to try and answer it! Thanks Tim, thats actually on my radar! Please see the website at: http://www.vintagelacoppers.org, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Concord, NH. Keep up this series. I just have to find a good sample, first. Because somebody ask a qusetion and we just ran with our comments on swivel holsters being unsafe and outdated. Glad youre enjoying it! The closure springs were routed through the leather on each side of the trigger guard to ensure that the leather sides would close firmly over the trigger guard area, and not allow access to the trigger while the gun was still in the holster.
police swivel holster