It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. In 1947, he was shot in the stomach with the bullet lodge against his spine. If you really want an LAPD swivel holster, call Hoyt Holsters of Coupeville, WA. Using the companys popular Automatic LockingSystem (ALS), the Model 6360holster from Safariland is one of the most popular holsters in service today. I always believed that officers who had accidental discharges tended to blame the clamshell even if it wasnt at fault because it was a plausible excuse. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, When I told him I was left handed, he balked and said hed have to custom make it and itd be expensive. 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. The safety strap had a decoy snap on the outside, and a low profile thumb break release on the inside, which enhanced security. This way when I stand it falls into place and rests there. Hey Mike, if you ever get a chance I think a great review for fighting gunleather would be the old Safariland model 275. Glad youre enjoying it! I bought one from Saftey Speed Montibello around 1982. 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. The closed muzzle presented two complications. I still have 2 of them. A clamshell wasnt your average, pedestrian, top draw rig. FOR SALES INQUIRIES (956) 436 -4888. Hello Mike: Like the other readers, I really enjoyed the history on how the clamshell holster came to be. As such, they shared the faults of all swivels. I believe they were the finest revolver duty holsters ever made. Thanks. Safariland 070 SSIII. It would be interesting to know if the decoy snap accounted for any saves, wouldnt it? An outstanding article once again by this fantastic author. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. 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. Thanks David! Bikini Style Cuff Case with Clip. well . Im afraid I now own a vast collection of 80s breakfronts Ill never use as well as a new in the bag Safety Speed Clam shell. Free shipping for many products! Thank you so much for making this for me. Romans 13:4, If this is your first visit be sure to check out the frequently asked questions by clicking here. Loved the article. Safariland & Bill Rogers: The Rise of the Modern Security Holster, American Handgunner Magazine, July-August 2016, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/. Any RevolverGuy who grew up like I did, watching a steady diet of the 1970s police drama Adam-12, will certainly remember those Blue Knights, Malloy and Reed, each drawing a Combat Masterpiece revolver from a clamshell holster that sprung open like magic every time our heroes needed to draw down on some counterculture scumbag. Unlike many of the more modern retention holsters, the 070 relies on snaps and a particular motion to draw the gun. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. After carrying my issue Sig in my issue safety holster I became nostalgic for the breakfronts of my youth and started a search for a Bianchi 27. I had clam shell when I carried a model 66 long time ago. As for the Clam Shell (I have one in my collection), LAPD Motors used to use them. The current crop of synthetic holsters are superior tools. The first time I got out of the car on an officer survival training scenario and left my gun on the seat of the car, I decided that it was time to go shopping for another holster. C. Rusty Sherick still makes one. Your email address will not be published. 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! They are still quite popular with my agency. I have not seen an officer with a swivel for years. I really miss the term decoy snap. So many officers had these when I was completing my internship in 1987. Thats pretty neat, Dave! John BianchiAn American Legend 50 Years of Gunleather. I suspect it was operator error, which does not mean it was not a good holster just not a good holster for you. 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. Some kydex bender might be able to do something neat with this idea. Service Mfg. Co - Yonkers, Ny. 1911. 5 Inch. Leather Lined Plastic Hi Ron, Im glad you enjoyed the article. 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 MSRP starts at $110. Jack, no explanation is needed here. Enjoyed the history. Due to the quality of the holster and the customer service, I have purchased one for every pistol I have. I owned at least 5 clam shells and carried one for 17 years. It also has a retention strap. $1500 by the time it was done. They had their warts, but so did the other police duty holsters of the 1930s to 1980s (and beyond). This item ships free to the US. A password will be sent to your email address. Retiring an Old Friend: The Emerson CQC-7, Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 19, 2018 | Active Response Training. Rating: Bianchi Accumold 7120 Defender Level 2 Duty Holster. Does it look like thats possible? In comparison, the Bianchi Model 27 was produced using tooling and methods that allowed for mass production. Level 2 - Uses friction and a second method. USA. Thank you for writing in and adding to the story of these iconic holsters. . Sixguns By Keith. The K391 has a suggested retail price of $166. The MSRP starts at $97. CopsPlus Police Supply. In the early 70s, by then a Watch Commander for years, he switched back to his 40s rig so he wouldnt be out of uniform. Note: The author would like to thank LAPD Sergeant Kevin Ahlemeir and Vintage LA Coppers for their assistance with this article. Was like riding a bike! 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. He was also one of the most talented holster designers around, with an affinity for crafting police duty holsters. Adam-12 (WWMD??) The Swivel Drop Leg Holster is the latest addition to the QDS (quick disconnect system) ecosystem. Level 1 - Only relies on friction. The most obvious was a fast and unobstructed presentation of the gun. Rapid Force Duty Holster - Best Level 3 Police Holster | Alien Gear Swivel Holster with cartridge loops. Two Way Radio Carrying Cases and Belt Clips Thanks for the article. Instead of wrapping the leather pocket over the top of the trigger guard, the Judge left this area open. Sorry for being long winded. My nick name was Jump-in Joe. The Safariland 2955 holster offers the same features as the 295. Sad to hear these are no longer available. It was similarly adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department. That holster was issued by a lot of agencies and not a bad design. Id like to have one just for the sake of having one, but certainly would never allow it to be issued for real use. The MSRPs for these holsters start at $108. Rated by Kevin Ong Absolutely beautiful holster in Clarino to fit my 4" S&W model 28. Swivel Holster Clip (PMLN7939) Swivel holster allows you to wear the radio on your belt, leaving your hands free for the job on hand. Two writers in 1960 and 1970 declared the clam shell obsolete and dead. 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. If you read the whole comment, youll notice that Ace was referring to handgun hunters hiding in the bushes, not California police officers. They were purchased in the 1960s and were used to arm Air Police/Security Police, PJs, pilots and other aircrew. Material: Leather. He also wrote the "Tactical Analysis" column at Police1.com for 8 years. . These are a source of complaint for my poor wife and I have no real argument for my continued love for them. The Pro-3 can be had in a variety of finishes including plain nylon and basket weave. Mike Wood is a bonafide revolver nut, a handgun, shotgun, and patrol rifle-certified law enforcement firearms instructor, and the author of Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis, the definitive study of the infamous, 1970 California Highway Patrol shootout in Newhall, California. The strap prevented the gun from being rotated out the front until the unique,hidden thumb breakwas released by the user. Required fields are marked *. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. Back in the 1970s and 80s, many a small city department, and even many less affluent county sheriffs departments, you bought your own sidearm and leather. Mike: Also, the inside surface is left undyed, to prevent CHP tans from turning black. Thank you Sir! Phone Model: APX 6000 (NON-XE) / 8000 (NON-XE) MSRP: $84.99. They certainly make the cows happy, if not the traditionalists. Good stuff. The Hoyt breakfront, with its open muzzle, didnt suffer from this issue, but the spring which held the Hoyt closed primarily exerted its force around the cylinder area, leaving little to no tension in the area around the muzzle. Im embarrassed at the obscene sum I paid to own it. The Stanroy Holster company of Bakersfield, California began production around 1935 and continued until sometime into the late 1960s, with the company establishing a new address in Compton, California, along the way. 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. Glad to have you here. This page was generated at 06:57 AM. Get Yours Now. Saved my life one day when a bad guy surprised me on a porch with a 12ga shotgun. I do wish youd cool it on EBay though, so I could win some of those bids myself. Some agencies, like the LAPD, had armorers who could inspect and adjust clamshell holsters to ensure more reliable operation, but the design weakness was never perfectly addressed, and it was one of the key reasons that clamshells were eventually prohibited for duty use (as LAPD finally did, in the mid-1980s). The gun had to be carefully placed in the proper position, and the two halves squeezed together until they latched. Holsters, Police, Historical Memorabilia, Collectibles This is a big part of the reason that these holsters were disapproved for duty use in the CHP by the early 1960s. Malloy and Reed may have brought these clever holsters into the public consciousness in the early 70s, but the clamshell holster story goes back much further. Im so glad you have the story to go with the gear. Duty Gear products from CopQuest | (800) 728-0974 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. Blocker makes quality stuff, it's just the nature of the holster. So, when Malloy and Reed switched from the Model 14 andSafariland #11top draw holster to the Model 15 and clamshell holster for Season Four, it wasnt just for the sexy optics. Durable, heavy-duty construction in a lightweight configuration. 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. The revolver for that holster is indeed the S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece, a four inch barreled, target sighted .38 Special revolver. After seeing him have to fiddle around with it to re-holster, I came to the conclusion it was a useless design for LEOs. He makes rigs for a lot of LEO who are usually (a) single, and (b) dont have support payments. All rights reserved. Thank you Sir! He also wrote the "Tactical Analysis" column at Police1.com for 8 years. The 2800 also incorporated some advancements in the reinforced, offset, belt loop hangar, including an adjustable rubber spacer which locked the holster in place and prevented it from sliding and shifting position on the belt. #79 Swivel Front Break Holster, A. E. Nelson Leather Co. Carried it for years as my father before me and only retired it when we went to semi autos in 1990s. However, due to the on-call nature of the job, we understand that officers need to have the flexibility to gear up for heavy-duty encounters at a moment's notice. Amazing craftmanship and excellent quality. What part of the U.S. were you policing in? Duty Holsters - Holsters - Police I will probably buy the Blocker and give it a try. Collectible Police Holsters for sale | eBay Alfonsos J21 Plain Black Leather Suede Lined Open Top Holster For Colt .45 . swivel holster - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com 'NO BUCKLE' $32.97 0 Bids or Buy It Now 5d 19h See Details Vintage Flashlight Yonkers NY Police Black Patent leather Holster $20.16 Buy It Now or Best Offer See Details The notch they started making in the later models made it so much easier. The development of a revolver duty holster that was both fast to draw from and secure, took some time to mature and the breakfront was a big part of that process. It was more secure than the temperamental clamshell, and it was easier to reholster with a single hand. Dont know where it came from. $20.13. The leather-Kydex laminate WRATH was a breakfront design with a closed muzzle at the bottom. If you wanted to look cool, it was your huckleberry. Holsters vary in the degree to which they secure or protect the firearm. was the only other officer who carried one, he retired about a year and a half before me. Reholstering a gun in a clamshell holster could be an awkward affair, that usually involved two hands. The 2800 was an open muzzle design, with the leading edge of the holster split along its entire front. Actually too great early on for me, with one of those accidental discharges after drawing.I was conducting a requested (dumb ass on my part) demonstration, how quick it was, and popped a round off.I did turn away from personnel for safety you know.of course.duh.you know, do not point at anything youre not willing to destroy!.Well I was willing to destroy the chest freezer in our helicopter detail office, and almost did so! 89 members and 33755 guests. IWB (18) OWB (23) Cross Draw (5) USA. They feature swivel belt loops and are designed for XTS Series Radios. Box 69, Coupeville, WA 98239-0069. It was sexy, and reeked of the gunfighter mystique. I didnt know the design was as old as it is, and can only wonder why it was so popular in Californiathen again, it is California. Drop Holster Drawbacks - Guns and Ammo Glad it worked so well for you. $134.00. In the post-war era, the design continued to grow in popularity, particularly in Southern California, the heart of clamshell holster production. Bravo, Sir! The spring system was tuned perfectly. Learn more Add to cart Star Seller. $70.79 USD. Dad lost part of his stomach and one third of his intestines, but returned to work. Government Sales; Quotation Quick Form; . Haha!!! There is a good reason why almost no one uses. First with my Colt Python, then in the late eighties the department switched to a Sig Sauer 226 9mm, and later to a 229 .40 after several shootings where the 9mm was not effective. Holsters, Gun Belts, Cases, and Oklahoma Leather Products Ill be darned, Len! Everyone with the Hoyts drew a certain pleasure in drawing to get that particular pop sound when all parts of your revolver cleared the leather at the same time. breakfront. Gotta love pilot humor! Item Name: FS Akah German Police Holster Vintage Location: Blairsville Zip Code: 30512 Item is for: Sale Only Sale Price: 40 Willing to Ship: Yes Bill of Sale Required? The 57 4 could be a holster model number and another reference to four-inch. I suppose it could also be a reference to Model 57 4-inch, which is another N-frame revolver, like The .357 Magnum. The holster would have to date to the 1960s (1964 or later) for the Model 57 reference to be correct, but since the Model 57 and The .357 Magnum (Model 27) could probably fit the same holster, maybe thats what it is. A wide selection of CMP surplus ammo will 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw . Copyright 2023 A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use.Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be attached to other locations of the body (e.g., the ankle holster). By the 1950s, the clamshell was a SoCal law enforcement staple, with a host of agencies and individual officers falling for the appeal of the spring holster. It has a built in retention system that requires you to turn in as you draw out. I never thought I would ever have the pleasure of actually carrying this gun as I could not find a holster that could compete with it! The Safety Speed Holster company (est. I finally settled on a Hoyt reverse cant for my K frame. Also, almost all of them were built as swivel holsters, where the holster body hung low from a belt loop, connected to the loop by a rivet. The only commercially available breakfronts that I know of are copies of the old Hoyt design, from AE Nelson Leather Company. Insured Priority Mail is $16.00. 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. Level 3 - Has two retention methods plus . Very fun and informative reading. <p>This HD Swivel set is compatible with QD swivel mounts and is constructed of steel with a manganese phosphate finish & 1.5' loops.</p> It, too, has its fans. Retired Oakland police officer, 39 yr vet law enforcement. . I bought a high rise clam shell and then switched to the low slung swivell which put my Sig level with my hand. The SW602 swivel duty holster is leather lined with built-in sight tracks and an adjustable barrel-tension device. Additionally, since the closure springs went around the cups, the cups helped to obtain a uniform clamping force on the gun in the holster. We now pick up the breakfrontsaga where we left off . These holsters are available for a broad range of firearms, and they are customizable for duty belt size, color and light/laser attachments. Using the companys Tactical Modular Mount System, an officer can move the WRS holster from a duty belt to a tactical vest or thigh rig without the need to remove the pistol. . We all had nick names it was a street cop thing. Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. The effective requirement to reholster with two hands was a big weakness of the clamshell. Anyone use or familiar with the Ted Blocker swivel holsters? As a result, with very few exceptions (such as the short-lived Bianchi Auto Drawor the more successful, semi-breakfront Rogers SSII / Safariland 295), the breakfronts didnt make the transition to the autopistol era. Buy Law Enforcement & Police Duty Holsters Online on Black Hills Leather Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement, SP100 Belt Loop for Safariland Duty Holsters, SW402 Duty Holster Level 2 (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) with Drop & Swivel, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. The Model 27 used a sheet metal lining (later upgraded to tempered spring steel) in the belt loop to hold the holster offset from the hip for jacket clearance. The Safety Speed offered an improvement with its cutout trigger pocket, but the Model 2800 took a different approach. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. When released, the Pivot Guard springs out of the way and will not accidentally snap backto prevent reholstering of the firearm. Designed specifically to work with popular weapon lights such as the Streamlight TLR-1 and the SureFire X300, the BlackHawk Epoch holster has an internal locking feature that hooks on the ejection port for a high degree of grab resistance. Keep Reading. It featured a reverse cant and the thing was designed so the gun came straight out the holster. Duty Holsters Holsters designed for use in professional law enforcement. I bought my own clamshell around 1970 or so and used it every day on patrol. Jewetts holster was initially produced by the Speed Safety company (which took its name from the two unique qualities of the holster design) from 1932 until somewhere around 1942-43, at which point some of the production rights were sold to another company that operated under the similar name, Safety Speed. For those interested: http://aenelson.hostcentric.com/index.php?cPath=27_40_56_62. The 7520 is a holster for electronic discharge weapons (EDW) only. Buyer's Club $29.69 Non-Member $32.99. These guys are incredible. Mine was a LH Safety Speed swivel, purchased in the late 70s. interacts online and researches product purchases My 1st day walking in the office early, I found sillouhette targets over everything, with comments.we need a new tv, the fridge isnt cold, the computers need replacing..stay away ftom the freezer, its NEW!..leave the helicopters alone!!! Also, as a young pup, some of my partners were laterals from Pasadena and this was where I got to see these clamshells up close. http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/vertbelt.html. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Police Don Hume RH Leather Swivel Holster with 12 Cartridge Loops at the best online prices at eBay! Would you email me please? police holster vintage for sale | eBay CLS Replacement Swivel Belt Holster Display Fanny pack Fanny Pack Fireman Fits JMX Radio Flexible Hand Heavy Duty Hi-Visibility High Capacity Battery Leather Leather Carrying Case with Swivel Clip Long Alligator Belt Clip Mesh Chest Harness No Display Portable Radio Radio Belt Clip Radio Carrying Case with Loop Rear Panel Adapter Shoulder I love the "quality workmanship!". 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 !! Police Bookshelf. But I carried a high rise , no swivel, clamshell with my M66 4 inch, really fast, worked great with LOTS of training! 2010. Dont discount a clamshell holster because you were not able to operate it. I mean, grab the grip and just raise that thing like you were just holding at your side. It is simple to reholster one handed with proper technique. That service pistol could be the focus of an attack should things go sideways. Show: Sort By: Items: Previous Page 1 2 Next Page View All Colt LE6920SOCOM M4 Carbine 5.56 16.1 Barrel SOCOM Sight 30-rd Good Condition! Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). MSRP: $38.00. 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. The clam shell was an awesome system for those who were well trained with it. Whether you're in Law Enforcement, Competition shooting, Hunting, or just like a good looking Holster that respects you and your gun, Ted Blocker Holsters are a symbol of quality and excellence for over 50 years. Gun Holsters - vintagegunleather $161.55 USD. In Jewetts design, the pouch which held the gun was split into two halves along the front seam, which were joined at the rear by a powerful flat spring that was biased to open the halves in butterfly fashion. 7320 SW Bonita Road Tigard, OR 97224 US503-670-7972 (phone), Hours of Operation:Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (PST)Open Thursdays till 7pm. Your email address will not be published. The Chief had wanted him gone for years and that was the latest ploy. it was easy for the pushing motion of the index finger to continue after the gun had been drawn . One Lt. told me I couldnt carry like this but our manual still allowed us a Smith & Wesson, Colt, or Ruger Revolver. Yup, hadnt been updated in years! The base of the polycarbonate spine incorporated a lock for the guns muzzle, which trapped it in position and prevented it from being rotated out the front of the holster by pushing downwards on the revolver grip. Thanks Martin! Holsters usually are rated at one of four different levels, with level four using multiple retention methods combined with friction. This greatly improved the quality of the draw compared to other breakfront designs, in essence providing the security of a Model 27 with the draw of the Hoyt. Great holster though. I sure wish they still made them. : No Item Description: Old Akah holster (Leather) will work with swivel but not included. Black Leather. Hooray! For more information, visit daraholsters.com or call 919-665-5316. 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. They had a small army of advisors who worked with scriptwriters, actors and directors to ensure that scenarios, uniforms, equipment, tactics and terminology were authentic. Some of the Model 27 improvements over the Berns-Martin were subtle, but there was one aspect of the design which marked a radical changethe Model 27 was designed for mass production. It is not fast however. The Rogers WRATH (Weapon Retaining and Tactical Holster) advanced the breakfront art by simplifying and lightening the BOSS. It uses a rotating hood and an anti-blade device to help secure the gun from an offenders grab. 2x Black Leather Police Security Military Mace/Pepper Spray Holster/Pouch C-309 $ 17.50 Buy It Now $5.95 Shipping Condition: Used Location: Woodside, United States Many of Police & Security. The spine also incorporated a trigger guard lock, which combined with a cylinder recess and the safety strap, prevented the gun from being drawn straight upwards out of the holster. German Police Surplus AKAH Swivel Leather Compact Holster, Like New New to Amazon DIAMOND D OUTDOORS Denali Chest Holster - Revolver 3", Black 4.9 (25) $10999 FREE delivery Tue, Feb 21 More Buying Choices $109.80 (2 new offers) +1 colors/patterns Id love to have one for my Model 12, I think that and a tweed sport coat, white button down shirt and black string tie would make me 40 years younger, at least in my mind. Your email address will not be published. These springs kept the entire front seam of the holster closed in a secure manner, without imparting as much drag on the barrel as a closed bottom design. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You Save: $6.00 (16 %) These leather holsters are sized to fit 1851-1861, 1858 and 1860 cap and ball revolvers and cartridge revolvers of similar size with up to 8" barrel .