The pocket had an open, breakfront-style seam down the front, and was held closed by a safety strap that wrapped around the front. The actors received careful coaching from real lawmen, who taught them how to look and act the part. I quickly mastered the technique of re-holstering with one hand. The Model 2800 Judge also improved on the cylinder cutouts of the Hoyt, Model 27 and Safety Speed breakfronts by sandwiching a pair of metal cups in between the layers of leather, to hold the cylinder in place. All rights reserved. Gould & Goodrich Leather Universal Radio Strap Model 654. Were having fun here and Im glad youre enjoying the ride! Please email or call us to add this for you. Its important to note that the Rogers BOSS and WRATH holsters pushed the envelope not only in their function, as the first security holsters for uniformed duty, but in their construction as well. 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. Holsters vary in the degree to which they secure or protect the firearm. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. Truly amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail. I also thought it pretty cool to see the dump pouches in some of those photos. A nice touch! What part of the U.S. were you policing in? Fascinating and informative article, keep up the good work! Rudy Lozano's Black Hills Leather Products are handcrafted like no others are today. This way when I stand it falls into place and rests there. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Does it look like thats possible? Black leather with wear. . Thanks for your hard work. There is a good reason why almost no one uses. Now, at 66, its just stories. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Thanks for writing in! He also wrote the "Tactical Analysis" column at Police1.com for 8 years. I found a perfect condition Safety Speed Hi-ride for a 4 inch L frame on Ebay. Tell your friends! The top draw rigs that had about 1/2 of the front seam open (as opposed to the entire front seam) were some of the best compromises of speed and security. Concord, NH. They are still quite popular with my agency. 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 The Berns-Martin Company was a small outfit, and made their holsters by hand, so the output was always limited. The spring made a pop when the clamshell opened, which could potentially be an issue (some officers learned to restrict the opening of the clamshell with the support hand when noise discipline was important). The clamshell holsters were first adopted by Southern California lawmen in the pre-war years. Because somebody ask a qusetion and we just ran with our comments on swivel holsters being unsafe and outdated. It is simple to reholster one handed with proper technique. The Safariland 070 SSIII holster is likely the most successful retention holster ever fielded by law enforcement. Despite all of these issues, the clamshells remained very popular for decades. A simple thumb break retained the gun, which was rotated forward to release the trigger guard from the pocket, and allow the gun to come out the front seam. If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. OMG I'm old. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. 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. Fabulous quality. This rear-quarter disarm technique had become popular with savvy criminals by this time, and the BOSS muzzle lock protected against it. All times are GMT-6. The 7520 is a holster for electronic discharge weapons (EDW) only. I dusted off the clamshell and my S&W 19 and practiced with the rig and my Second Six loaders for a couple weeks. I loved that holster and was never the victim of any of its disadvantages. Good design, but not my choice. The MSRPs for these holsters start at $108. Hello Mike: Like the other readers, I really enjoyed the history on how the clamshell holster came to be. For additional security, the holster uses a Pivot Guard that covers the back of the slide. Thanks for the article. This seller consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped on time, and replied quickly to any messages they received. . Thanks! I still have it. The image of those great sixguns being drawn from the trick holsters was pure TV magic! Known for high-quality concealment and competition holsters, Blade-Tech also offers top-notch duty holsters. 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. Estimated Delivery Time: 6 weeks. One of them, an obscure outfit named Jicarilla Apache Tribal (J.A.T.) Ive corrected the article. Your email address will not be published. We wont see the likes of it again. This also helped to retain the gun and resist an upwards draw, in conjunction with the metal-reinforced cylinder cups. This feature, along with the enhanced retention and security features, gave the holster an edge in safety compared to other contemporary designs of the era. placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw . Been wondering the same thing, Ace. $70.79 USD. Please see my other web gear and US Military Police auctions. Additionally, since the closure springs went around the cups, the cups helped to obtain a uniform clamping force on the gun in the holster. . The 4S could be shorthand for, Four-inch S&W or possibly four-inch, swivel. Danny, that story takes the cake, and is now my favorite clamshell story! 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. Good comments guys, but are we all writting about Ted Blockers swivel holster? Aside from the holster advancements, there was a time when even though duty rigs might have all been the same plain or basketweave, the one thing that could be personalized was the officers revolvers. This less resistant spring made for an easier presentation, but sacrificed some security. Show: Sort By: Items: Previous Page 1 2 Next Page View All We do offer a $50 Rush Fee option if you need your order within two weeks. Most of our brass was retired LAPD, so we had the good fortune to go there. The clam shell may not have been perfect, but it worked for me as well as hundreds of other skilled police officers. I'm not much of a gun enthusiast, but I also wonder why anyone would want a swivel holster. To hold the halves closed, the 2800 incorporated a pair of powerful springs that started behind the cylinder, running up and over it on each side, then down the length of the leading edge, to the very bottom. 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. 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 the Judge, the metal cups that surrounded the cylinder added strength and helped the holster maintain its shape. The holsters use a Pivot Guard to lock the gun in at a second point. Shipping will be $15 within the USA The closed muzzle achieved a similar effect to the muzzle lock on the BOSS, without use of the polycarbonate spine. Although the innovative Type I had security features, it was a concealment rig for plainclothes investigators. Richard, welcome aboard! So, the Serpa has an ancestor from the revolver era. The standard holster is available for most of the commonly carried duty pistols. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. Blue Book Publications. Jordan, William H. No Second Place Winner. To draw from the BOSS, a user was required to release the strap with the thumb break, then rotate the gun out the front of the holster, which would allow the gun to clear the trigger guard lock at the rear and free the barrel from the muzzle lock. Mace/Pepper Spray Holsters. or Best Offer. 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 . Public debt should be reduced. The closed muzzle presented two complications. They certainly make the cows happy. Classic Mike! The Model 27 and Safety Speed designs were closed because the base of the closure spring was seated at the bottom of the leading edge. It uses an ALS to help secure the gun, and it also has an optional Sentry system. Thats pretty neat, Dave! Bravo, Sir! Swivel Holster with cartridge loops. Even after the department finally switched to a high ride breakfront holster made by Bianchi in the mid-1970s, Los Angeles police officers were allowed to purchase their own clamshells and use them on duty, which they did with great enthusiasm into the 1980s. Smith & Wesson SWMP1BS M&P Black MAGIC Combo Edge Knife . Jack, no explanation is needed here. Its a story fit for a RevolverGuy, so join me as we turn the clock back to rediscover this lost gem from law enforcements past. 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. But it wasnt just a slick show for the tube. It seems that Ive never met a copper outside of California who used a clamshell on duty. Instead of wrapping the leather pocket over the top of the trigger guard, the Judge left this area open. Keep Reading. Happy to try and answer it! In comparison, the Bianchi Model 27 was produced using tooling and methods that allowed for mass production. Im in the home stretch of law enforcement now so its probably going to be my last Duty Belt. The Safariland 070 SSIII holster is likely the most successful retention holster ever fielded by law enforcement. In that era, a finger inside the trigger guard wasnt considered an issue, but I could easily see how NDs could be had with this holster design. After some years of little luck I tried this new-fangled Ebay. The trigger guards on the new autopistols were shaped differently than the revolvers they replaced, and couldnt be trapped in place by a pocket built into the holster like those on the round guns. 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. I'm thinking about buying one for my 1911, but I am concerned with retention in a gun grab. The customer service matches the product too (if you can believe that!). I liked mine quite a bit and still have it. 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. This was due to several negligent discharges blamed on the holster. The swivel is an outdated, very dangerous holster. Im embarrassed at the obscene sum I paid to own it. Mike, thank you for the great articles. It is by far the best holster I have ever owned. Level 2 - Uses friction and a second method. In Part I of this series, we discussed the birth of the breakfront holster with the Berns-Martin design, as well as the development of competing designs from popular police holster makers Hoyt and Safety Speed. The holsters can also be had in a variety of colors other than black to match a tactical teams uniforms. Additionally, the Judge was designed in a manner that protected the rear sight with leather wings on each side, while still preventing the rear sight from contacting the sides of the holster during the draw. The current crop of synthetic holsters are superior tools. As for being in the same place everytime it has a block that keeps it from rotating backward. The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. Material: Leather. It wasnt a security holster for general duty use, so Rogers got to work in the late 1970s and designed the first purpose-built security holster for uniformed police officers, the Rogers BOSS. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Designed by Bill Rogers, the 070 has been made by Safariland since the mid-1980s. seasons 2 & 3 used Safariland #11 holsters with normal safety straps as opposed to the finger-tip release of the Ojala pattern LAPD holster used the first year. Sixguns By Keith. The only officer I've seen wear one was on of the Compton Schools PD officers. Uncompromising Security Quick view. This holster is beyond what I was hoping for! 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. Very fun and informative reading. 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. 7320 SW Bonita Road Tigard, OR 97224 US503-670-7972 (phone), Hours of Operation:Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (PST)Open Thursdays till 7pm. Fortunately, Bill Rogers hadnt got the word. Rating: Bianchi Accumold Elite 7920 Defender II Level 2 Duty Holster. Perhaps the only thing worse than being shot in the line of duty is being shot with your own weapon. Thank you so much for making this for me. Barney had one. This is a big part of the reason that these holsters were disapproved for duty use in the CHP by the early 1960s. 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. I can remember guys practicing quick draws in front of the mirror in the police locker room. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out Gods wrath on the wrongdoer." Nor was Ace being disrespectful of police generally, or California police officers specifically. Youre in good company! Vintage Clamshell Gun Holster Police. $299.00. If you know anything about the famous Lewis Holsters, Id love to read an article about it! Thanks, Mike, I have a question about my 1962 revolver. It has nothing to do with Ted Blocker etc. With polymer pistols, thats all gone. AccuMold ARS Radio Holster Swivel. A high-quality duty holster can literally make the difference between life and death, for you and for the people you protect. The holster is just as good today as it was decades ago. It was similarly adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department. Grove Gun Shop Product Details. This [SW402] is the ONLY holster worthy of my 1985 Stainless Steel 6 Colt Python (150th Anniversary Model). Gould & Goodrich Gould and Goodrich Adjustable Tension Level 2 Leather Duty Holster. Those rosewood stocks on the Python are an excellent example of the personalization you discussed, being handcarved to fit the users hand. Polymer Parliament will henceforth be a permanent part of the lexicon here. The WRS Level 3 offers a natural draw that is not hampered by needlessly complex security devices. I came across a right hand swivel model from an auction site and wondering if you could help identify what revolver it fits. 89 members and 33755 guests. I have a good source to help me find some . It also could not be pulled straight up or from the rear. AWESOME JOB! Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Thanks, A.E. 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. First, the holster body had to be longer than necessary, which could lead to interference when sitting. Thanks for the article. It would be interesting to know if the decoy snap accounted for any saves, wouldnt it? Dont repeat this (Ill deny I was there), but there is a shrine in his house dedicated to the Lee Enfield rifles, and to the Webley and Smith & Wesson revolvers. Copyright 2023 The Rapid Force Duty Holster protects your firearm so that you can protect and serve. Sad to hear these are no longer available. John BianchiAn American Legend 50 Years of Gunleather. was the only other officer who carried one, he retired about a year and a half before me. MSRP: $38.00. Nelson, for continuing to make such iconic police equipment during these days when holsters are made of faux leather, space-aged plastics, and kydex! They were truly an innovation for carrying a 6 barrel revolver, which gave officers an inherently more accurate sighting radius. The 357M is likely shorthand for .357 Magnumthis could be a reference to caliber, but instead I think its more likely a reference to the S&W pre-Model 27, which was simply called, The .357 Magnum before model numbers were assigned to all guns in the 1950s. 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. Also great for retention, all you had to do was hold it shut or swing it up and trap it against your rib cage. As retired Law Enforcement, I conceal carry daily and have used this [ST17] holster for 30 years. Vintage Police Don Hume RH Leather Swivel Holster with 12 Cartridge Loops $15.00 0 bids $10.50 shipping 2d 18h or Best Offer VINTAGE BLACK LEATHER SHERIFF POLICE B-15-34 HOLSTER $50.00 0 bids $10.95 shipping 4d 7h or Best Offer VINTAGE JAY PEE LEATHER BELT AND HOLSTER SIZE 42 6" HOLSTER $49.95 $8.31 shipping or Best Offer No helos shot, nothing else destroyed but my pride and $600 later that day to buy them a new freezer. I have 4 clamshells including a full replica of the Adam 12 belt and a high-ride python clamshell! Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. The Safariland 6285CHP holster was designed for the California Highway Patrol.

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