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. Happy to try and answer it! Upon introduction, the Judge holster immediately became standard issue on the California Highway Patrol, which issued it along with the newly-adopted Model 67 and Model 68 revolvers. Tell your friends! It was$200! For more information, visit daraholsters.com or call 919-665-5316. The Model 27 holster (U.S. Patent number 3,630,420, awarded 28 Dec 1971) was essentially an update of the Berns-Martin design, which used a new, L-shaped spring design that ran down the front of the holster and held it completely closed, instead of the cylinder-clamping U-spring of the older design, which left gaps in the front. Several of us there carried in clamshell holsters. FOR ORDER STATUS & QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL (956) 744-3219 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM USA CENTRAL TIME, Estimated Delivery Time: 6 weeks. . 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. Your duty holster keeps your trusty sidearm close at hand; it can and should be as unique as you are. Case Shape: Fitted. 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. 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. Menu. I hope well hear more from you here on RG. 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. Ill be darned, Len! Known for high-quality concealment and competition holsters, Blade-Tech also offers top-notch duty holsters. The Rogers Holster Company SSII holster for semiautomatic pistols was a successful semi-breakfront design (becoming the long-lived Model 295 after the Safariland acquisition) which followed the WRATH, but by 1983 Rogers was ready to abandon his work on breakfront designs over concerns that they were too susceptible to disarms from the front, which his investigation had concluded was the most likely kind of attack that an officer would face. 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. You provide great detail and photos. Prescott, AZ. Did they replace the outer part of the shell, or just reshape it when you went to the 686? Some kydex bender might be able to do something neat with this idea. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out Gods wrath on the wrongdoer." The Safety Speed Holster company (est. At CopsPlus, we carry duty holsters from some of the world's most trusted manufacturers, including. To open it up, the user inserted the index finger of his gun hand into the area of the trigger guard, and pushed inwards on a camouflaged button (that was hidden underneath a layer of leather, just forward of the trigger face) to release the latch, at which point the halves rapidly separated under spring pressure, releasing the gun. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). 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. Im working on an article that I think youll enjoy. Material: Leather. In 1947, he was shot in the stomach with the bullet lodge against his spine. The design required the user to put his finger into the trigger guard to release the gun, which led to some negligent discharges when officers fumbled the draw. 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. The design required . Keep your favorite compact pistol handy with this German Police Surplus P10 Leather Holster. Some officers, due to a lack of training/practice, inattention, or stress-induced error, managed to negligently pull the trigger with enough frequency that the holster caught the ire of police administrators. 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. 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! Sit down and have a look aroundI think youll find lots more to like here at RevolverGuy. All rights reserved. I loved this holster. Simultaneously, the breakfront holster virtually disappeared from the scene as well. 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. The MSRP starts at $147. Full grain genuine leather, inside the waist band holster with clip. Oh, thats why the back is tan. breakfront. I was a cop in the Detroit area from 1967 to 1982. Vtg Black Leather Police Swivel Holster - B18 34 C $20.57 0 bids C $24.70 shipping 6d 16h Akar Scorpion OWB Kydex Gun Holster W/Quick Belt Clips Fits Girsan Mc28 C $39.51 Was: C $49.39 C $41.17 shipping or Best Offer 15 watching Vintage Police Sam Brown Leather Belt Holster Shoulder Strap 1950s Crump C $172.88 C $40.63 shipping or Best Offer As popular as they were, the clamshell holsters had weaknesses that couldnt be ignored. This belt holster features a non-slip rubberized finish and button cutouts for easy access to all functions and controls on your iPhone. The MSRP starts at $110. $161.55 USD. It is not fast however. Now, at 66, its just stories. 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 !! Im glad you enjoyed the article and hope youll find more to enjoy in these pages! Adam-12 (WWMD??) Most of our brass was retired LAPD, so we had the good fortune to go there. Dad lost part of his stomach and one third of his intestines, but returned to work. The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. Rating: Bianchi Accumold 7120 Defender Level 2 Duty Holster. 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. Unlike many of the more modern retention holsters, the 070 relies on snaps and a particular motion to draw the gun. I retired it in 86 when we switched to the Sig P220. Great to hear from you. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. I had a model 28 S&W and a buddy gave me his custom made break front that he had never used. Rogers accepted the deal and updated the WRATH with a few cosmetic changes, to create the Safariland Model 275. 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. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Saved my life one day when a bad guy surprised me on a porch with a 12ga shotgun. Vintage Alfonsos Brown Leather IWB Holster for Colt 1911 5" Browning Hi Power. Some of us decided a five-second draw wasnt efficient enough, and went back to real holsters. Im not sure, but I think your holster is for a 4 S&W N-frame revolver. Add to Cart Compare. The C.A. The trigger guard area was open in the style of the times, but a curved pocket followed the contour of the guard and wrapped around the back far enough that it prevented a top draw. Holsters designed for use in professional law enforcement. Oakland was a tough city to police for 39 yearsthank you for all you did to make it safer for the good folks. Ace. Our Sale Price: $32.00. Youre welcome! Everything had pretty much been tried by one manufacturer or another by the mid-to-late 1970s, and a kind of status quo had been reached. Get Yours Now. Vintage Leather Police Swivel Holster NostalgicProductions (150) $65.00 FREE shipping Sig Sauer P365 XL - Wee Deluxe IWB Holster - LEFT Hand Draw Hybrid Single Swivel Clip with Mod 4clip CelticHolsters $69.95 FREE shipping Vintage Hume Plain Black Leather Old Police Snap Swivel Gun Holster for S&W K Frame Models 10 11 12 15 19 64 65 66 67 68 4" The Safariland 070 SSIII holster is likely the most successful retention holster ever fielded by law enforcement. I also thought it pretty cool to see the dump pouches in some of those photos. I used to fit prescription leather shoes for small children and I recognize quality work. I have my fathers, Stockton PD 1941-73, full belt rig with Jewett Clamshell w/38 Police Special. Officer Mike Leverett, Head Firearms Instructor at Chicago PD "Your holster saved my life! Instead, he turned his creative energies towards improved security designs such as the SSIII (which later became the industry-leading Safariland Model 070 after the acquisition), and changed the face of the police duty holster forever, in the process. The holster would beat your leg to death if you didnt hold it when you ran. 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. 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. . C $107.38. Got days off, the unwanted kind.4 months later got called back up to see the sergeant and offered a job.as long as I promised not to shoot anything else there! For more information on this holster, visit gouldusa.com or call 800-277-0732. A high-quality duty holster can literally make the difference between life and death, for you and for the people you protect. Awesome article! Please call us and ask for expedite service Username or email *, Email address *. The standard holster is available for most of the commonly carried duty pistols. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. Jewett hoped to accomplish several objectives with his novel design. John BianchiAn American Legend 50 Years of Gunleather. 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). 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. 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 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. 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. Great Part II! I have not seen an officer with a swivel for years. One can draw from a level III holster just as fast. 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. They are still quite popular with my agency. Pre-Owned. Romans 13:4, If this is your first visit be sure to check out the frequently asked questions by clicking here. View all posts by Mike. As I mentioned after reading your book, I carried a 4 clamshell until the department (LAPD) wouldnt allow them any longer. Tex Shoemaker NJ 63 Plain Black Police Duty Holster P7M8 P7M13 Leather Lined. But, deep down, hes a wood and steel guy. I have been searching for the front break plain black holster called the BOSS are they still available? Mine sprung almost 180 degrees, so it was tough to put the weapon back and next to impossible with one hand. Slow down, Mr. Cosgrove. I believe they were the finest revolver duty holsters ever made. In an effort to quantify these improvements, Rogers created a testing protocol in 1975 that awarded retention "levels" to holsters. The inventor of the clamshell holster was Mr. Frank C. Jewett, whose patent for the design was granted on 10 October 1933. Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. Glad you enjoyed it. It looks like they wear plain black, polished leather with nickel (silver) snaps or plain black with velcro. "For he is Gods servant for your good. When I was in, there were still guys using them. placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw . Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. The leather-Kydex laminate WRATH was a breakfront design with a closed muzzle at the bottom. Yeah, youre article hit a nerve! 3.2 out of 5 star rating (21 reviews) . A clamshell wasnt your average, pedestrian, top draw rig. It's built to last with a reinforced solid-core polycarbonate frame and a rotating belt clip for vertical or horizontal use. There is a good reason why almost no one uses. CopQuest (800) 728-0974. Great department, great people. MSRP ranges $189 to $245. 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. 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. Add to Cart. Would it be appropriate to carry a Python in a holster made of the same, or is that some kind of fashion faux paus? The BOSS was a sophisticated design that used a variety of materials in its construction. Vintage Tex shoemaker Suede Leather IWB Holster for Browning Hi Power Right Left. The LAPDs love for the design was influential, and helped to spread the popularity of the clamshell holster beyond the states borders in the post-war years. Designed by Bill Rogers, the 070 has been made by Safariland since the mid-1980s. Recently got a new Duty Belt (30V) and its just as superbly crafted as my first 30Vactually, the first ones got plenty of life left, I lost some weight and just needed a better fit. This seller consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped on time, and replied quickly to any messages they received. Here is a look at some of the current duty holsters that offer increased weapon protection. Not commercially, but you might find a sample on the electronic auction sites. Riley, Ive got another project in the works that I think youre gonna like! The arrogance of public officials must be curtailed. Thought my pilot application would be shredded. All times are GMT-6. Mike, thank you for the great articles. 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. Vintage from the 1960s Materials: leather I saw Larry Mudgetts post below, good to know hes out therethe mans a legend! and manufacturers. Just curious. 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. Our current lead-time for new orders is 4-9 weeks for most items. One of them, an obscure outfit named Jicarilla Apache Tribal (J.A.T.) Following the success of its initial collaboration with Vertx, Premier Body Armor announces its continued partnership. Ive corrected the article. 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. Would you email me please? When drawing the gun upwards, the long barrels slowed things down, and sometimes the tip of the barrel or the front sight would snag on the mouth of the pouch as the gun was rotated, frustrating the effort to make a clean and smooth draw. These West German Holsters incorporate a rotary swivel allowing the holster to be worn low on the thigh and turned forward while sitting in an automobile. This item ships free to the US. . In comparison, the Bianchi Model 27 was produced using tooling and methods that allowed for mass production. 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. Obsolete POLICE leather holster and PISTOL LANYARD for FN BROWNING 7.65 MM RM 255.05 RM 51.10 shipping Swivel Holster with cartridge loops fits 6-inch revolvers RM 265.70 Was: RM 664.25 RM 113.48 shipping or Best Offer Only 1 left! But I carried a high rise , no swivel, clamshell with my M66 4 inch, really fast, worked great with LOTS of training! Reholstering a gun in a clamshell holster could be an awkward affair, that usually involved two hands. 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! They probably produced more holsters of this design than any other company, and cemented their position as a leading manufacturer of police leather goods. Designed to last and proudly made in the USA. 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. I was a street cop on LAPD in the late 60s thru the early 80 s. Were having fun here and Im glad youre enjoying the ride! 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. 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. ; ^ ). Mine was a LH Safety Speed swivel, purchased in the late 70s. The only commercially available breakfronts that I know of are copies of the old Hoyt design, from AE Nelson Leather Company. Because somebody ask a qusetion and we just ran with our comments on swivel holsters being unsafe and outdated. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Barney had one. However, they were not alone in the business. 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. An outstanding article once again by this fantastic author. Alfonsos J21 Plain Black Leather Suede Lined Open Top Holster For Colt .45 . As Sam Andrews of Andrews Custom Leather (St. Augustine, FL) is fond of saying that real men wear leather: John Wayne would never be caught carrying a polymer gun in a polymer holster. Public debt should be reduced. MSRP: $38.00. Los Angeles Police US Clark Pistol Revolver Gun Leather Holster 38 Parent 6 RM 510.92 RM 161.80 shipping or Best Offer The Rogers WRATH (Weapon Retaining and Tactical Holster) advanced the breakfront art by simplifying and lightening the BOSS. Copyright 2023 Copyright 2023 Police1. 1945) operated out of Montebello, California, and became the giant in the clamshell holster business, producing them into the early 1990s.