I have a good source to help me find some . 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. When I told him I was left handed, he balked and said hed have to custom make it and itd be expensive. The Safety Speed offered an improvement with its cutout trigger pocket, but the Model 2800 took a different approach. Hooray! For more information, visit blade-tech.com or call 877-331-5793. It uses an ALS to help secure the gun, and it also has an optional Sentry system. I suspect it was operator error, which does not mean it was not a good holster just not a good holster for you. The Safariland 070 SSIII holster is likely the most successful retention holster ever fielded by law enforcement. After seeing him have to fiddle around with it to re-holster, I came to the conclusion it was a useless design for LEOs. I just have to find a good sample, first. 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! Yes, I thought it was cool too, that Mudgett stopped by RevolverGuy! 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. Thanks David! 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 Romans 13:4, If this is your first visit be sure to check out the frequently asked questions by clicking here. 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. At one point I had to have one in my collection. Phone Model: APX 6000 (NON-XE) / 8000 (NON-XE) MSRP: $84.99. Simultaneously, the breakfront holster virtually disappeared from the scene as well. 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. We now pick up the breakfrontsaga where we left off . For additional security, the holster uses a Pivot Guard that covers the back of the slide. The adoption of the Model 27 by these influential agencies secured even more business for Bianchi, which soon dominated the breakfront holster (indeed, the entire law enforcement leather goods) market. . I am guessing that I am the last police officer to ever carry the clam shell holster. from United States 4.6 out of 5 star rating (14 reviews) Quick View. Engineered to meet the needs of active law enforcement and military service members, Rapid Force features a secure Level 2 or Level 3 retention, a fast and intuitive draw, and extreme durability. Im thinking a Hi-Point would be OK in jackalope hide. Refer to pics for condition! Wow, what a great follow up in part 2. 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. Klarna. Nov 2, 2022. 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. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. The H901 is one of the few duty holsters that works with a spurless hammer and yet is still very secure. Most of our brass was retired LAPD, so we had the good fortune to go there. The customer service matches the product too (if you can believe that!). Its hard to know without seeing the holster, but Im going to take my best guess, and maybe it will be helpful. The arrogance of public officials must be curtailed. If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. Gould & Goodrich Gould and Goodrich Adjustable Tension Level 2 Leather Duty Holster. Does it look like thats possible? Quotes. Level 2 - Uses friction and a second method. 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. . 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. As always great article and I plan on getting your book soon. Then he let me borrow it over some days off so I could try it myself. 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 have owned a Ted Blocker swivel, for a 1911, and though its been a while, it was the most comfortable holster I used, and if worried about retention, Ted makes (or use to anyways, its been a few years) a interesting security strap system that is quick and secure. Our Price: $23.95 Now: $20.99. It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. 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. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out Gods wrath on the wrongdoer." Now, at 66, its just stories. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The strap prevented the gun from being rotated out the front until the unique,hidden thumb breakwas released by the user. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. This way when I stand it falls into place and rests there. 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. In 1985, the SWAT magazine holster test found a non-swivel version to be an excellent police holster. The markings on the back are 4S 357M 57 4. When LAPD used them (with revolvers), they lost several guns a week when the swivels broke. For more information, visit unclemikes.com or call 800-423-3537. Awesome article! I have my fathers, Stockton PD 1941-73, full belt rig with Jewett Clamshell w/38 Police Special. Hey Mike, if you ever get a chance I think a great review for fighting gunleather would be the old Safariland model 275. 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. I do not have a law enforcement back ground so this has been very educational for me. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. Thanks for adding to the story of the clamshell! 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. 2023 All Rights Reserved. Thanks Martin! I was not aware these dangerous holsters were even still made. Insured Priority Mail is $16.00. The C.A. Gould & Goodrich has made duty holsters for many years, and the K391 is a triple-retention successor to the classic models. The K391 is available for many of the popular duty pistols in use today. They were truly an innovation for carrying a 6 barrel revolver, which gave officers an inherently more accurate sighting radius. Overall this is a very cool vintage holster that would make a very cool addition to any collection. Level 1 - Only relies on friction. I love the "quality workmanship!". All times are GMT-6. Amazing craftmanship and excellent quality. Thanks for adding to the neat history of the clamshell story. 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. All that said, I do appreciate the research and history lesson. As I recall, you had to get it unsnapped, then rock the grip forward a little bit, then pull up a skoche, then swivel the grip back to push the muzzle through the front, then push the frame/cylinder out the front. Barney had one. They certainly make the cows happy, if not the traditionalists. Loved the article. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. When released, the Pivot Guard springs out of the way and will not accidentally snap backto prevent reholstering of the firearm. Vintage Clamshell Gun Holster Police. The Rogers Type I Paddle Holster was a leather-lined breakfront holster with a shell made from polymer (Kydex-type material). In the Judge, the metal cups that surrounded the cylinder added strength and helped the holster maintain its shape. The Jewett family married into the Stanroy family, and a collaboration resulted in Stanroy-marked clamshells that competed with Safety Speed. Holsters usually are rated at one of four different levels, with level four using multiple retention methods combined with friction. Good Condition! By hiding the release button from public view, and locating it in a place where access was naturally restricted by the trigger guard, the design made it difficult for someone who was not well-versed in the holsters operation to get it open. 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. Great Part II! Please see my other web gear and US Military Police auctions. Oh well, I was an old guy by then, so they pretty much let do my own thing. Fascinating and informative article, keep up the good work! Please call us and ask for expedite service. le-de-France: le drglement climatique, une situation "bouleversante" pour les agriculteurs. Durable, flexible leather is made to strict German specs. Many duty holster designs have come and gone. This seller consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped on time, and replied quickly to any messages they received. Never have used a swivel, but I have owned Hoyts and Nelson holsters when we exclusively carried revolvers. I don't know much about it. My son is a police officer in California and he is a good man as are all of the officers who he has the pleasure of working with. My dads old high ride has name and badge number stamped as you describe, which is cool. I bought one from Saftey Speed Montibello around 1982. breakfront. The safety strap which wrapped around the front of the WRATH helped to make it all work, as it did on the BOSS. Yet, the most damning problem with the clamshell holster is that it had a disturbing tendency to open up on its own, dumping the gun onto the ground. Please see the website at: http://www.vintagelacoppers.org, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. Larry Mudgett #15467. Thank you for the article, I never knew about their history. Sad to hear these are no longer available. FOR ORDER STATUS & QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL (956) 744-3219 - 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM USA CENTRAL TIME. For those interested: http://aenelson.hostcentric.com/index.php?cPath=27_40_56_62. While the original Rapid Force Duty Holster was built to endure the roughest aspects of duty, our LVL 2 Slim is a durable option for unmarked and off-duty scenarios. Yes, the Hoyt makes a neat pop when you pull off a great draw. I Ordered on July 18th and received on August 4th. Filter by Brand Carry Type Function Holster Ride Holster Series Retention Level Security Mechanism Showing 1-20 of 127 Sort by Most Popular 7360 - 7TS ALS/SLS Mid-Ride Duty Holster $85.75 $209.00 575 IWB Holster GLS Pro-Fit Holster $72.50 Designed for 9mm P10, fits similar small compact models up to 6.25" Black leather Swivel for easy draw standing or seated It looks like they wear plain black, polished leather with nickel (silver) snaps or plain black with velcro. Thank you for the point out to AE Nelson Leather Company! At a time when major agencies like the CHP had already traded their clamshells for breakfront designs, the LAPD stood by their old favorite. 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. It was$200! Sorry for being long winded. Pre-Owned. 1978. 1945) operated out of Montebello, California, and became the giant in the clamshell holster business, producing them into the early 1990s. The holsters can also be had in a variety of colors other than black to match a tactical teams uniforms. Is it for a 4 gun with a big frame? SPECIFICATIONS Right Hand fit for Glock 43. Known for high-quality concealment and competition holsters, Blade-Tech also offers top-notch duty holsters. I mean, grab the grip and just raise that thing like you were just holding at your side. I do have a swivel holster from Nelson Leather company, but it is a different type than the ones I have seen on the L.A. guys. 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. Thanks for the info. $134.00. After a brief flirtation with Bucheimer top draw swivel holsters in the early-to-mid 1960s proved unsatisfactory, the LAPD returned to the clamshell in the late 1960s and issued them well into the 1970s. Vintage Alfonsos Brown Leather IWB Holster for Colt 1911 5" Browning Hi Power. The Model 27 stayed in the Bianchi catalog for many years after the Judge was introduced, and remained popular in its own right, but the Judge was the new high water mark in breakfronts and found favor with many federal, state and municipal agencies. The most obvious was a fast and unobstructed presentation of the gun. And that didnt just look cool . In its day, the breakfront was perhaps the most popular police duty holster of all. 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Please email or call us to add this for you. I finally settled on a Hoyt reverse cant for my K frame. 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. Im glad I got to see these holsters being used. Carried that until I retired in 2010. 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. One might even be an old Hoyt, but the others are shoemakers. 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. 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. Mine was a LH Safety Speed swivel, purchased in the late 70s. Thanks, A.E. 1955. The Berns-Martin holster was closed to incorporate a muzzle plug that was used for support and positioning of the muzzle. Thanks! Burglar spent the rest of his life in prison. One small correction in that you can still get a breakfront made today from the AE Nelson company. Back. It is by far the best holster I have ever owned. This holster is beyond what I was hoping for! All rights reserved. He also wrote the "Tactical Analysis" column at Police1.com for 8 years. Please email or call us to add this for you. As retired Law Enforcement, I conceal carry daily and have used this [ST17] holster for 30 years. 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. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Stay tuned! Case Shape: Fitted. 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? 1965. Safety Speed also produced that one. The only commercially available breakfronts that I know of are copies of the old Hoyt design, from AE Nelson Leather Company. Even with agencies that issued everything, the revolver was where the most predominant form of personalization took place. The design required . 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. These holsters are available for a broad range of firearms, and they are customizable for duty belt size, color and light/laser attachments. I bought a high rise clam shell and then switched to the low slung swivell which put my Sig level with my hand. Alfonsos J21 Plain Black Leather Suede Lined Open Top Holster For Colt .45 . . In comparison, the Bianchi Model 27 was produced using tooling and methods that allowed for mass production. Los Angeles Police US Clark Pistol Revolver Gun Leather Holster 38 Parent 6 RM 510.92 RM 161.80 shipping or Best Offer Industries (located in Dulce, New Mexico), had the notable distinction of producing clamshells for the LAPD under contract, beginning in the late 1960s. Motorola APX6000 Holster Belt Case BASKET WEAVE Black Leather Duty Belt Holder Rotating Belt Clip Heavy Duty. Thanks for taking the time to research all this, then sharing it with us. . There are four methods of retention: straps, trigger guard locks, flaps, and friction. 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 Featured collection Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement $144.00 J Belt - 1.5" Wide $95.00 #1 Lifeline Shoulder Rig $265.00 A nice touch! I was a street cop on LAPD in the late 60s thru the early 80 s. This belt holster features a non-slip rubberized finish and button cutouts for easy access to all functions and controls on your iPhone. Safariland 762 Radio with Swivel Holder - STX. It uses a rotating hood and an anti-blade device to help secure the gun from an offenders grab. Police Bookshelf. As for being in the same place everytime it has a block that keeps it from rotating backward. Safariland & Bill Rogers: The Rise of the Modern Security Holster, American Handgunner Magazine, July-August 2016, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/. 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. Copies of the Bulletin came with a letter from J Edgar Hoover. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. First, the holster body had to be longer than necessary, which could lead to interference when sitting. 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! Great holster though. Tim Dees, now writing as a plain old forum member, his superpowers lost to an encounter with gold kryptonite. 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. In the WRATH, the polycarbonate spine was replaced by features which accomplished the same goals without the extra weight and bulk. . Back in 1973, former FBI agent and police instructor Bill Rogers started designing and building some excellent duty holsters that incorporated improved retention capabilities. View all posts by Mike. 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! Hoyt was happy to personalize the rigs by stamping your name and employee#/badge on the back of the holster. We wont see the likes of it again. NYPD lost 3 per day!. Anyone use or familiar with the Ted Blocker swivel holsters? Id like to have one just for the sake of having one, but certainly would never allow it to be issued for real use. Also, the inside surface is left undyed, to prevent CHP tans from turning black. 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. Im glad you hung onto it. But good ones. I always thought it was a brown holster a guy had dyed by the local shoe repair. The swivel is an outdated, very dangerous holster. As popular as they were, the clamshell holsters had weaknesses that couldnt be ignored. The notch they started making in the later models made it so much easier. Rogers accepted the deal and updated the WRATH with a few cosmetic changes, to create the Safariland Model 275. 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.