Perhaps the only thing worse than being shot in the line of duty is being shot with your own weapon. Free shipping for many products! I packed them for 7 years. The advantage to the design was that a full and uninterrupted grip could be achieved on the gun while it was in the holster. 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. F/S Vintage Jaypee Military or Police Swivel Holster for S&W k frame revolvers with 4 inch barrels with 12 round ammo loops for 38 special or .357 magnum. . Pretty sure I stuffed my gun into my waistband on more than one occasion rather than reholster. In an effort to quantify these improvements, Rogers created a testing protocol in 1975 that awarded retention "levels" to holsters. 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. Glad you enjoyed it. . All times are GMT-6. But thanks so much!!! All that said, I do appreciate the research and history lesson. LAPD 6" Clam Shell Holster Adam-12. I used to carry my 5 Model 27 (yes Im a Skeeter fan) in a Bianchi D27 as it gave the most protection from brush with the fastest access I could find. 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. Hello Mike: Like the other readers, I really enjoyed the history on how the clamshell holster came to be. The MSRPs forthese holsters start at $108. A nice touch! For more information on this holster, visit gouldusa.com or call 800-277-0732. If youre looking for an argument youve come to the wrong place, because I wont allow it here. Thanks for your hard work. The notch they started making in the later models made it so much easier. Vintage Holster German Police Swivel Pivot Walther P5/P9 Black Leather RH Pre-Owned $19.99 sgsdepot (19,221) 99.7% Buy It Now +$6.00 shipping 8 watchers Sponsored Vintage JAY PEE NY Police Duty Holster For 4" Model 10 Revolver Swivel NYPD Pen Brand New $154.00 jmar8944 (7,138) 99.9% Buy It Now +$8.30 shipping 2 watchers Sponsored Known for high-quality concealment and competition holsters, Blade-Tech also offers top-notch duty holsters. 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 MSRP starts at $110. SPECIFICATIONS Right Hand fit for Glock 43. I worked for a suburban SoCal department adjacent to LAPD. '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 FOR SALES INQUIRIES (956) 436 -4888. They used to carry PR-24s; maybe still do, but mostly converted to the ASP. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Open the tools menu in your browser. Fabulous quality. This page was generated at 06:57 AM. The inventor of the clamshell holster was Mr. Frank C. Jewett, whose patent for the design was granted on 10 October 1933. Gould & Goodrich Leather Pager Holder Model 614. 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. Aker Leather Swivel Radio Holder for Motorola XTS 3000 Radios $74.00 to $78.00 $59.20 to $62.40 Add to Cart Compare LawPro #NY083 LawPro Nylon Shoulder Mic Holder $12.02 Add to Cart Compare Aker Leather #LP577 Aker Leather Universal Radio Holder $47.00 to $49.00 $37.60 to $39.20 Add to Cart Compare Safariland #LP005 The LAPD had just switched to the shorter guns in 1969 (which were neutered to remove the single action capability, like all LAPD revolvers starting in that year), so the characters who portrayed them on TV would too, and it made sense they would carry the guns in clamshell holsters, which by this time had become an LAPD icon. 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 !! No breaking down and then out and up. Rudy's lifetime experience with leather sets his apart from all the rest, his experience goes into each and every treasured piece of leather art. 89 members and 33755 guests. The holster would beat your leg to death if you didnt hold it when you ran. Request a quote for the most accurate & reliable non-lethal training, Here are more product reviews as I continue my journey around the more than 13 miles of exhibits at SHOT Show, The reinforced area around the trigger guard combined with an almost complete elimination of exterior flexmakes this product more secure than anything I have seen for a duty holster, A police officer encourages open carry citizens to reconsider open carry and understand the tactical advantages of concealed carry, Take a quick trip with us to view some of the newest firearms, gear and gadgets that will be on display at SHOT Show. . I really miss the term decoy snap. So many officers had these when I was completing my internship in 1987. 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. I will wear it with pride as long as I am able to!! speaking of LAPD what type of duty gear do they wear? judged. Did they replace the outer part of the shell, or just reshape it when you went to the 686? Great Part II! Specializing in hard to find vintage gun holsters, ammo accessories, gun belts and gear with worldwide shipping. 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. David, thanks for sharing the story! $46.00. All rights reserved. Shipping will be $15 within the USA We all had nick names it was a street cop thing. Oh well, I was an old guy by then, so they pretty much let do my own thing. 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. There really is a lot of interesting history here. Police duty belts, holsters and pouches all at discounted prices. But it was a great piece of gear. Oddly, none of the brass complained, as far as I know. As for the Clam Shell (I have one in my collection), LAPD Motors used to use them. Holsters were as varied as the catalogs from which they came. Glad youre enjoying it! Our current lead-time for new orders is 4-9 weeks for most items. However, they were not alone in the business. This is a big part of the reason that these holsters were disapproved for duty use in the CHP by the early 1960s. The clam shell may not have been perfect, but it worked for me as well as hundreds of other skilled police officers. The current crop of synthetic holsters are superior tools. Great holster. German Police Surplus Shoulder Holster, Used. Vintage Leather POLICE BELT Jay Pee. The H901 is one of the few duty holsters that works with a spurless hammer and yet is still very secure. The best Gun Leather Products for Shoulder Holsters, Law Enforcement, Western Rigs, Concealed Holsters, Police Duty Rigs. The closed muzzle achieved a similar effect to the muzzle lock on the BOSS, without use of the polycarbonate spine. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. Mine opens just past 90 degrees, so one handed reholstering was pretty easy, if not fast. CopQuest (800) 728-0974. What part of the U.S. were you policing in? It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Opens in a new window or tab. A high-quality duty holster can literally make the difference between life and death, for you and for the people you protect. As for being in the same place everytime it has a block that keeps it from rotating backward. They certainly make the cows happy. Classic Mike! If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. Material: Leather. View all posts by Mike. Grove Gun Shop Product Details. Add to Cart Compare. Original West German PP/PPK Police Swivel Holster Black Leather. The SW602 features a level 2 security thumb break and a 6" drop. Black leather with wear. $1500 by the time it was done. 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. MSRP: $38.00. Wow, what a great follow up in part 2. My favorite is the Don Hume model H901. Industries (located in Dulce, New Mexico), had the notable distinction of producing clamshells for the LAPD under contract, beginning in the late 1960s. The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. The customer service matches the product too (if you can believe that!). I left before autos came in. The Chief had wanted him gone for years and that was the latest ploy. ; ^ ). 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. I've been in and out of this job since 1983 and was looking for something more comfortable but would still retain the weapon. Ted Blocker Holsters Official Site - The Finest in Leather Holsters . Our selection includes holsters for pistols and revolvers, including models with weapon lights, as well as holsters for tasers. 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. It's built to last with a reinforced solid-core polycarbonate frame and a rotating belt clip for vertical or horizontal use. This belt holster features a non-slip rubberized finish and button cutouts for easy access to all functions and controls on your iPhone. The absolute monarchy of the Service Revolver has been supplanted by the Polymer Parliament. 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! We wont see the likes of it again. Im glad I got to see these holsters being used. Buy Law Enforcement & Police Duty Holsters Online on Black Hills Leather I retired it in 86 when we switched to the Sig P220. Durable, heavy-duty construction in a lightweight configuration. 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. The Model 7360 is a new holster from Safariland that is similar in configuration to the 6360. I liked mine quite a bit and still have it. In 1985, the SWAT magazine holster test found a non-swivel version to be an excellent police holster. Spring Cleaning Clearance: 10% OFF on Shoulder Holsters. Duty Holsters Holsters designed for use in professional law enforcement. 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. 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. The Safety Speed offered an improvement with its cutout trigger pocket, but the Model 2800 took a different approach. The tiger shark wears like iron, Ive had a belt and IWB holster made of it for the last 18 years and it is nearly indestructible plus it wont melt. It also could not be pulled straight up or from the rear. Level 2 - Uses friction and a second method. The holsters use a Pivot Guard to lock the gun in at a second point. See our pictures and if you have any questions please call Justin or Ben at Olde West (530)243-8334. Theres a 1970s speedloader article that might bring back a few memories! 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. Two-way Radio Carry Cases - Motorola Solutions Ha! In the post-war era, the design continued to grow in popularity, particularly in Southern California, the heart of clamshell holster production. Anyone use or familiar with the Ted Blocker swivel holsters? One of my sergeants used one of these for a while (we were issued S&W M66 at the time). I bought a high rise clam shell and then switched to the low slung swivell which put my Sig level with my hand. $20.89. Learn more Add to cart Star Seller. 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). Richard, welcome aboard! 2010. 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. The closed muzzle presented two complications. Holsters. Introducing the Swivel Drop Leg from Alien Gear Holsters I just have to find a good sample, first. Nor was Ace being disrespectful of police generally, or California police officers specifically. Please email or call us to add this for you. But no agency was so fully committed to the clamshell as the LAPD. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Safariland 070 SSIII. Your duty holster keeps your trusty sidearm close at hand; it can and should be as unique as you are. Second, as Jordan noted, the closed muzzle imparted more drag on the barrel in the finishing moves of the draw, which could cause overshooting and alignment errors. To help overcome this weakness, some enterprising officers (and later, manufacturers)peened the rivet and installeda cotter pin to prevent a separation. Adam-12 (WWMD??) 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!!! There are currently 33844 users online. Uncompromising Security I need help from any officer,specifically L.A.P.D., that has knowledge about swivel holsters.I mention L.A. because I have seen the kind that some of their officers wear and i want to know the name of the company that makes that particular holster. Get Yours Now. 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. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out Gods wrath on the wrongdoer." TAU GX4 9MM 3 BLK 2-10RD MFT BW HOLSTER | Grove Gun Shop Thanks for adding to the story of the clamshell! Thats kind of you to say, and Im glad you enjoyed it! The 2800 was an open muzzle design, with the leading edge of the holster split along its entire front. 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. #32936 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police - 1975-10-27 / 2010-12-29. Menu. Dang eliminator, your making me feel old with the clam shell comment. Justin. I did have a Beretta .380 custom for off duty. The rig uses a rotating hood to secure the weapon and a separate physical barrier to deter a suspect from snatching the gun from the holster. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The varieties of grips, wood and synthetic, allowed one to make a statement on what fit their hand the best. For those interested: http://aenelson.hostcentric.com/index.php?cPath=27_40_56_62. Theyre moresecure,durable, economical, efficient, and easy to care for, but lack the appearance and charm of their leather forebearers. The effective requirement to reholster with two hands was a big weakness of the clamshell. I was a police officer for Vallejo PD from 1981 until 2010. when I started most of the old timers had clam shells and I bought one as soon as I could. Barney had one. Instead of wrapping the leather pocket over the top of the trigger guard, the Judge left this area open. Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. Now, at 66, its just stories. Vintage Clamshell Gun Holster Police. Wolfe Publishing Company. QUICK DETACH FL SWIVEL SET - whitestoneordnance.com Combining speed with security. Id like to have one just for the sake of having one, but certainly would never allow it to be issued for real use. I have a good source to help me find some . Thanks for adding to the neat history of the clamshell story. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. Drop Holster Drawbacks - Guns and Ammo and manufacturers. Your email address will not be published. Gotta love pilot humor! I had a model 28 S&W and a buddy gave me his custom made break front that he had never used. Indeed. Youre welcome! Duty Gear products from CopQuest | (800) 728-0974 I do not have a law enforcement back ground so this has been very educational for me. They had their warts, but so did the other police duty holsters of the 1930s to 1980s (and beyond). Carried it for years as my father before me and only retired it when we went to semi autos in 1990s. Radio & Pager Holders | Cases and Holders - CopsPlus I had heard about them from other officers. I mean, grab the grip and just raise that thing like you were just holding at your side. Tim Dees, now writing as a plain old forum member, his superpowers lost to an encounter with gold kryptonite. Basketweave, plain and matte finishes are all available. It was$200! I know about 3 of the guys I work with have 'em. . I appreciate any response and or help!! Were having fun here and Im glad youre enjoying the ride! Quick view. The Wondernine Wars of the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s were soon in full swing, and when the dust settled, the revolver was mostly history as a primary duty gun. Your email address will not be published. Also great for retention, all you had to do was hold it shut or swing it up and trap it against your rib cage. Pachmayer rebuilt it for me. 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. Beinfield Publishing. As such, they shared the faults of all swivels. it was easy for the pushing motion of the index finger to continue after the gun had been drawn . We now pick up the breakfrontsaga where we left off . I retired from Newport Beach PD, but attended LAPDs academy in 1980. In order to carry it, I had to qualify with it using only one hand to put it away. Im thinking a Hi-Point would be OK in jackalope hide. 2023 All Rights Reserved. Blue Book Publications. I saw a swivel holster on an old rerun of Andy Griffith the other day. The Berns-Martin Company was a small outfit, and made their holsters by hand, so the output was always limited. Fighting Leather: The Clamshell Holster - RevolverGuy.Com I loved that holster and was never the victim of any of its disadvantages. 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. Furthermore, the tightly-fitted interior of the holster helped to prevent cylinder rotation, which made the Jewett design resistant to accidental discharges while the gun was still in the holster. 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 feature swivel belt loops and are designed for XTS Series Radios. Smith & Wesson SWMP1BS M&P Black MAGIC Combo Edge Knife . it was cool. 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. 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. Bianchi, John. Although the innovative Type I had security features, it was a concealment rig for plainclothes investigators. My nick name was Jump-in Joe. Going down, he popped that Jewett and fired five shots, four hits. The trigger guard lock was also omitted on the WRATH, but the routing of the safety strap behind the trigger guard, and the cylinder recess in the holster body, provided a similar protection from an upward draw / snatch attempt. Buyer's Club $11.25 Non-Member $12.50 Was $24.99 . For more information,visit blackhawk.com or call 800-379-1732. I bought my own clamshell around 1970 or so and used it every day on patrol. 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. One of them, an obscure outfit named Jicarilla Apache Tribal (J.A.T.) The good folks at Ted Blocker nailed it . But good ones. 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. Best Design ROCOTACTICAL Universal Radio Holder, Basketweave Radio Pouch for Duty Belt 569 $18 90 Theres probably still a few left on the streets! 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. Riley, Ive got another project in the works that I think youre gonna like! Bravo, Sir! Thought my pilot application would be shredded. Rating: Bianchi Accumold Elite 7920 Defender II Level 2 Duty Holster. All times are GMT-6. The gun had to be carefully placed in the proper position, and the two halves squeezed together until they latched. I had no idea that the clamshell holster was still being used by some officers in the early years of the 21st Century! Despite all of these issues, the clamshells remained very popular for decades. Thank you Sir! Holsters designed for use in professional law enforcement. I was a cop in San Francisco, 80-87. Thanks for your service on LASD. When I was in, there were still guys using them. Alfonsos J21 Plain Black Leather Suede Lined Open Top Holster For Colt .45 . 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. 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. One of the problems with the Berns-Martin, Bianchi Model 27, and Safety Speed designs was the closed muzzle configuration of these holsters. If the leather is dry, make sure to use a little neatsfoot oil to preserve it. 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. 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. Duty Holsters - Holsters - Police The Safariland 070 SSIII holster is likely the most successful retention holster ever fielded by law enforcement. Im working on a crossdraw article where Lewis will get a mention! 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. ; ^ ). 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 design required . finds relevant news, identifies important training information, The two problems: "A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself.". 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.