They were discontinued awhile ago but you can still find them on ebay. 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. Jay-Pee | sku: 28CS. I saw Larry Mudgetts post below, good to know hes out therethe mans a legend! An additional device called the Sentry further secures the weapon in the holster. 2010. First, the holster body had to be longer than necessary, which could lead to interference when sitting. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. 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. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Officer Mike Leverett, Head Firearms Instructor at Chicago PD "Your holster saved my life! it was cool. You provide great detail and photos. $30.62. A password will be sent to your email address. I just have to find a good sample, first. Unfortunately by the time the holster designs had benefitted from that long development process, the revolver era was just about over. I had a model 28 S&W and a buddy gave me his custom made break front that he had never used. Vintage Alfonsos Brown Leather IWB Holster for Colt 1911 5" Browning Hi Power. Gould & Goodrich Leather Universal Radio Strap Model 654. They certainly make the cows happy. Classic Mike! Police Holsters Product Originals Meet one of the most reinforced and robust duty holsters Safariland has ever designed The reinforced area around the trigger guard combined with an almost complete elimination of exterior flex makes this product more secure than anything I have seen for a duty holster Simultaneously, the breakfront holster virtually disappeared from the scene as well. As great as technology and human advancement can be too many things in our world today are made to be disposable but Ted Blocker isnt one of them. While placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw was a commonplace practice during this era, and was encouraged by almost every popular police holster design of the 1940s through the early 1970s (such as the Jordan-style police holster), it created a special hazard in the clamshell holster. Minneapolis, MN. Would it be appropriate to carry a Python in a holster made of the same, or is that some kind of fashion faux paus? Holsters by Carry Style. I never had to draw my gun prematurely as the clam shell was so fast that it was as if I always had my gun out. Mine was a LH Safety Speed swivel, purchased in the late 70s. I have several holsters from this company and all our top of the line in Quality. I was in heaven; they were all there. 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 7520 is a holster for electronic discharge weapons (EDW) only. The effective requirement to reholster with two hands was a big weakness of the clamshell. I packed them for 7 years. Thanks, Mike, I have a question about my 1962 revolver. "Respect for religion must be reestablished. Tell your friends! I still have 2 of them. I carried one my whole career. Cart. Slow down, Mr. Cosgrove. Thanks for your hard work. Bianchi, John. The swivel is an outdated, very dangerous holster. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. CopsPlus Police Supply. If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. They certainly make the cows happy, if not the traditionalists. $134.00. 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. The 4S could be shorthand for, Four-inch S&W or possibly four-inch, swivel. 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. Boston Leather . Vintage Leather POLICE BELT Jay Pee. This page was generated at 06:57 AM. I love the "quality workmanship!". The BOSS is credited as the first police security holster (earning a Level II designation under the retention level standards that Rogers created), and it was an instant hit. 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. For more information on this holster, visit gouldusa.com or call 800-277-0732. Belt Clip: Metal Belt Clip. Attached to this polycarbonate spine was a pocket for the gun that was made from a Kydex and leather laminate. Thanks for taking the time to research all this, then sharing it with us. This belt holster features a non-slip rubberized finish and button cutouts for easy access to all functions and controls on your iPhone. Pachmayer rebuilt it for me. By the time of the Bianchi Model 2800, most folks assumed the design features of the breakfront had reached a certain level of maturity where there wasnt a lot of room for improvement. I also thought it pretty cool to see the dump pouches in some of those photos. Black leather with wear. But it was a great piece of gear. I found a perfect condition Safety Speed Hi-ride for a 4 inch L frame on Ebay. 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. ), improved shape retention, the ability to use less expensive cuts of leather and cheaper tanning processes for the outer layer of leather, and improved rigidity for protection of the gun. Mine opens just past 90 degrees, so one handed reholstering was pretty easy, if not fast. . Material: Leather. Sad to hear these are no longer available. Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. 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. Yes, the Hoyt makes a neat pop when you pull off a great draw. Designed to last and proudly made in the USA. One can draw from a level III holster just as fast. 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. Happy to try and answer it! The Model 7360 is a new holster from Safariland that is similar in configuration to the 6360. Dont know where it came from. 2010? It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. The holster will last as long as your pistol. This holster is beyond what I was hoping for! The problem was exacerbated by some models that used aluminum shells, in lieu of the steel, to save weight. It, too, has its fans. I am guessing that I am the last police officer to ever carry the clam shell holster. 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. For more information, visit unclemikes.com or call 800-423-3537. Some kydex bender might be able to do something neat with this idea. Write it down for your family and keep it with the equipment so that it outlasts you. The Safariland 6285CHP holster was designed for the California Highway Patrol. The pic below was taken by my friend JayCee of his USAF issued M15. The K391 is available for many of the popular duty pistols in use today. 89 members and 33755 guests. But thanks so much!!! For most officers, the breakfront offered an ideal combination of speed, security, and ease of use, which made it the King of police duty holsters in the revolver era. The holster is rugged as hell. Please call us and ask for expedite service Swivel Holster Clip (PMLN7939) Swivel holster allows you to wear the radio on your belt, leaving your hands free for the job on hand. Alas, weve lost a bit of the fine art in sidearms today. $135.00 USD. I mean, grab the grip and just raise that thing like you were just holding at your side. . 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. Here is a look at some of the current duty holsters that offer increased weapon protection. Thanks Martin! Hopefully hell become a regular and share some of his experience in these pages. This tough duty holster from Safariland keeps your gun secure and accessible at all times. 18530 Mack Ave., Suite 499 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, Duty Holsters | Holsters | CopsPlus Police Supply, 6360 ALS STX Level III Plus UBL Duty Holster, 6365 ALS STX Level III Plus Belt Slide Drop Holster, ALS Mid-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster Model 6390, 6285 STX Tac Low Ride SLS Hooded Duty Holster, Low Ride SLS Hooded Duty Holster - Model 6285, 7360 7TS ALS Level III Retention Mid-Ride Holster, 6365 ALS Level III Plus Belt Slide Drop Holster, 6395 ALS Low-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, ALS STX Tac Belt Slide Holster with SLS - Model 6367, 7390 7TS ALS Mid-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, AccuMold Holster - Model 7105 Cruiser Duty, 7365 7TS ALS Level III Retention Low-Ride Holster, 7280 7TS SLS MidRide Level II Retention Duty Holster, ALS Belt Slide Holster with SLS - Model 6367, Model 7520 7TS SLS EDW Clip-On Style Holster, Leather Double Retention Duty Holster Model 501, Phoenix Triple Retention Duty Holster Model T391, 7285 7TS SLS Low Ride Level II Retention Duty Holster, 7395 7TS ALS Low-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, The duty holster is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a law enforcement officer to own. If you know anything about the famous Lewis Holsters, Id love to read an article about it! I remember having a phone conversation with an employee. However, they were not alone in the business. I'm not much of a gun enthusiast, but I also wonder why anyone would want a swivel holster. Enjoyed the history. Very detailed and informative. Going down, he popped that Jewett and fired five shots, four hits. The varieties of grips, wood and synthetic, allowed one to make a statement on what fit their hand the best. Swivel Holster with cartridge loops. Show: Sort By: Items: Previous Page 1 2 Next Page View All Even with agencies that issued everything, the revolver was where the most predominant form of personalization took place. 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. Lexipol. Our Price: $23.95 Now: $20.99. Top of a closet, I find the complete evidence box including burglars gun! 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. NYPD lost 3 per day!. This is an N-frame (Large frame) revolver. Would you email me please? . $20.13. Swivel attachment keeps pistol in easy reach, no matter your position. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. Instead of wrapping the leather pocket over the top of the trigger guard, the Judge left this area open. 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. Add to Cart. I still have it. The Jewett family married into the Stanroy family, and a collaboration resulted in Stanroy-marked clamshells that competed with Safety Speed. This was due to several negligent discharges blamed on the holster. Sixguns By Keith. 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. One of the conditions of switching to auto pistols about 1986 as I recall was to give up the clam shell holster. BUCHEIMER CLARK HOLSTER PATROLMAN POLICE LEATHER SWIVEL B7A- 34W BLACK COLT Bucheimer B7A-34W Patrolman gun swivel holster. It has a built in retention system that requires you to turn in as you draw out. The Pro-3 Slim Line holster from Uncle Mikes offers a traditional thumb break combined with an internal locking system to increase the officers ability to retain the weapon during a disarming attempt. Full grain genuine leather, inside the waist band holster with clip. I always chuckled at those swivel holsters. . The Pro-3 can be had in a variety of finishes including plain nylon and basket weave. Refer to pics for condition! It was not hard to do once you knew how. The Rogers Type I Paddle Holster was a leather-lined breakfront holster with a shell made from polymer (Kydex-type material). The laminate produced by Rogers Holster Company offered many advantages over traditional leather construction, such as resistance to moisture (including water, blood, gasoline, etc. The best Gun Leather Products for Shoulder Holsters, Law Enforcement, Western Rigs, Concealed Holsters, Police Duty Rigs. The holster features the Grab-Resistant. I hope youll stick around and check out the other great stories here on RevolverGuy. Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. But, deep down, hes a wood and steel guy. Bianchi continued to improve and refine their breakfront designs for revolvers into the 1990s (changing materials, construction and features along the way), and even launched a breakfront designed for the 1911 semiautomatic pistol (the Model 3000 Auto Draw), but the Model 2800 was always the standard by which other breakfronts were . C. Rusty Sherick still makes one. Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. In an interview with RevolverGuy, Mr. Bianchi told us that the work performed by the in-house tool and die department (the magicians behind the scenes, according to Mr. Bianchi)to optimizethe machinery, tools, and processes for manufacturing the Model 27 was so exhaustive, that anyone else would have given up, because the reward wouldnt have been worth the effort.. It was$200! They probably produced more holsters of this design than any other company, and cemented their position as a leading manufacturer of police leather goods. well . Most of our brass was retired LAPD, so we had the good fortune to go there. 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. At a time when major agencies like the CHP had already traded their clamshells for breakfront designs, the LAPD stood by their old favorite. Hey Mike.really great article I stumbled acrossmy grown kids gave me the Adam-12 DVD set for my birthday.wow, what memories.I was with San Antonio PD, we were issued Safety Speed breakfronts out of the academy, really good and safe holster. Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement, SP100 Belt Loop for Safariland Duty Holsters, SP100 Duty Holster (Glocks and many others), SP100L Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) Tactical Lights, SP100H Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) High Ride, SP102 Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models), SP102L Duty Holster (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) Tac Light, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. 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. Polymer Parliament will henceforth be a permanent part of the lexicon here. Original Item: Made of heavy black leather construction. They took it down and totally polished and tuned everything. Several of us there carried in clamshell holsters. Keep Reading. 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. It would be interesting to know if the decoy snap accounted for any saves, wouldnt it? Concord, NH. Retired Oakland police officer, 39 yr vet law enforcement. It is simple to reholster one handed with proper technique. We do offer a $50 Rush Fee option if you need your order within two weeks. judged. One might even be an old Hoyt, but the others are shoemakers. From my experience in working with many officers from many states California police officers are some of the best trained and competent officers around. 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. Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. As such, they shared the faults of all swivels. Call Us (678) 814-4831 SIGN IN; SIGN OUT; CREATE ACCOUNT; MY ACCOUNT; WISHLIST (0) ; SHOPPING CART (0) ; 0 For more information,visit blackhawk.com or call 800-379-1732. But he didnt stop there, check out his site and youll be able to get holsters, belts, ammo and magazine holders made out of alligator, crocodile, tiger shark, emu, salmon (as in the fish), tegu lizard, monitor lizard, ringed lizard, hippopotamus, rhino, elephant, elephant trunk, elephant ear, cape buffalo (last four being trophy hides only) and one of Floridas best hated critter: Python. I was a cop in San Francisco, 80-87. I saw a swivel holster on an old rerun of Andy Griffith the other day. It was the fastest holster ever made. The absolute monarchy of the Service Revolver has been supplanted by the Polymer Parliament. Thanks for adding to the neat history of the clamshell story. All rights reserved. I've been in and out of this job since 1983 and was looking for something more comfortable but would still retain the weapon. Turned out I was right. Haha!!! I Ordered on July 18th and received on August 4th. It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. German Police Surplus Shoulder Holster, Used. The MSRP for these holsters is $72. For departments issuing the Night-Ops Xiphos weapon light, there is a SERPA holster that will accommodate that as well. Rating: Bianchi Accumold Elite 7920 Defender II Level 2 Duty Holster. I worked for a suburban SoCal department adjacent to LAPD. David, thanks for sharing the story! Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. warranty. These rigs use an internal rubber retention system combined with a rotating strap that is operated by the thumb during the draw. I saw some clamshells worn by LAPD vets. Thanks for visiting and sharing. 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. Thank you Sir! Did they replace the outer part of the shell, or just reshape it when you went to the 686? The Rogers WRATH (Weapon Retaining and Tactical Holster) advanced the breakfront art by simplifying and lightening the BOSS. I moved from California because of their politics, but I can assure you the police officers I worked with, I would have gone to war with any day. 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. Ace. Thanks for the article. 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 . These are a source of complaint for my poor wife and I have no real argument for my continued love for them. Rob, the stories bring life to the hardware! 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. I about broke it trying to figure out a way to sneak the gun out of it. Mace/Pepper Spray Holsters. We all had nick names it was a street cop thing. 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. When LAPD used them (with revolvers), they lost several guns a week when the swivels broke. Riley, Ive got another project in the works that I think youre gonna like! We also buy individual holsters or store inventory.. . 1965. speaking of LAPD what type of duty gear do they wear? All times are GMT-6. Besides, they had panache. Rogers accepted the deal and updated the WRATH with a few cosmetic changes, to create the Safariland Model 275. 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. Thats kind of you to say, and Im glad you enjoyed it! The mags had a dual spring system for constant feed rate so they never lost tension as the mags emptied. 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. Nelson, for continuing to make such iconic police equipment during these days when holsters are made of faux leather, space-aged plastics, and kydex! I loved that holster and was never the victim of any of its disadvantages. Our selection includes holsters for pistols and revolvers, including models with weapon lights, as well as holsters for tasers. Also the stud for the swivel was peened and had a cotter pin. Thanks for the article. Buyer's Club $29.69 Non-Member $32.99. Then he let me borrow it over some days off so I could try it myself. Were having fun here and Im glad youre enjoying the ride! When I came on board in L.A. we were issued a Shoemaker breakfront that I quickly replaced with the 2700 and then the Judge. 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. Lots of officers wanted that holster when I retired but I still have it.