Fighting Leather: The Breakfront, Part I, The Pachmayr Aluminum Competition Speedloader, retention level standards that Rogers created, sold his holster company to Safariland in 1985, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/, http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/vertbelt.html. I suspect it was operator error, which does not mean it was not a good holster just not a good holster for you. Thanks, A.E. The inventor of the clamshell holster was Mr. Frank C. Jewett, whose patent for the design was granted on 10 October 1933. 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. Riley, Ive got another project in the works that I think youre gonna like! Prescott, AZ. Wow, thank you! or Best Offer. We now pick up the breakfrontsaga where we left off . Pretty sure I stuffed my gun into my waistband on more than one occasion rather than reholster. The leather-Kydex laminate WRATH was a breakfront design with a closed muzzle at the bottom. 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. I hope youll stick around and check out the other great stories here on RevolverGuy. We all had nick names it was a street cop thing. My dads old high ride has name and badge number stamped as you describe, which is cool. Only the top draws remain, and theyre usually made of synthetics,like those that Rogers ushered in. Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement, You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our, ENTER TO WIN > Free Gun Friday for your chance to WIN the SIG Sauer P320 AXG Legion and Black Hills HoneyBadger Ammo, Holsters That Limit Gun Grabs Without Limiting Draw, Law Enforcement Guns & Gear For Fall 2014, The Premier Body Armor Vertx Collaboration Adds More Options, The Leather Holster Worn by Kevin Costner in the Silverado Movie, 30 of the Best Guns & Gear Launched at SHOT Show 2023, VIDEO: Police Snipers Train for Super Bowl LIV With .50 BMG, More, The MAUSER 98 125th Anniversary Limited-Edition Series, FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol, Police Sidearms: The Handguns of Americas 10 Largest Departments, Black Creek Labs MRX Bronco, TRX Bronco Hunter Rifles, CMP Surplus Ammo Coming Soon in M2 Ball, .30 Carbine & More, Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider, 5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload, FIRST LOOK: Colt CBX Precision Chassis Rifle Ready to Compete & Win, 5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight, Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine, Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters, IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits, Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level. The Safety Speed Holster company (est. Hopefully hell become a regular and share some of his experience in these pages. A few years before I retired, I returned to Patrol. 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. The king isnt dead. Vintage Tex Shoemaker NJSP Discontinued NJ State Police Holster For HK P7M8 LFT. In the mid-1970s, Rogers wore many hats as a former FBI agent, a world class competition shooter, and the owner/operator of the newly-established Rogers Shooting School. They were discontinued awhile ago but you can still find them on ebay. Carried it for years as my father before me and only retired it when we went to semi autos in 1990s. I bought a high rise clam shell and then switched to the low slung swivell which put my Sig level with my hand. 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. FEATURES Full grain genuine leather handcuff holder Will fit one pair of handcuffs The holder is a BELT CLIP . 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. It is a piece of history. At one point I had to have one in my collection. We wont see the likes of it again. 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 Thank you for the point out to AE Nelson Leather Company! But thanks so much!!! Gould & Goodrich Gould and Goodrich Adjustable Tension Level 2 Leather Duty Holster. FFL Fax: 866-721-8691. I carried the standard 4 inch smith with a safety speed clam shell. 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. For more information on this holster, visit gouldusa.com or call 800-277-0732. I have a good source to help me find some . 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. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Tell your friends! I have seen some level II and level III swivel holsters designed for motor officers that were outstanding in design and quality. Opens in a new window or tab. He jacked a round in while I yelled to stop, but I had my S&W in my hand instantly and fired first at 70 ft. 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. I retired from Newport Beach PD, but attended LAPDs academy in 1980. ; ^ ). C $107.38. One Lt. told me I couldnt carry like this but our manual still allowed us a Smith & Wesson, Colt, or Ruger Revolver. Yup, hadnt been updated in years! Add to Cart Compare. I still carry a custom "swivel hoster" with a 5 inch drop. However, they were not alone in the business. Great department, great people. 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? Thanks. I bought my own clamshell around 1970 or so and used it every day on patrol. 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. Vintage Leather POLICE BELT Jay Pee. 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. Dont know where it came from. Thanks, Mike, I have a question about my 1962 revolver. 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. For those interested: http://aenelson.hostcentric.com/index.php?cPath=27_40_56_62. Holsters were as varied as the catalogs from which they came. 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. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Los Angeles Police US Clark Pistol Revolver Gun Leather Holster 38 Parent 6 RM 510.92 RM 161.80 shipping or Best Offer Jordan, William H. No Second Place Winner. 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. CopsPlus Police Supply. Great holster though. Anyone who makes holsters for one of my favorite Westerns ( Cowboys and Aliens) is ok in my book. No hangups at all. In an effort to quantify these improvements, Rogers created a testing protocol in 1975 that awarded retention "levels" to holsters. 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! Grove Gun Shop Product Details. For more information, visit unclemikes.com or call 800-423-3537. Refer to pics for condition! Perhaps the only thing worse than being shot in the line of duty is being shot with your own weapon. Our current lead-time for new orders is 4-9 weeks for most items. 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. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Using the companys popular Automatic LockingSystem (ALS), the Model 6360holster from Safariland is one of the most popular holsters in service today. It looks like they wear plain black, polished leather with nickel (silver) snaps or plain black with velcro. It also could not be pulled straight up or from the rear. After seeing him have to fiddle around with it to re-holster, I came to the conclusion it was a useless design for LEOs. MSRP: $38.00. 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. Box 69, Coupeville, WA 98239-0069. For more information, visit daraholsters.com or call 919-665-5316. Designed for 9mm P10, fits similar small compact models up to 6.25" Black leather Swivel for easy draw standing or seated These are Good/New Condition. Rogers accepted the deal and updated the WRATH with a few cosmetic changes, to create the Safariland Model 275. 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! The only officer I've seen wear one was on of the Compton Schools PD officers. I mean, grab the grip and just raise that thing like you were just holding at your side. Only difference was he switched to a S&W 357 Magnum- Next one wasnt going to prison. The design required . Countless officers owe their livesat least in partto this holster. Reholstering a gun in a clamshell holster could be an awkward affair, that usually involved two hands. 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. 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. Great holster. The customer service matches the product too (if you can believe that!). This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Awesome article! View all posts by Mike. Carried that until I retired in 2010. Overall this is a very cool vintage holster that would make a very cool addition to any collection. 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. I believe they were the finest revolver duty holsters ever made. It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. The SW602 swivel duty holster is leather lined with built-in sight tracks and an adjustable barrel-tension device.