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Old 07-22-2009, 10:39 PM
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LoboGunLeather LoboGunLeather is offline
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Bill Jordan (US Border Patrol prior to WW2, US Marine Corps during WW2, returned to US Border Patrol after WW2, retired a a senior inspector of that organization) was known as a law enforcement officer, innovator in firearms (S&W Model 19 and .41 magnum developments for law enforcement applications) and leather (collaborated with Don Hume in the "Border Patrol" holster and "River Belt" products). Fantastic career and contributions! Wrote the book "No Second Place Winner", detailing his experiences and advice on guns, gear, and gunfighting; still recommended reading.

Jordan literally "rode the river" back in the days when Border Patrol agents lived and worked on an assigned sector for weeks on end without relief, provided only a small salary, a shack to call home, a couple of horses, and a Thompson submachinegun to deal with smugglers! There were only the most primitive radios, none of which were portable. Transportation was almost always via horseback. Encounters with smugglers were sudden, seldom with warning, and frequently deadly.

I had the opportunity many years ago to spend a day on the range at Quantico, Virginia including a lecture and shooting demonstration by retired Inspector Bill Jordan. Long, tall, laconic Texan that he was, he seemed almost casual as he drew and fired repeatedly, cutting playing cards in half on a target stand 7 yards away. Repeatedly, Mr. Jordan recorded speeds of under 1/3 second to draw and fire on a silhouette target, reacting to a signal given from behind him with no warning whatsoever.

Mr. Jordan's design for the "Border Patrol" holster became pretty much the standard for American law enforcement use during the 1960's and later. Drop-loop design, steel-reinforced drop angled out to provide maximum access to the grip, modest forward cant, with retention strap and snap. Don Hume Leather Goods of Miami, OK produced these for many years, along with Jordan's "River Belt" design.

S.D. Myres Saddlery, El Paso Saddlery, Bucheimer-Clark, Bianchi, Safariland and others all made competing products. Eventually, the thumb-break development ended the days of the Border Patrol design, probably about the mid 1980's at the latest.

There are literally thousands of these holsters in existence, and they turn up regularly on eBay. I would suggest searching using "Hume", "Don Hume", and other variations. You should be able to find something for your needs within a reasonable period of time.

Don Hume of Miami, Oklahoma continues to produce top-quality products at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, like all manufacturers, they have dropped from production many fine products that some of us would be happy to order, if available.
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