I was in a gunshop and they had an old clam shell holster on a swivel that popped open when you pressed a hidden button. I can't remember the name but I searched it and found a "Safety Speed" clam shell rig that is identical. When closed it resembled a Berns-Martin holster. This one was fully tooled in a shallow but nice oak leaf pattern and was black. It was priced at $75 and functioned perfectly. I've seen them in movies before. Does anyone have one and is this one worth $75?

Wyatt,the clam shell holster was popular with LEO's back in the 1950's & '60's.Retention & restricting access to perps were the supposed benefits. Trying to get one back in your holster with one hand while restraining said perp with the other was,according to what I've read, a real trick.I have a very well written & researched article on clam shells-there were several makers with Safety Speed being,I think the most successful.They bought the patent from someone else-a guy named Jewett came up with the original design using aircraft aluminum for the frame.I own several but not a carved one-most are plain or basketweave & frequently those that were tan or brown to begin with have been blacked.I'd probably pay $75 for an original carved black holster but probably wouldn't if it started out tan or brown.The rare ones are those made for a 45 auto.If you get it,please show us a photo.I'll dig out that article.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426
NRA Endowment Life member

__________________
turnerriver

Here you go. I paid more for this one. I primarily kept it on my gun show table and the number of people who stopped to ask about it and experience it was amazing. I sold it to a gun show friend for less than I paid but more than you are being offered it for.
Bob

FWIW,I sold one that was plain black (died over original brown) here last year for $75. So yes,I think the price is fair.
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

I have one yet out in the garage. I think mine is for a 6" model 14. Plain black.

I've owned a couple over the years. One of them would occasionally pop open all on it's own accord... not a good thing.

__________________
A closed mouth gathers no foot

Clam shell holsters are one of my favorite "accessories" and I've got about a dozen, by Safety Speed, Jewett, and Hoffman.
If it's in good shape I'd pay $75 for it.

__________________
John

Can't provide a link to it as I believe that would be against forum rules but just noticed one on that big auction site. Looks to be for a 6" K-frame. Was converted from a swivel to a high ride belt mount... don't see that too often.

Mods... if even mentioning an active auction is against the rules then please delete this post. Thanks.

__________________
A closed mouth gathers no foot

If you would like to see these holsters in action just watch a few episodes of "Highway Patrol" with Broderick Crawford. Filmed in mid- to late 50's - all the patrolmen on the show use clamshell holsters - I had never seen one before this.

The series is usually broadcast in the middle of the night on some obscure channel. An added bonus is good views of some immaculate 50's cars. In a late-series episode there was a 1959 Desoto that looked to be about 40 feet long....

I think they used them on the Adam-12 television show with 6" K-38s and I think that LAPD used them also.

I actually have three of them, 2 on swivels and one that is more of a high ride belt model. I keep this one displayed on my home office wall.

I used one for about a year and it housed my 4" model 15. It was ok but turnerriver is 100% correct in trying to reholster, and hanging on to a perp was an adventure. My partner and I were in foot persuit once and his holster opened up and out came his 15. He had to stop and pickup his piece before he could continue, and the perp laughed all the way to his freedom for another day. Both of us switched them out for new "front breaks" that soon appeared.

__________________
Sierra 255
Ret. LEO/ NRA-LIFE

Just from seeing multiple photos and not in-person examination ... some came from the factory with un-dyed backs.

And... Highway Patrol.