Last Friday I had a rare partial weekend off.

So after visiting a local winery, the country road ended up by a small town pawn shop.

Well, busman's holiday you know, went in just to see what they had. Firearms were pretty scare, but in the display case an old holster caught my eye.

The brand was Safety Speed, out of Montebello California. Black in color, thick leather, a modified clamshell design, and the front of the holster open.

It is marked "Medium Frame" 4.

It has a retention strap that goes across the front of the holster, does not come across the hammer.

While it says medium frame, I tried a K frame and L frame and they both are loose, and could be drawn with the strap in place. My N frame model 57 fits well and is not loose.

I know this company is out of business. I found one note from 2009 stating they had be bought up a few years back, the only reference I could find.

For $15.00 I think I did OK.

It does appear to be set up as part of duty belt.

Ya just never know what you're gonna find in a pawn shop.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Indeed Safety Speed was a vigorous competitor with its version of the Bianchi M27 Break Front. Paul Boren there improved it significantly, and is the originator of the "jacket style hanger" that allows/ed the Ike jacket to be zipped up with the holster still on the outside. Dead standard even today, Paul's patent unfortunately for him, was too narrowly drawn to help him any. Damned clever and the best of its era. Break fronts themselves were dealt a crippling blow by the semi-front opening holster popularised by GnG; and killed off completely by the auto pistol.

Safety Speeds are well made and well thought-out. Notable for the odd needle shape used, which left a triangular needle hole for every stitch.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I wore one in the 1960-1970 era, (black basket weave). IIRC mine was a "Berns-Martin" manufacture ?