I was watching an old re-run of Barney Miller this morning.
Noticed that Nick was wearing his revolver in a cross-draw
that looked like a Hunter Combat Action holster. The model
with the spring and opening at the rear of the holster. As I
watched I observed what some of the other detectives were
wearing. Good old show for holster watchers.

PS I know, I know, I have to get a life.

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In Omnia Paratus

PS I know, I know, I have to get a life.[/QUOTE]




Just one ?

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Too funny. But I must admit I've been watching those returns too. Hadn't really payed attention to the holsters. Now I have a reason to rewatch. Ha

I watched too and noticed how the actors “carried” their guns and most could not have drawn them if they had to. Barney’s gun was worn almost over the middle of his back.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I noticed that too. He probably never had to pull the gun.

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In Omnia Paratus

I need to get a life too, don't feel bad. I love me some Barney Miller.

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USAF AMMO

One of the best TV shows ever! Even in re-runs I've seen a dozen or more times before!

The detectives in my precinct during the 70's and 80's had these little holsters that barely held on to the model 36s they had on their belts. It was a wonder they never fell out. I guess between the little holsters, the cigars, raincoats and pinky rings that was the sign on a true NYPD detective. Oh yea I almost forgot about the cheap suits.

Seen that in the real world too.

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Certified Curmudgeon

I remember that show,but can't remember watching it much to know the actors names.

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Life is short,live it fully.

All of the detective/actors are still around except Jack Soo who
passed away during the run of the show.

Abe Vigoda, in his 90s, is even still around, in spite of the
rumors of his death, which are exagerated.

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In Omnia Paratus

No, actually, Abe passed away last year as did Ron Glass (Harris). Steve Landesberg (Dietrich) died of cancer a few years ago and Ron Carey (Levitt) is gone as well.

Boy do I miss the “Ol One Two”.

Yep. Only Barney himself and "Wojo" survive to this day.

I also love that show! Back in the late eighties I lived i Sedona AZ and worked in the meat department of a local grocerey store called Basha's. Abe vigota would come in all the time and buy meat and fish out of the case, I remember serving him many time's. He was always very polite and thankfull. I wonder if he still lives there..........Mark

Apparantly my information is a little out of date. Thanks.

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In Omnia Paratus

After spending 39 years working in the criminal justice system I only have one thing to say about Barney Miller-- The most realistic police show ever filmed!!!!!

Funny show. Watched it when it first aired and still watch the reruns. They just don't make shows like that anymore.

It was again rumored that Abe passed away on Jan. 26, 2016 at the age of 94.....but he looked 94 the first time he supposedly passed away so I'm not going to bet any money on it just yet.
I watched that show just to see him...he was funny!
We love Ya Abe,
Gary

Yep, agree. Today there is too much reliance on nudity, violence, and foul language to carry a show. The old ones relied on good writing and acting. Things have changed.

My 91 y/o uncle played handball w/Abe Vagoda in NY when they were all young. My uncle said Abe was the hairiest human he had ever seen, but a super nice guy.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Abe also has a meaty role in “The Godfather”.

A show that was ground breaking at the time in its use of nudity was NYPD Blue. Of course, they didn't show frontal nudity, but ol' Andy Sipowicz showed his bare buns a number of times...and there were a few females showing skin too. While it was the first of its day, it doesn't hold a candle to what you can see on network TV these days.

Reading some more about the holsters on Barney Miller,
on another forum someone said:

An old trick used by NYPD a left handed Detective (Barney Miller) would wear a right handed holster at 7 or 8 O'Clock on left side
with butt forward to be drawn with palm out.

Seems like a lot of trouble to avoid buying a left handed holster. Maybe they were hard to come by in those days.

Others said Barney Miller was the most authentic cop show
on tv.

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In Omnia Paratus

Two quick observations from an old cop from the 1970's thru 1990's:

1. On TV shows everything portrayed is for dramatic effect. Whether or not a firearm, holster, or method of carry is authentic or realistic in actual use is secondary to the dramatic effect.

2. Within days after something being portrayed on a popular TV cop show we always saw a young cop or two trying to copy it in real life.

My conclusion is that life will mimic art with some frequency.

The prop people were not too concerned about guns and holsters on Barney Miller. In a couple of episodes Barney would go into his office with a black holster and come out later with a brown one!!!

I just finished watching all of the shows a couple of months ago. I found out how the series ended !!

As a leftie I usually got the bottom of the barrel holster from the property clerk not b/c she was mean, but b/c that’s all they had. A little shoe polish and hard work made it come back to life.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I remember the last show, they were moving out of the old building into a new one. when they all left barney was the last man out and he looked around turned out the lights and closed the door. I told my wife I felt like crying, she laughed. yea barney miller was one of my favorite shows,,,,,,

Thanks! I loved Barney Miller. I had almost forgotten about the program.

Yes, I remember the show, but haven't seen it in years. Maybe I'll try rewatching some episodes. I seem to remember that the concensus back then was that it was pretty true to life.

Thanks,

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I tried for a while to find good photos of Barney showing his
holster & gun, but not much luck. The few I did find were
different colors, as you said, and also different locations on
his belt. Doesn't seem like old Barney was very consistent.

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In Omnia Paratus

I cant help myself...

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USAF AMMO

That's a good one Gunar. Thanks.

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In Omnia Paratus

Love that old school shoulder rig Fish (Abe Vigoda) is wearing.

Phil got me looking when he first posted his thread, and I realised that Fish is seen with his shoulder holster on one side or the other! Appears to be a righty worn whichever way suited the scene (just leave the pistol out of the holster in scenes where the righty is under the right arm).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

IN CHICAGO, THEY ALSO HAD BAD TOUPEES. I MEAN REALLY BAD ONES. JP

I have read that Barney Miller was one of the most authentic police TV
programs.

Hal Linden and his character Barney Miller where/are left handed.
But in most scenes he is shown carrying his gun just behind his
right hip for a right hand draw.

He is shown entering his office with a black holster on his hip
and coming out of his office with a brown holster.

He is supposed to be carrying a snub nose .38 revolver,
but the Bucheimer Sheriff holster looks long enough for
a 4" barrel.

In one scene the stocks on his revolver looks like the plow handle
shape of a Peacemaker.

So much for the authenticity. At least where his gun and holsters
are concerned.

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In Omnia Paratus

Good show, haven't seen a rerun in some time.
Recall one scene where Fish left the room after relaying to Barney where at one time he was able to drop a coin from the back of his hand, draw his weapon and shoot the coin before it hit the floor. Barney tried, fumbled the draw then kind of waved the gun at the fallen coin.
I can't remember which hand or the holster position.

My dad still watches reruns of Barney Miller.
I watch them with him when I'm there.

I remember there was a spin-off - "Fish" I think it was.
Abe Vigoda played Fish. I think he was retired. His wife 'Bernice' was hilarious, and they had a several foster kids.

I think it only lasted one or two seasons.

I'm going to have to pay more attention to the holsters and guns the next time I watch "Barney Miller"!

I started seeing the reruns on TV again about a year ago and have a bunch recorded to watch while I am down for a week or two.

During the first run I identified with Wojo or Dietrich. By the time I saw it again I had jumped clear past Barney to Fish...and realized I had almost a decade on Fish's supposed age at the beginning.

Dear Lord, let me go 10-7 before I turn into Luger!

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I love that show. Not sure when it was current. I am 42 years old and used to watch the late-night reruns when I was a kid. Going to look up some old episodes.

Don't know their holsters but the guns look like both old style then later Colt detective specials. I really got into the show recently. They play 2 in a row each night. My least favorite guy was "Fish". He might have been realistic but he bored me to death. "Harris" and "Deitrich" are my favorites in that order but everyone else is great, too.

This thread has got me back to watching episodes on YouTube!

God, how I miss that show.

please delete

by the time i retired, i was making as many trips to the head as Fish was. I never worried too much about the hardware. i mean, heck, they just left the shotguns behind the door. i do remember Barney's wife was pretty foxy.

I don't remember if it was last season on the year before that, Wojo was a guest on Hawaii Five o.

Someone mentioned cops copying things they see on TV & I saw this too. When Hill Street was running our young uniformed officers wanted to look like the actors on that show, wearing all sorts of unauthorized stuff. I was the midnight shift commander at the time and we’d watch a few minutes of the show after roll call, but had to make sure our charges followed the uniform rules.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Watch the original Hawaii Five-O and you will see a good number of young actors who were just getting started in the business. Some made repeat appearances.

What I found interesting is that Fish carried what looks like a 4" .357(never saw it drawn) rigged left handed where everyone else carried a snub nose .38.

Ahhh but how many of you should be carrying your ammo like the other Barney...you know the one from Mayberry?

This little old Chic Gaylord holster looks like my 642 could
easily fall out, but it never has...yet.

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In Omnia Paratus