Always end up on the Gun leather section when on the forum so thought I would post this one. Find my old duty rig in my gun stuff the other day and cleaned it a bit.

The holster, belt and ammo slide are all Bianchi, the open cuff case is a Safety Speed. With the exception of the cuff case I bought all these in the early 70s when a State Narcotic Supervisor. Only wore the rig on search warrants, round up raids and semi annual firing.

The model 19 I purchased from a Police Supplier in Jackson, Ms in 1972 at the age of 22. Just put the original grips back on it had Pacmeyer on it back then.

I am proud that the belt still fits and I can still shoot like back then. Alot older now but got my memories and my model 19

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That's one heck of a rig. All business.

Great post. Brings back memories.

Very nice, looks great in brown.

Those older setups have so much character. I was born in '78 and growing up remember seeing them in the 80s. I have bought a few rigs myself just for nostalgic purposes and because I hate to see good leather get tossed out.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Beautiful! Congrats and thanks for your service! Really cool.

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Pass it on.
Mark

Now Boys, that thar is the real deal...

Thank You Sir, for sharing the memories.


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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Thank you all for kind remarks. Knew you guys appreciate real leather and workmanship.

Forgot add found my receipt on the model 19 paid $86 Law Enforcement discount price in 8/72

Very, very cool.

I always loved the look of the brown leather rigs the county boys got to wear.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

The keepers aren't 'ours' (Bianchi) either. Trivia: you'd have purchased the open cuff case as a different brand because 'ours', the model 34, was just being developed early '70s. One of my early assignments.

In fact, when I began there 1970 Tex Shoemaker was supplying his moulded cuff and mag pouches unstamped, and we stamped the Bianchi name into them; until John could invest in his own tooling and methodology (not as easy to mould predictably as you'd think).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

My goodness Red, you're a walkin encyclopedia.....

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Had a river belt like that and a Model 5 Bianchi on the Port Side that carried a 4" 29-2.

Back when police work was pretty much "seat of the pants" business. That old 29-2 got mighty heavy at the end of a 10 hour shift.

My duty rig, Armed Forces Police Detachment, Okinawa, 1972-1973.
Bianchi thumb-snap Border Patrol holster for S&W Model 15; Bianchi cuff case, local made nightstick holder. Web belt, and my white USAF Security Police hat.
I lost my gun twice while fighting in bars when the thumb snap came undone, and eventually threaded a length of dog-tag chain thru the snap to secure it.

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John

My first rig came from Dehner in Omaha. I also had custom motor Officer boots made by them. My paycheck was $650/month. As I recall, the boots were about $150. They still make them for about $900. Both items hang on the wall in my mancave. Neither fit me. And it’s packing a Crosman replica CO2 S&W .357 in the holster....

cbore, I've bought a few from Hunt and Whitaker myself. Still got a few of them.

I like the old slapper and backup revolver. Brings back memories of night shift patrol in the early '70s. Great old rig.

You are very right the cuff case I bought on Ebay several years ago its a Safety Speed. The single cuff strap holder I had a Policeman turned holster maker cut for me in 1975 that really what I used. The keepers once again correct don't know whoes or when lost my earlier ones.

Thank you for your input and update

Miss the old Hunt and Whitaker I started with this Mdl 19 when they were in a "Bad" section of town on Whitfield Mills near the Old Mall. Miss the 1970-80 prices today more

I was enjoying the pictures of that beautiful rig and thinking to myself "How did he keep those stocks from looking like doo-doo?", then I read your post. Ah ha! Makes sense now.

I always go to the pictures first. Sorta like reading the funnies first when you get the paper. I like the pictures, but you have a great story to go with that rig. Well preserved. Thanks for sharing them.

Hell, he was there.

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In Omnia Paratus

You probably bought the Model 19 at Cagel's Lawman supply, which was where I bought my Model 19, that I used as a Court Deputy.

Great old rig you have there. How did you ever keep that belt from
shrinking over all those years. It seems the older I get, the more my
belts shrink.
I assume your 19 is a dash 3?
A bit of minutia: Did you know the barrel is not really 4 inches?
S&W spec sheet says the barrel is 4 & 1/8th inches.

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In Omnia Paratus

The only reason the belt didn't shrink like yours is I spent years overseas. A case of Dingy fever and a triple by pass heart surgery keeps my weight down.

In great shape today. Got in a tussle with an Inmate yesterday at the Jail I manage and won. Not bad or a old LEO revolver carrier (still can't with an auto)

Thanks for everyone comment

Im happy to know that you are in great shape, as is that pretty duty rig.
Jim

thanks means a lot from you and not the general public

I just knew that was some 70s Bianchi leather soon as I saw it. You're to be commended for hanging onto it all these years.

I have that same holster that I bought in '74 for a 6-inch 28-2. And mine's suede-lined. Forty-four years after I bought it, it's still good...and good for another forty-plus years.

It's hard to beat that 70s Bianchi and Safariland leather for durability in daily use.

Watchdog

Appreciate an "old Man like us' who appreciates these. I also have an old Safariland with sight track for my Ruger Mark 1, 22 cal same age. We both been together a long time and still it use it every fall in hunting season