I started my holstory project only because of Tom Threepersons; and only continued it because the extant research on Tom was so sloppy (until Jim Coffey's superb research emerged) in which every subsequent writer appeared to have taken the word of the previous chap; and I have stayed with it only because turnerriver and I were asked to write an actual, pictorial holstory. Otherwise I have only been interested in the future of holsters, not its past (except to know enough not to copy it).

So how disappointed was I, to be reminded that even when the subjects are still living (!) their 'testimony' can't be relied on. I could make a long list of these folks but this one in particular stung because I thought I could just go to John Bianchi's "American Legend" and get the straight dope on a project that was actually his own: the M12 Hip Holster (which won't actually appear in The Book, which is about gunleather only).

I use a chronology that I can sort various ways -- date sequence, player sequence, all the births, all the deaths, all the marriages/divorces, etc. And I knew the M12 Hip Holster was adopted in 1985, late. August or September? At what trade show was that announced, IACP? What was the month, I'll work it out.

Wait a minute; I don't have to work it out, I have a copy of John's book. Then I discover that like a lot of the info in its chapter about the M12 project, the dating is only 'kinda right' -- if one knows so much about the project that one can distinguish the 'kinda true' from the 'actually true'. How could that be?

Kinda true: "So the first big package was for 30,000 holsters. This was in 1984, and that was where the designation UM84 originated. It stood for . . . the first year of manufacture, 1984. By January of 1985, the formal announcement had been made that the Beretta would replace the Colt Model 1911A1".

Not really; from BSG 2nd Ed: "The UM84 had emerged . . . Still no encouraging word from the Government . . . I had designated it UM84 for Universal Military Holster, during which year I was certain it would be completed. In the middle of that year we submitted what is called and unsolicited proposal to the Army . . ."

So from this, apparently, Google searches turn up the notion that the M12 (the M12 is not the UM84) was adopted in 1984. Here's the straight scoop, from 2nd Ed. BS&G:

"Early in 1985, our unsolicited proposal was officially recognised as a Request for Proposal . . . Negotiations took place at the arsenal, which I attended with UM84 project manager Richard Nichols . . . In August of 1985, the contract was signed and the UM84 . . . has been officially designated the M12 . . ."


One would think I would be placated. But "American Legend" is from 2010, BSG 2nd Ed. is from 1986.

And I wrote the M12 chapter in BSG 2nd Ed.

Full circle: it's no wonder, then, that the Wikipedia entry for Tom Threepersons is almost entirely wrong, right down to thinking he was a Canadian Mountie (he was not); and so is the entry about Tom in both editions of Blue Steel and Gunleather.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thanks for that Red. Here are a couple of shows to
go along with your tells. M12 on the left. T3P on the right.

Attached Images

	SAM_0722.jpg (108.4 KB, 75 views)
	SAM_0736.jpg (92.2 KB, 80 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

That's frustrating, and why I focus on the holsters themselves. Your drive for precision and accuracy is admirable. It is of course people who throw things off. I remember the shock of learning that books weren't always right and heroes had feet of clay and that the best course was to consider a number of sources. The narrative above is only made more confounding by the fact that you were there !
I'm confident that you have pegged Tom Threepersons' history better than anyone has before and have no doubt that you'll continue to sort out facts. You're the right man for the job in front of you.
Regards,
turnerriver
In recovery mode

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turnerriver

A compliment of the highest order, coming from you, John.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I'll admit to being chuffed when Arnie appeared in Commando wearing a UM84 in 1985.

And I was even more chuffed when I spotted this -- and I bought it, and later the pistol in the same scale to go in it.

x smalls (16).jpg

m12 toy 1in6 scale (1).jpg

The flap works, the hip extender is accurate, the pistol's a Beretta 92 :-).

Now THAT's 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' -- a toy that wouldn't have existed otherwise.

Attached Images

study - the right hand man at right (2).jpg (95.4 KB, 55 views)

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

That's a great photo w/ the Marines, Red.

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SWHF #448