Paladin85020 posted this photo in a thread about Model 39 autos and kindly agreed to let me post it here. It’s a 1966 photo of LA police chief W.H. Parker presenting his badge and Chiefs Special to Jack Webb, the holster appears to be a Lewis holster. I thought you all would enjoy the photo.
Regards,
turnerriver

__________________
turnerriver

Looks like that made Jack a happy guy.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

The days when a .38 special got the job done, no spray and pray mentality in this era. Thanks for sharing this piece of history. Kinda makes you think about how we arrived at the present means of defense

That's a great photo, John!! Chief Parkerand Jack Webb were friends, and it's my understanding that Parker allowed Webb to use real LAPD case files as the basis for Dragnet plots. They "just changed the names to protect the innocent ", and had real interesting plots ready made. It was a great public relations tool for the PD, and Jack Webb made money on the series, and we all got to see some really cool Hollywood productions!!! A win-win-win. I have always enjoyed Dragnet, and still do.

Thanks for sharing this great photo with us... And thanks to John Marshall as well!!

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Coincidentally watching Dragnet reruns on Amazon when I saw this.

It looks like a model 10.

Yes the holster is a Lewis "L.A. Police Special".

I also thought it was a model 10. Here's mine:

Attached Images

SAM_0864.jpg (95.5 KB, 176 views)

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I remember Webb using a snub 10 in an episode of the later series "Dragnet 1967." He exchanged fire in a laundromat, IIRC, with a BG who used a 6" bbl 10. Webb/Friday had no proof the BG fired at him until a bullet hole was found behind a shelf. The BG's bullet had grazed the underside of the shelf and buried itself in the wall. Anyone remember this episode?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I do remember that one. I’m a big Dragnet/Jack Webb fan and carried a Model 10 snub as an issued weapon.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

If Detective Friday carried a model 10 then this is probably that gun as the photo was captioned “ Jack Webb receives his old police revolver and badge 714 from LA Police Chief Parker. “
Apparently Webb gave the revolver & badge to Parker in 1958 when the original Dragnet series stopped production. Parker returned them when the new Dragnet 1966 started production. I was just trying to see if you all are paying attention.
Regards,
turnerriver

__________________
turnerriver

I seem to recall that in the original series Friday carried a Colt DS. I have seen postings that this S&W was an Airweight.

^^^^what he said. At least there was some continuity in the show. In some flicks, the gun changes from moment to moment in the same scene.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

In my mind a model 36 will always be synonymous with Jack Webb. "Just the facts mam, just the facts". I also wouldn't hold it against him if he went along with the changing times and opted for the 6 round M10 snub nose, one of my favorites. Thanks Chuck24 for making me aware my heroes reruns can be found on Amazon. Now if I could just find some Paladin reruns I would feel complete.

Attached Images

	S&W M10-5 .38 snub SN C763046 DOB 65-67 002.jpg (88.0 KB, 90 views)
	S&W M10-5 .38 snub SN C763046 DOB 65-67 017.jpg (84.0 KB, 69 views)
	S&W M10-5 .38 snub SN C763046 DOB 65-67 014.jpg (79.2 KB, 66 views)

If I remember correctly, Friday received an Airweight Smith to replace his Colt in the first Dragnet series, so that might be a Model 12 or pre-12. Both Webb and Morgan wore clip-on Lewis holsters in at one episode of the second series, unclipping them in one scene.

Does look like a Lewis although most won't realise it could also be a Clark. Later it was Bucheimer-Clark (which this one is not) who increased the spring length and made it easy to tell B-Cs from Lewis & Clark originals.

Clark Holster was E.E. Clark, father of Earl Clark who was Bucheimer-Clark beginning '59. Lots of scrutinising of construction details (this is a very clear image) would pin it down between Lewis and Clark. Good fun for someone (not me) :-).

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

That is the only episode i remember. Made an impression i guess. They thought it was a carpenters-mark. Bullet lifted the shelf and was conceal-led when it dropped back down.

__________________
Fide Et Amore

If you guys go over to imfdb, the Internet movie firearms database, they have a list of guns used in both the original 1950s series of Dragnet (Colt DS for SGT Friday) and the 1960s Dragnet .... (M&P 2" for Friday). There are some fairly clear photos. Also from the original movie and the later one with Dan Akroyd. Also has photos of some of the other guns used in different episodes by other cops and bad guys.

Here's Sgt. Friday cleaning his Detective Special in one of the original series:




Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Yeah...Thanks Chuck24!!! I have had Amazon Prime, but had to add a "Trial" subscription to "Best TV Ever" to get the Dragnet episodes, but just watched episode 1, Season 1 (original series, 1950s). Very good... Sgt. Friday's boss was "Ray" Burr...pre "Perry Mason"...

Good stuff!!!

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

On the left is Bucheimier's Sheriff 32-11. It fits the J Frame best.
Notice how the spring enclosure goes clear up to the top of the cylinder,
as Red mentioned.

On the right is "Made by LEWIS-L.A.CAL.
For F.M.Pitt
San Gabriel, CAL.
38 2
(Shown above #8 with 2" model 10) This one appears, to me,
to be the same as the one in OPs photo. Notice how the spring
goes about half-way up the cylinder.

Attached Images

	SAM_1103.jpg (99.2 KB, 72 views)
	SAM_1104.jpg (89.4 KB, 65 views)

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Aren’t those shells the old 200 grain, round-nose, “Super Police” loads? (My dad’s favorite load. I recently had some made up for old-times sake. I know they are super fun to shoot!).

__________________
Possum—The other white meat!

Just like the guns they held, wish these holsters could talk.

Attached Images

	6F1428CB-DD02-48A0-8FB4-20C057A1708D.jpg (100.8 KB, 39 views)
	FADDC309-E6E6-4C7A-9C61-06C855C3DBB8.jpg (94.1 KB, 35 views)

I remember that! The bullet left a mark on the underside of the shelf. The bullet mark was mistaken for a carpenter's layout pencil mark during a search of the crime scene.

He had stopped to get cigarettes after a long shift and after all this the machine was out of order and still didn't get the cigarettes

Didn't Friday's partner Officer Smith (Ben Alexander) carry a S&W M10 6" (stag Grips) in a cross draw holster ?

I was amused by the Lewis and Clark talk. Who was their office manager/model? Sacajawea?

IN the 1990s I was at Garners Auctions in Carrolron, Ohio when
he had 2 Jack Webb guns on the block. They were both in cases
with badge 714s. One was a Chiefs Special & the other a Brn
Hi-Power they both had engraving and the S&W had a badge
714 gold inlay in lock plate. As I remember they didn't bring
much but they could have been buy backs. This is before the
Prices got crazy and the net ruined auctions taking bids on
line while taking on site bids.

The alliteration was quite intentional :-). What's life without whimsy?

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

Geeez, now I'm even quoting myself.

There allegedly was an Ed Lewis, and I say it that way because even reviewing my image files again today Lewis and Clark's 'cylinder pocket' holsters appear to be identical. There is some, even sufficient, information about Edward Clark and h is son Earl but ZERO in any database I've found about Ed Lewis; their shop addresses were within walking distance of each other; and given all the above I've been known to wonder if they weren't one and the same operation, perhaps using different names to bid against each other in police contracts (yes, it's been done). That is, I wonder if Ed Lewis and his holsters even existed, and instead were all Clarks with a different marking.

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

That is an interesting theory. There is a vintage revolver CLARK
on ebay currently. #2 it appears to be for a J Frame. But
doesn't look anything like the LEWIS models shown above.
I will do a little snooping and see if I can help you prove, or
disprove, the theory.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

That is the classic Clark much copied by others including Hunter. Marked Lewis they typically have the moulded cylinder pocket. I think Bucheimer made it, likely even B-C. Safety Speed, everybody in the Sixties.

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

I just re-incarnated digi-shot's excellent thread: Anyone else like Lewis
holsters? Quite a bit of good information and pictures on the subject.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

They don't make shows like that anymore. That's why I mostly watch TCM.
Who would want to watch a show with a crusty cop and a Glock?

Hey, Jimmy!! That's pretty good memory. I've been watching these episodes on Amazon, and here's a screen shot that I took from the 2nd show of the 2nd season, "Big Grandma".

This is Frank Smith's gun!! This would have aired in 1951-52. You've sure got a great memory!! I would have been about 6 or 7 years old then!!! I can't say that I watched these when I was a little kid, but may have seen some of them in reruns over the years. I'm enjoying them a lot now.



Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Fabulous. That's Clark Holsters No. 999 crossdraw holster, for which turnerriver turned up a Pachmayr brochure dated 1935. It was the first of the 'outboard slot' crossdraws for which Bruce Nelson is incorrectly credited late '60s. Good work!

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

Look at that SKINNY little belt!
I guess he didn't get the memo about how much a good belt helps lighten the load

Second show (episode) of second season was The Big Sorrow:

"Dragnet" The Big Sorrow (TV Episode 1952) - IMDb

The Big Grandma was 9th show (episode) of the 2nd season:

"Dragnet" The Big Grandma (TV Episode 1953) - IMDb

Which is it? :-)

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

Red,

Thanks....When I made the above post, I was using the chronology on the Amazon site that I was watching on. After I made the post above, I went to the IMDb site that you show, and saw that they have a different order listed!! Also, the Amazon lineup of episodes are missing quite a few off the episodes that IMDb describes.

But I'm still enjoying those that they have!

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Jack with a spring-post Clark holding the Colt DS.

Great catch of the 999.

Attached Images

Dragnet Webb Colt DS Clark xdraw a.jpg (90.8 KB, 47 views)