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  #1  
Old 03-17-2009, 06:18 PM
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I’d say it’s a left hand competition holster (it fits a K frame).
Was this Bill Rogers company? Any info is greatly appreciated, I hadn't heard of them before.




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Old 03-17-2009, 06:18 PM
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I’d say it’s a left hand competition holster (it fits a K frame).
Was this Bill Rogers company? Any info is greatly appreciated, I hadn't heard of them before.




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Old 03-17-2009, 07:05 PM
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Yep, it's a left hand leather/kydex laminate competition holster meant to be worn just forward of the left hip.

Yep again, it's a Bill Rogers product. Bill had multiple companies in Jacksonville, FL in the '80s; his travelling training endeavor, an ammunition company and his leather/Kydex holster company. IIRC, Bill sold the holster company to Safariland and did design work for them afterward for some time.

Again, IIRC, Bill started in the early '70s, with Kydex paddle holsters. I used several in the mid/late '70s; Colt Cobra, M36, M19 and even an M39, all of which I've still got in one of the "old holster boxes". Had one for my Diamondback, but can't find that one . The Kydex paddle holsters are open front and require breaking a leather tabbed thumbstrap, then rocking the weapon forward freeing the rear of the trigger guard and drawing forward and up to presentation. Picked up a leather/Kydex laminate holster like yours but for the 1911 that I used in IPSC when each stage started from the "surrender position".

During their design period Rogers holsters were state of the art...They still do a pretty good job today
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Old 03-17-2009, 07:30 PM
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I don't think it was the Kydex we all know and love today, but more like the predecessor.

IIRC, Rogers (an old FBI guy) sold his company to Safariland, who used his idea/patent to make their laminated holsters. He shot on their IPSC team for a long time as well.
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Old 03-17-2009, 07:34 PM
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Thank you very much.
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Old 03-17-2009, 08:46 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by firedog3700:
I don't think it was the Kydex we all know and love today, but more like the predecessor.QUOTE]

I beg to differ, the Rogers holsters I spoke of are "Kydex". They were made by heating, bending and molding to fit sheets of "Kydex 100", just as is done today. Kydex has been around for 40+ years BTW.

Working the Kydex into holsters on a commercial basis was what got Bill into the holster game in the first place and Bill's progressing to laminate a thinner version of it with leather was what got Safariland interested to buy him out.
As I already mentioned "IIRC, Bill sold the holster company to Safariland and did design work for them afterward for some time.
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Old 03-17-2009, 09:28 PM
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Wasn't that one called "The Cup Challange"?
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Old 03-18-2009, 09:29 AM
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2fingers, you are correct, it was called the cup challenge, after the Bianchi Cup match held annually near Columbia MO. (Now the NRA Action Shooting championship). Revolvers used to be the preferred competition gun a few years back. I still have one of these and will use it in revolver match's.
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Old 03-18-2009, 12:38 PM
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Chad, looks like you have gotten your information. Bill Rogers did indeed own a holster company in Jacksonville, which he sold to Safariland sometime in the early eighties. He was also a world class combat pistol shot.
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Old 02-14-2011, 11:19 AM
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My first issue holster was a Rogers "Boss". That badboy was a fast, rugged piece of kit.
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Old 02-14-2011, 11:59 AM
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Hi:
IIRC Rogers also made duty holsters?
A large city agency that I was employed by issued S&W Model 64s with Rogers duty holster.
Jimmy
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Old 02-14-2011, 08:29 PM
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When I was the marksmanship instructor at the Air Force Special Investigations Academy during the mid 1970s we bought and issued Rogers breakfront Kydex holsters for/to our agents for our issue S&W M-36, 3"ers. A lot of agents didn't care for them but I really liked mine. Once you practiced with them they were pretty fast for a draw (Oh, I'm behind the times, now the Tactical guys "present" their weapons instead of "drawing" them) I would sure like to find a left hand for the 3' M-36 for old times sake. We bought them directly from the manufacturer somewhere in FL. If I remember correctly, they also made some Kydex/plastic grips that were wood grain color. They seemed to work pretty well also. Keep shootin'
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Old 02-14-2011, 10:18 PM
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GREAT holsters for revolvers. I wish I still had all the K frame Rogers holsters I owned over the years. I saw one not long ago and it brought back memories.....
Those things were quick, and snatch-from-behind-proof....
You got yourself a nice rig........and since I am lefthanded...just sayin
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1911, bianchi, colt, commercial, ipsc, k frame, kydex, leather, m19, m36, m39, marksmanship, model 19, model 39, nra, presentation, safariland, tactical

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