70s-80s duty holster question

[Buford57]

In the 70s I recall Sam Brown with a big brass buckle, a high ride Three Persons style holster with retention strap and double dump pouches. Some of the guys used swivel holsters with or without ammo loops. I couldn't get comfortable with them. I used speed strips in the dump pouches
and the chief (who carried a M39) looked the other way. Small department. As long as it was black basketweave and shined you were good.

In the 80s (much larger department) we used all Safariland leather: a velcro Sam Brown, the 229 holster, a Jordan/Border Patrol style with a thumb break, or its high rise counterpart, double speed loader pouch and flap cuff case. A second cuff case was authorized (and a darn fine idea). All black basketweave. Rings for Kel-lite and night stick, Mace holster (just for show). Velcro belt keepers and a velcro underbelt. That was department mandated private purchase. Key clips were authorized but seldom worn. No knives, grappling hooks or boomerangs on the duty belt.

 

[crows]

The Cross Draw holsters were popular too.

My uncle was the last one on his department to give up his cross draw holster in the early '70's.

 

[Enzo Rules]

We were issued a Model 66 and old worn out leather gear for the academy. After graduation I bought a Nelson front break holster, a Safariland belt and speed loader pouch. I also bought HKS speedloaders as the issue one were cheap junk. I wore this rig for several years before we were allowed to carry a semi-auto which was the 645.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I'm considering one of their break fronts. Have you ever used that one? It looks a lot like a Hoyt. -w8lfter

First Nelson Leather holster I ever bought was a #83 Break Front breakfront (w/ forward rake) for my 6" M28 service revolver. The worst part of going to auto pistols was no more breakfront holsters.

I've purchased several other holsters from them since then and I've never been disappointed.

 

[NY-1]

Ted Blocker still makes drop-swivel holster rigs for what it's worth!

 

[MG34/bar]

On most departments of any size, there were always officers who made duty holsters for the troops. The leather wasn't as thick or sturdy as commercial holsters, but they were cheap (about $7) and you could get a new one made when they (prematurely) wore out. Jordan style or three-persons types were most common as I recall. Trigger was always exposed.

 

[CH4]

My dad used a Buchheimer drop with swivel from the early 60s through the 80s. From 84-91, I used a Hoyt break front, which I thought was the coolest duty holster extant, until switching to autos. A couple years ago, I picked up an AE Nelson break front for a 4" 19/66; it's very similar to the Hoyt. Here it is pictured with a 4" Python.

 

[cmansguns]

My old holster stash...may interest you

I am not ex law enforcement so have little experience along those lines, but I have carried guns in OWB for many decades including my cars and trucks going to construction jobs, office work, etc.

Also like many (most??) of you folks I have a stash of old holsters and belts wither outgrown, found at flea markets, used bins at LGS, etc.

Seeing this post I just got the bin down from attic and there was this old SafariLand when they were in Monrovia, California. It is marked 11A - Colt, but my Model 66 4" bbl fits right smartly.

I don't know if this would be of interest to you but PM me if you wish, and we can discuss.

 

[K Frame Keith]

My uncle was the last one on his department to give up his cross draw holster in the early '70's.

Does anyone know the make and model of this holster?

 

[jimmyj]

In the early 1960s SaSo in Texas offered police leather goods and this is where I ordered my first police leathers.

 

[4T5GUY]

I'm putting together a revolver rig for fun. Gonna run a 4 inch 19/66 and see if i can pass our current pistol qual with it.

I found a front break Tex Shoemaker in a junk store. It was $5.00 so I bought it not even knowing what it fit. My 66 no dash fits perfect.

I researched the history of them online and asked questions here. Red added a bunch of info.

If you want it I'd send it to you. It's still in pretty good shape and I will never use it.

PM or email me if you're interested.

Jim

 

[Sixgun100]

I started in 1983. In South Florida, the Bianchi Judge was quite popular. I used a Safariland Border Patrol style with a thumb snap and then switched to a Safariland Trooper model. Once auto pistols became the norm, the Safariland SS III was pretty standard.

 

[crows]

Does anyone know the make and model of this holster?

Unfortunately, no. I only have some pictures.

 

[Puller]

ADAM-12 reruns would be a good resource as well for late '60's and early '70's gear.

 

[w8lfter]

Okay I have a Safety Speed breakfront (well worn and needs a thorough cleaning), a #350 Hurricane (NOS), and a #2800 Judge. Question for the Bianchi guys. On the Judge are the cylinder cups covered in leather or bare metal? I have one side that is covered and the other bare, maybe my example is missing a piece?

 

[Ameshawki]

Does anyone know the make and model of this holster?

Lewis or it's Buchheimer equivalent. That style was common in the fifties. By the 70's it would have been pretty rare.

 

[URIT]

I used a Bianchi 27 Break Front for my S&W Model 19-4 four inch.

 

[adwjc]

Duty holsters

A popular in the mid to late 70s in our department was the DeSantis Speed Scabbard.
Bianchi,Safari land and G&G were common too.

 

[elpac3]

Early 70'si carried model 19in a safariland border patrol holster with Dropbox cartridge carriers. My rig had Velcro closures on the Dropbox and cuff case and a black snap on the holster. The belt was the L.A. pd style safariland Velcro belt system so there was no visible hardware

 

[LoboGunLeather]

ADAM-12 reruns would be a good resource as well for late '60's and early '70's gear.

Adam 12 featured the latest up-to-date goodies of the period, including clamshell holsters (popular with LAPD and CHP during that period). Probably would not be allowed on many ranges today because releasing the clamshell mechanism required inserting the trigger finger through the trigger guard, popping the hinged holster open and leaving the revolver in the hand with the finger on the trigger.

A major "NO-NO" since Glock and other striker-fired semi-autos without manual safety devices started taking over the LE market in the late 1980s. Unintentional discharges led to "Thou shalt not insert thy finger into the trigger guard until making the decision to fire thy weapon", and LE holsters having fully covered trigger guards.

This was not a big concern in the 1970s. We were trained to draw with finger inside the trigger guard. We also trained on "prepping" or "staging" the double-action trigger, basically pulling the trigger enough to revolve the cylinder and holding at that point during final sight alignment before applying the last bit of pressure to cause the hammer to fall (similar to the single-action mode of firing).

Difficult transition for many of us. Old habits are tough to overcome.