Pedaling my bike through the neighborhood, I came across a garage sale (family moving out of state) and spied this holster. At first I didn’t exactly know what it was, but quickly figured out what I had when I saw the stamp; Bianchi #27K, Break Front, .38/.357. Turns out the father is a recently retired Federal officer taking a job with Pentagon site security. Anyway, I’d never seen one before and searched the web; a right-handed break-away holster for a 6” S&W that were popular in the 60’s and 70’s, notably used by the LAPD (at least from what I read). Anyhow, it was a good $2 dollar investment for the holster corral!

A Berns-Martin copy?

good going! I wonder if that's what they wore on Adam 12. Seems that was discussed here before and the guns mentioned might have been 6" Model 15's. Except for the steel lined belt loop it does look like a B-M. Didn't Bianchi buy them out years ago?

Nice find-it is Bianchi's version of the Berns-Martin design. John Bianchi bought the name & rights from, I believe, Blackie Collins-he made the 9R shoulder holster & this series & one or two others of break-front design.
Regrds,
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426

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turnerriver

How come I never find anything cool at garage sales? It just 20 year old baby clothes and burned kitchen utensils.

Also I look for out of style women's shoes.

Around here, firewood is selling for $200/$250 a cord. I figure old shoes at $0.10 a pair will work out cheaper, burn hotter, & I don't have to split "em!

Nice find, and I know what you mean about the holster corral. Mine is three large notes filled full. I really need to go through them and get rid of a pile....so I can buy more.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

As I remember Bianchi marketed these as the "Judge" in the mid to late 70's. I really lusted after one of these, but our patrol captain was an old "mossback" who believed that any weapon retention system other than a hammer thong was all show. I understand that there were reported problems with re holstering with this model. Still all in all it's a great looking addition to any collection and even better at $2.00.

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Always Stay Strong!

Stacy, that you?

Yeah, just thought I'd check in John. Hope you've been surviving the heat and dust storms this year, it's been interesting. Got to run to work, take care sir! BC2

awesome deal

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The Lord cometh and right soon

I hit 8 to 10 garage sales a week during the season here in Michigan and all I get is a sore stomach from all the pre sweetened lemonade I end up buying from the little children.
Nice catch.

RDDUSA has S&W GI holsters for sale at good prices. Under $10 plus shipping..National Stock Number 1095-00-480-6807. You need to clean them up, but this holster is for a four inch K frame, and works fine with my Model 66...It would make a fine field holster, or for a security professional. Black with snap and strap, FBI style forward cant belt holster. Genuine GI. It cleans up very nicely.

There are some rules to yard sale browsing. The first and most important rule is to start early. But any yard sale you see that has any kind of outdoor sporting items requires you to ask questions. Usually the sales are being put on by wifely members of the family. Often they're afraid of guns and such, so they just don't put the items out on "display". But when you show interest, they open right up.

Its probably best not to cheat anyone. Some don't have a clue as to what the items are worth, and the person who owned them may even be deceased. I know a guy who went browsing in his neighborhood. At one yard sale house he did ask the question. It was a community type of sale and the lady was really embarrassed her dear deceased husband even owned guns. And she surely didn't want anyone to see the stuff.

Seems like her sons took the guns for themselves, but had no interest in the other gun related items. So for a few hundred bucks he did her a big favor and cleaned out the entire corner of her basement. She was overjoyed just to have the stuff gone forever. So he took home hundreds of pounds of reloaded ammo, powder, cases, bullets. Along with a few presses and a bunch dies, etc. He could have paid less, but he felt bad about paying so little for $10,000 or more worth of stuff.

I felt bad because I got in on the tail end, and all he'd part with were HIS old presses that were in worse condition!

Now I feel even worse because you guys have corrals full of holsters. I only have 2 plastic tubs of them. One full of nasty old Heisers. OK, not even full, I've moved some of them up to a shelf so I can see them.

The other with items I may never use, but refuse to part with them. It pains me now to realize my holsters have current retail values up in the $100 or more, new. I remember 35 years ago when I'd sell a gun, I'd toss in the leather just to get rid of it. I'd bet over the years a bunch of them have been pitched in the trash just because the person didn't have a clue what to do with them. I know I've even got friends who approach used leather like they would used dirty underwear.

And I feel bad because when I put money into a gun, I honestly expect to get that much or more if/when it comes time to sell. Holsters are more like draperies or womens clothing. It serves an immediate purpose and its value approaches zero tomorrow. Driving a car off the lot depreciates it by maybe 25%, used shoes are maybe worth 10% if you can find someone to buy them. I'm thinking holsters are the same way.

Even at flea markets where the shysters ask high prices for everything, they often price a holster at $10. When I see one for $20 I just roll my eyes and put it down (often the seller then cuts the price way back.)

So if you see one holster, ask about the other ones they've got, and the slings, and the cartridge belts, and the old hunting knife.

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Dick Burg