Some help with Grandfather's LE belt/holster

rocknroad · Feb 18, 2019

Late last year, my dad gave me my grandfather's old Law Enforcement belt kit, along with Gramp's sidearm, a 1940 38-44 Outdoorsman.

I am stumped by this holster. It does not seem to be a match to the gun, at all. I am baffled by the metal loop at the opening of the holster and...what the junk growing inside the holster is. It appears that my grandfather put some kind of padding in the holster but, over the last 50 years, it has grown and hardened into some lumpy fungus-like mass.

Here are some pics and questions:

My grandfather, in 1941, wearing this belt and holster (best I can tell).

The entire package. The leather needs some care. Any suggestions for product and methods?

A local brand for the department Gramps worked for.

I can't figure out this setup. What is the metal ring?

It's hard to see but, in the lower left side of this pic, you see a lump in holster. It is rock hard and runs down the side of the interior of the holster. What is that?

I am not so sure the OD will ever actually fit in that holster, now.

Any ideas, comments, recommendations?

turnerriver · Feb 18, 2019

Thanks for sharing your grandfather’s rig with us. The belt was made by the Hoyt Co., the holster is a clamshell model safety holster made by one of several companies in the mid 1900’s. The maker is likely stamped on the back of the holster. The entire front of the holster opens outward when a release latch is pushed, the release button is inside the top of the holster adjacent to the metal loop. When you find the release latch the front of the holster should spring open. I can’t tell what’s inside from your picture but the interior should be aluminum covered by leather shaped to hold the revolver.
The holster may be frozen, the spring may not work but if you find & push the latch the front of the holster should open.
Once you do that you can get a better look at what’s inside. The holster is not designed to allow the revolver to be holstered unless the front is open.
Let us know if the holster opens.
Regards,
turnerriver

LPD256 · Feb 18, 2019

The green stuff inside the holster could be a suede lining to keep the gun nice. I have a couple holsters that are lined. His equipment could get wet if he got caught in the rain on a motor. Which would affect the lining but probably not the leather. Also, I’m not sure that type of holster was available in the years your Grandfather rode the Indian in the photo. But I’m no holster expert. We have people on the forum that are. Maybe they’ll weigh in. Cool stuff.

JayCeeNC · Feb 18, 2019

Great gun, and the box is quite valuable by itself.
That is a clamshell style holster.
The design was patented by F.C. Jewett in 1932, patent# 1930203.
Clamshell style holsters were made well into the 1960s by Jewett, Stanroy, C.A. Hoffman, and Safety Speed companies.
The maker should either be stamped on the back of the belt loop or, if it's a Jewett, on the inside of the holster in small letters.

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

You guys are freaking awesome. I finally get it. The mystery is solved by a few knowledgeable people.

Here is the holster and gun...

Just the holster...

And, this was the only mark I could find, on the loop...

GerSan69 · Feb 19, 2019

Wow! That is truly a treasure.
That clamshell sure brings back the memories. Those were still popular when I started with Denver PD back in 1979. I wanted one, but they were too pricey for my blood. By the time I could afford one, they were outlawed by the department. (The bosses decided they didn't like "mechanical holsters.")
I think that one is missing the button cover, a plastic part that covers the metal ring that fits behind the trigger that's shaped like a"D". I believe the holster opens when you press that ring, right?
Anyway, thanks for letting us see it. Whole lotta history right there.

crazyphil · Feb 19, 2019

It appears to be a swivel holster too, so it can be folded back when
seated in a vehicle to prevent it from poking into the seat. There
should be some kind of lock and release button for the swivel?
The Bucheimer-Clark swivel holster just used a snap button.
Maybe yours is the same?

murphydog · Feb 19, 2019

I believe the motorcycle is an Indian Four, cool bike.

The best leather treatment for belts and holsters I have found is Blackrock N' Rich. Easy to use and works well.

crazyphil · Feb 19, 2019

murphydog said:
I believe the motorcycle is an Indian Four, cool bike.

The best leather treatment for belts and holsters I have found is Blackrock N' Rich. Easy to use and works well.

+1 on the Black Rock Leather 'N' Rich.

Muss Muggins · Feb 19, 2019

I'd like to look at the actual picture, but the leather gear in the officer photo doesn't appear to be basketweave. Also, the belt loop on the holster in the officer picture appears bigger/wider than the loop on the basketweave holster. Of course, it could be just bad lighting on the original picture . . .

Regardless, nice picture, nice duty rig, and nice backstory . . .

just plain joe · Feb 19, 2019

I'm just spit-ballin' here, but can anyone say if that is an old Berns-Martin holster?

To the OP: You are a very lucky person.

JPJ

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

just plain joe said:
I'm just spit-ballin' here, but can anyone say if that is an old Berns-Martin holster?

To the OP: You are a very lucky person.

JPJ

Thanks.

I'd love to know the maker. I can't find any markings on the holster, inside or out.

THE PILGRIM · Feb 19, 2019

Here’s the same or similar Indian that I saw in that car museum up in CO.

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

GerSan69 said:
Wow! That is truly a treasure.
That clamshell sure brings back the memories. Those were still popular when I started with Denver PD back in 1979. I wanted one, but they were too pricey for my blood. By the time I could afford one, they were outlawed by the department. (The bosses decided they didn't like "mechanical holsters.")
I think that one is missing the button cover, a plastic part that covers the metal ring that fits behind the trigger that's shaped like a"D". I believe the holster opens when you press that ring, right?
Anyway, thanks for letting us see it. Whole lotta history right there.

There is a leather covered button, just under that ring (if the holster is hanging on a belt). It was hidden enough that I did not know to press there until this thread.

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

crazyphil said:
It appears to be a swivel holster too, so it can be folded back when
seated in a vehicle to prevent it from poking into the seat. There
should be some kind of lock and release button for the swivel?
The Bucheimer-Clark swivel holster just used a snap button.
Maybe yours is the same?

It does swivel but, there is no lock/release. It is purely by pressure on the pivot point.

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

THE PILGRIM said:
Hers the same or similar Indian that I saw in that car museum up in CO.

I think your pic is a year or two older than my grandfather's. Note the rigid tail on the CO bike. If you look closely at my GD's, it has a small rear shock. That came out on the '41 Indian 440.

This pic shows it better.

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

After further research, I am positive that my GD's holster is a Safety Speed. This makes sense, as the company was based in Montebello, CA, just around the corner from his home of Pasadena.

The D-ring, the button placement, all the particulars are matching up to pictures I'm finding for the Safety Speed Clamshell. I just can't figure out why the name was not stamped in one of the usual spots on the holster.

Thanks again, guys, for all your help.

rednichols · Feb 19, 2019

rocknroad said:
After further research, I am positive that my GD's holster is a Safety Speed. This makes sense, as the company was based in Montebello, CA, just around the corner from his home of Pasadena.

The D-ring, the button placement, all the particulars are matching up to pictures I'm finding for the Safety Speed Clamshell. I just can't figure out why the name was not stamped in one of the usual spots on the holster.

Thanks again, guys, for all your help.

A very good resource for you, is this article by one of my correspondents (entirely his own work):

Fighting Leather: The Clamshell Holster - RevolverGuy.Com

The most likely way for you to guarantee you've picked the right brand, is to compare the two elements of the basketweave imprints: the main and the border.

Turnerriver's and my book, Holstory, has a section devoted to the Clamshell including Jewett and Safety Speed (Paul Boren).

rocknroad · Feb 19, 2019

rednichols said:
A very good resource for you, is this article by one of my correspondents (entirely his own work):

Fighting Leather: The Clamshell Holster - RevolverGuy.Com

The most likely way for you to guarantee you've picked the right brand, is to compare the two elements of the basketweave imprints: the main and the border.

Turnerriver's and my book, Holstory, has a section devoted to the Clamshell including Jewett and Safety Speed (Paul Boren).

Red, That is a great article. Thanks for sharing.

Based on the pictures I've posted here, do you have an opinion about the manufacturer of mine?

Pig Hunter · Feb 19, 2019

I always knew about pushing the button through the trigger guard, but didn't realize it had the block behind the trigger. I had heard they were "outlawed" because of accidental discharge. I incorrectly assumed it was from pushing the button. I can see how it is possible during holstering. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Some help with Grandfather's LE belt/holster

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