THE FAMOUS BORDER PATROL HOLSTER

crazyphil · #1 04-05-2021, 11:30 AM

I have told this story before, so I hope it doesn't make you nauseous if I tell it again. I know there are some newer folks who might like it.

In 1936 Charles Askins was chief firearms instructor for the U.S. Border Patrol. He, along with Sam Myres, designed the holster known as the Border Patrol Holster. Shown below on the left.

In the early 1940s, Bill Jordan was not completely satisfied with the holster, so he designed his version with some changes. Then Bill went to a saddlemaker, C. H. Werner, in Alpine, Texas and had his holster made.

Bill took his holster and a Colt's New Service .45 ACP, and went island hopping across the Pacific as a marine in WWII. By the time he returned his holster looked like it had been through a war, so he stopped in to Myres shop in El Paso and had another holster made. Shown below 2nd from left.

Before long, Bill's holster became the most popular holster in law enforcement. Every officer wanted a holster "just like Bill Jordan's". Meanwhile, Bill was recalled, as a marine, to the unpleasantness in Korea. While he was gone Sam Myres passed away.

By the time Bill returned, his holster was being made by almost everyone who could cobble leather together, so some of the quality was not too hot. Bill tried to solve the problem by getting a trademark for his name. Bill became acquainted with Don Hume, and liked his work, so he gave the right to the use of his name to him. Hume's version is 3rd from left.

Eventually Hume upgraded the Jordan Border Patrol holster by changing from the snap strap to a thumb break, shown 4th from left.

Not all the copies were bad examples. Bucheimer-Clark, for example, made one that is not too shabby, called the "Constable". Shown 5th from left.

I would like to see other examples of the Jordan Border Patrol if you happen to have one.

By the way, the gorgeous "sidewinder" belt shown in 1, 2, 4 & 5

was a gift from my friend Red Nichols.

I may be mistaken, as I have occasionally been in the past, but I believe Herrett's was also given permission to make Bill Jordan Border Patrol Holsters. They were made for Herrett's by Chet Hillman.

SAFireman · #2 04-05-2021, 11:33 AM

Here is mine. It is a S.D. Myres (right on the border).

THE FAMOUS BORDER PATROL HOLSTER-dsc_0127-jpg

Shown with a first year Combat Magnum.....ole Bill would be proud

crazyphil · #3 04-05-2021, 12:12 PM

The Combat Magnam, of course, also being one of Bill Jordan's
brainstorms.

CQB27 · #4 04-05-2021, 01:03 PM

"I know there are some newer folks who might like it."

Count me among this group...although I'm really not that new.
You can tell and retell as many holster stories as you like Mr. Phil as far as I'm concerned. I always find them so informative and entertaining and count them as "my good fortune". I think sometimes folks forget not all of us know much about these and other subjects. Keep Them Coming!

geeollie · #5 04-05-2021, 01:28 PM

I like this!

Did the retaining strap on #2 and #3 work as they are shown?

crazyphil · #6 04-05-2021, 02:12 PM

geeollie - on the #2 the extra snap is to keep gun unsnapped in case you
think you might need to draw quickly. The primary snap goes over the
hammer. Yes, they both work.

On the Hume Border Patrol there is one male snap on the back, so the
same strap that covers the hammer can go back and snap out of the way.

Iggy · #7 04-05-2021, 02:13 PM

You moved the strap from the normal over the hammer position to that position when the "pucker factor" was up.

AW, Phil outdrew me!!

crazyphil · #8 04-05-2021, 02:18 PM

CQB27 - Thank you for the encouragement. I know some folks get tired
of hearing old guys tell the same stories over and over again. It's what
we do.

ISCS Yoda · #9 04-05-2021, 03:08 PM

That's all very interesting. Dave Workman made this one for me a few years ago for a 4" M686+. I didn't know it had roots in the Bill Jordan Border Patrol holster.

demkofour · #10 04-05-2021, 04:12 PM

As a newly sworn officer in the Fall of ‘82, I was issued a 4” S&W 64-3 (with Service Magnas, which were replaced with Pachmayr grips) with 2 six round dump pouches and 158 grain LSWHP+P ammunition. The issued holster was a Don Hume of Miami, Okla. Jordan H216 NO.1.

I still have the holster as a keepsake but that 64-3 was upgraded to a Model 67 when I was assigned to the Firearms Training Section. An itch I got years later to “replace” my 64 was scratched by Mike (ladder13), and this 64-3, although never issued to the Suffolk County Police Department, it is less than a few serial numbers away from my original!

Onomea · #11 04-05-2021, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

...I may be mistaken, as I have occasionally been in the past, but I believe Herrett's was also given permission to make Bill Jordan Border Patrol Holsters. They were made for Herrett's by Chet Hillman.

Interestingly, Herrett's still sells grips they call "Jordan Troopers." I have a set on my 640-1.

Muley Gil · #12 04-05-2021, 10:30 PM

Nice article. I tried a Border Patrol holster, but it hung too low for me. I went back to my high ride, thumb break M29 Safariland holsters. My first partner at the PD carried his 4" S&W M29 in a Border Patrol holster.

BTW, Marine is always capitalized when speaking of a member of the USMC.

stamper · #13 04-05-2021, 10:36 PM

Great post, Phil. Here's an early, 99% Combat Magnum (within the first 2,500 ordered in 1956) in a 1960s Bucheimer. I would love to track down a couple of the earlier holsters.

usmc2427765 · #14 04-05-2021, 11:44 PM

Hang in there, Phil. If it wasn't for old guys like us telling the stories, even if we repeat a few. We would need to listen to the stories from young guys who would need to worry about Statutes of Limitations and things such as that!! Besides we are old enough that there is no one left to contradict us.

crazyphil · #15 04-06-2021, 12:22 AM

Onomea - the stocks shown on my Model 19 in photos 1, 2, 3, & 4 are
Jordan Troopers by Herrett's. I sent them a drawing of my shooting hand
and they made the stocks to fit.

MuleyGil - Thanks for reminding me, I know Bill as a Marine should have
been capitalized.

Stamper - Your holster looks like a Federal Man. Very much like a Tom
Threepersons except for the retention strap and the high ride.

Whit · #16 04-06-2021, 07:44 PM

In the late 60’s there was a company in Houston, Nelson-Silva, who made police related items such as badge holders, ID cases, butt plates for Smith revolver grips and holsters. The holsters were very much Jordan like and great holsters. I carried a Model 19 and a Model 29, both four inch barrels, on patrol as a municipal police officer. While I don’t have either of the holsters, I still have the ID case and mini badge they made. The Jordan style holster was comfortable and quick. Any former Houston area officers remember Nelson-Silva?

crazyphil · #17 10-25-2021, 08:22 PM

Thank you for pulling this older thread back up again. Lots of good posts.

keith44spl · #18 10-27-2021, 09:29 AM

My Hume rig with pre-27 purchased in the early 70's

I later went with a 3 1/2" convert in 44 Special.

///

LPD256 · #19 10-27-2021, 09:38 AM

I think this one is Smith&Wesson’s take on the Jordan holster. In a 6 inch barrel version.

crazyphil · #20 10-27-2021, 10:32 AM

I'm a kinda slow learner so it took me a while to tell the difference between
an Askins Border Patrol holster and a Jordan design. Just look at the bottom
of the trigger guard. If it's covered the holster is the Askins design, if not
it's Jordan's design.
Askin's on the left
Jordan's 2nd from left
Jordan design by Hume 3rd from left
Askin's without gun on the left and Jordan's on the right 4th from left.

BE Mike · #21 10-27-2021, 10:32 AM

Like Muley Gil, I found the high rise thumb break by Hume to be more to my liking. I met Bill Jordan at Camp Perry once. When we shook hands, I was impressed with the humongous size of his hands! Because of that I am surprised he liked the K frame over the N frame, but undoubtedly it worked for him. Nice photos, but, "What no river belt?"

Classic29 · #22 10-27-2021, 11:05 AM

Hey crazyphil-I see a bunch of Don Hume Jordan’s on eBay. What size would my model 19 require? 216-14? How about a 215-14. Having a time trying to find an old fit chart. Thanks

bobcat · #23 10-27-2021, 11:29 AM

When I was in the Patrol, I went for a high rise thumb break, the Jordan holster, while good for some duties, wasn't overly secure in vigorous activities such as train check, ATV's, not to mention if a scuffle was involved, as occasionally happened. Helped a fellow officer look all over for his revolver in the sand dunes after it was lost from his Jordan holster after rolling an ATV. We found it btw. The Jordan was good for checkpoint and dress uniform however. I do still have my AF issued S&W Jordan style that was issued for carrying our Model 15's when I was in. Shorter shank, still put my personal Model 15 in it when I got to the range.

crazyphil · #24 10-27-2021, 12:04 PM

Classic 29 - My Hume with thumb break is stamped H286 1-4" and it fits
my Model 19 with 4" barrel perfectly. The one without thumb break also
fits just right but there are no model or size stamps on it.

biku324 · #25 10-27-2021, 12:05 PM

^^^^Amen, Bobcat. We were issued the Border Patrol holster in 1980 when I started with the NMSP. I was stationed near the largest Indian reservation in the US, and in a 'wet' county outside the 'dry' reservation. As a result, we arrested folks most days, often many per day. Lifting drunks, struggling with drunks, and working calls in crowded bars as well as traffic stops on very busy highways quickly revealed the holster's limitations. I ruined the rear sight on a nice older issue M28 because the holster flexed and popped the safety strap, then the revolver fell onto I-40 while I was pushing (by hand) a disabled car. On many occasions over the next few months I would check my holster snap after a call or traffic stop and find it unsnapped. More senior officers bought their own thumbreaks, and I followed their example when I could afford it.