Ol' Drover
SWCA Member
I know a lot of people on the forum appreciate the holsters once crafted by Fort Worth Homicide Lieutenant Oliver Ball so I thought I would post this old article I found detailing his work.
It appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on March 30, 1967, which happened to be the same month and year that I took delivery on my first "O. Ball" holster. Over half of my academy class of 26 in Dallas had ordered from him and Lt. Ball made sure they were in our hands before we graduated.
They were delivered by FBI Special Agent Leo L. "Robby" Robertson who taught take-down moves, weapons retention and fast draw as a visiting instructor at the academy . Robby and Oliver Ball were friends and often conducted firearms training classes together.
There were a bunch of excited recruits when Robby dumped a cardboard box of holsters onto a table and we scrambled to find the paper sack with our name on it.
Our enthusiasm was tempered somewhat when Inspector "Red" Preston, the crusty old director of the academy, warned us that any rookie who dared to pull out a pistol on academy grounds to test its fit in the new holster would find himself without both a pistol and a job. I believed him.
The one I got that day is the plain black model in the picture, holding the Combat Masterpiece. At the time, I could not afford the extra $5.00 to get it carved. Two of my other favorites are pictured holding a 2" Model 10 and a 4" 38/44 Heavy Duty.
It appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on March 30, 1967, which happened to be the same month and year that I took delivery on my first "O. Ball" holster. Over half of my academy class of 26 in Dallas had ordered from him and Lt. Ball made sure they were in our hands before we graduated.
They were delivered by FBI Special Agent Leo L. "Robby" Robertson who taught take-down moves, weapons retention and fast draw as a visiting instructor at the academy . Robby and Oliver Ball were friends and often conducted firearms training classes together.
There were a bunch of excited recruits when Robby dumped a cardboard box of holsters onto a table and we scrambled to find the paper sack with our name on it.
Our enthusiasm was tempered somewhat when Inspector "Red" Preston, the crusty old director of the academy, warned us that any rookie who dared to pull out a pistol on academy grounds to test its fit in the new holster would find himself without both a pistol and a job. I believed him.
The one I got that day is the plain black model in the picture, holding the Combat Masterpiece. At the time, I could not afford the extra $5.00 to get it carved. Two of my other favorites are pictured holding a 2" Model 10 and a 4" 38/44 Heavy Duty.
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I really like the police department markings on the righty! I think I remember the lefty fit a .25acp Colt Vest Pocket pretty well. The thing I liked about is holsters is that it was a cop making holsters for a cop.
...Ben
