Saw this picture and can’t say I’ve ever seen a duty holster quite like it. Perhaps some knowledgeable members can identify?
Chicago PD. 1950 or so.
Nice revolver too!

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That style was called a swivel holster. The swivel allowed the wearer to
swivel it forward when getting in the car so it wouldn't jab into the back
of the seat. I have read that the fault of it was it would beat their leg
when running.

That style was made by Bianchi, called the Judge, and by Bucheimer-Clark
called the Patrolman. Yours is neither of those, but I think many others
made them back at that time.

Bianchi on the left and Bucheimer-Clark on the right.

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In Omnia Paratus

But why would they have their dump pouch on the left side? Wouldn't that complicate reloading?

Those holsters were popular in the 1940 - 1960 period, mostly in the 1950's.

In the photo the dump pouch on the left was for Right hand shooters. They would hold the revolver in their Right hand swing out the cylinder dump the cartridges with their Left hand and load.

However, Left hand shooters it was difficult to reload revolvers holding it in the left hand and trying to reload with the right hand using a right side dump pouch.

I think in the 1950's there were few instances when police had to draw their weapon. I had a neighbor who was a 35 year city police veteran who said he never drew is revolver during his entire career.

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Who are? "They"

The part that intrigued me was the “bracket” that extends from the swivel to the holster body. Never saw one like that.
Swivels were popular in the day, especially useful when seated in a car.
I never carried a dump pouch, but I had my cartridge loops on the left side as well. As said, easier for a right-hander to reload.

I think the swivel part might have been homemade as the photo does not show any basket weave as does the holster.
Prior to getting speed loaders, all of us right handers had the dump pouches on the left side,
Pictured is the holster that I think existed before the swivel portion was added. This holster was usually worn in the cross draw position.

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Ken

We were issued swivel holsters in the early ‘70s that would beat your leg to death when running full tilt. One option was to hold onto the holster but that slowed you down, and if your suspect got away the ribbing in roll call the next shift was murder.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Where did your neighbor work and in what capacity?

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I began in 1962. I carried my dump pouch on the right side and a 12 round cartridge loop on the left side. When reloading I opened the cylinder with my gun hand (right hander), tipped the barrel straight up, and used my left hand to eject the empty cases. I then dropped my gun hand to my dump pouch (left hand holding the cylinder of my service revolver) and duped six cartridges into my right palm. With my left hand I turned the revolver down and loaded the six rounds into the chambers.
closing the cylinder with my left hand I gripped the revolver grips with my right hand and I was 10-8 again.

Swivel holsters were common but that weird rectangular drop-whatever is something I've never seen before. Very odd. Like a swivel "adapter" for a standard belt holster.

For goodness' sakes, chaps. it's a luggage handle with a leather loop attached to it for the belt; likely by a screw and nut.

f57a1a9f-4c1b-4d47-8721-97cfea4be5af.jpg

Yes, it's the Clark-type spring crossdraw holster that is suspended from it.

The combination is certainly not what's called a 'swivel holster'; below a Hoyt crossdraw configured from the factory as a swivel holster:

coupeville formerly el monte (1).jpg

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

For you holster pros. This Gary Coffrin restored photo is of a cowpoke having lunch in a line shack. SE Montana 1886.

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John

For Heaven’s sake! Somebody buy that poor man a real holster!

Originally Posted by martyd View Post

I think in the 1950's there were few instances when police had to draw their weapon. I had a neighbor who was a 35 year city police veteran who said he never drew is revolver during his entire career.

Question from: StakeOut
Where did your neighbor work and in what capacity?

City Officer: Manchester, NH

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Who are? "They"

Those various " Spring Clip Type " holsters were also used strong side as well as crossdraw .

More generally , swivel holsters varied regionally in popularity . Also they had strong correlation to issued six inch revolvers .

I would see them in use at least occasionally until late in the Revolver Era , up until the S&W brand ( later G&G) " Safety Holster " became near universal as issued gear .

This method is my preferred choice except I'll use speed loaders instead of loose rounds. Takes lots of practice to get good at it, as in muscle memory level. Works quicker than other methods for those who are cool under stress.

It’s a Bubba holster!

Speed Loader were not allowed until the 1970s in my part of the world.
In the old PPC course I used a S&W Model 25 (barrel cut to 4+ inch) and half moon clips. A Patrol Sergeant tac welded (?) two half moon clips together to make a full moon clip. He didn't bother to market his invention, so someone else did.

Well, I spent some time today looking at vintage duty holsters on the internet. Nothing close to the one shown.
I went back and looked at the full size picture and based on the officer’s pants, he may have been a motorcycle cop.
Searches for vintage Chicago motorcycle gear didn’t turn up anything similar.
Don’t understand the function of the rig but it’s interesting anyway.

There are a lot of examples of swivel holsters on this forum.
Just go up to the SEARCH function and type in swivel holster.

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In Omnia Paratus

I'm right handed. It's very awkward for me to insert cartridges into a revolver with my left hand. I can't imagine doing it under duress.
When we shoot plates my revolver goes into my left hand while the right hand works the speedloader.
I'm guessing those cops rarely if ever had to reload from the drop pouches.
I used to occasionally walk to school with my neighbor - a cop on his way to work. He had belt loops in back with copper, round nose boolits.

There was a time when the preferred method was to reload holding the gun in the strong hand and using the weak hand to handle ammunition, was supposed o keep you ready to shoot more quickly. Finally was found to be best to let the shooters do it however it worked best for them! What a concept!


When speed loaders were new, and I was shooting PPC, I used a loop, because I could reload more quickly from the loop than most of them could with the speed loaders! On duty I used a 6 round loop, and a double speed loader pouch after we were required to carry them due to the uniform regulations, stupid! I have never had to reload, not even one round, except on the range.

Cross draw holster converted to swivel. Probably a home made contraption. Notice the holster is basket weave but the rest is plain. Both swivels and crossdraws were popular way back when. I guess it shouldn't be surprisingly someone combined the two.

We carried speedloaders(and before those dump pouches) on the strong side, in front of the holster. For right handed shooters, when empty, you thumbed the cylinder release with the right thumb, and switched the gun to the left hand. Point barrel up and use right palm to smack ejector rod. Keep weapon in left hand and use right hand to get speedloader. Close cylinder and switch back to right hand.

Never saw anybody drop the gun. It’s the only way it is comfortable for me. Couldn’t imagine loading with my left.