Evaluators - Quantico, VA - Quick Draw Holster by Heiser

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gunbarrel

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A S&WCA member at the Glendale Symposium had a real nice table with the subject holsters, and I believe S&W revolvers bought through Evaluators to go with them. I had never heard of them; so, I spent a long time looking through the table. Upon return home, I was casually going through the holsters listed on an e-commerce website 8-| when I ran across this holster. Because of its condition and the great price, I bought it. Thought I'd share pictures of it, below.
 

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That was a proprietary design by Heiser for Evaluators Ltd. They sold a number of them with the then new Combat Masterpiece, you can find photos of soldiers and airmen in Korea wearing it. It could be worn with the harness like the M3 holster or worn on the belt, usually cross draw. They’re not that easy to find. Thanks for posting it.
Regards,
 
Thank you for the information, turnerriver; I did not know that some US troops used them in Korea. BTW, I'm enjoying your daily holster posts--keep them coming!
 
Years ago I had an issue revolver holster that looked something like that. It was worn as an M3 pistol holster was. Stupidly it got traded off somewhere along the line. It was probably USMC issue to an aircrew as I picked it up in eastern NC around MCAS Cherry Point.
 
That Company seems to have stamped their name on a lot of things that went through their hands. Even S&W literature. I wonder how long they were in business?
 

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It is not well known but Colt worked with Evaluators, LTD. to supply this very holster (in a 2-inch version) with the Aircrewman revolvers they supplied to the USAF.
cfg2GST.jpg
 
My Brother in Law retired as a Major in the Marine Corps, and he told me that around 1980, Lieutenant Colonel George Mason Van Orden (the son) was his boss. He remembers him as a quiet and easy-going fellow who would rather be at the shooting range, than behind a desk, like they were. He was a competitive shooter for the Corps and he managed the Marksmanship Training Programs out at Weapons Training Battalion. He died at age 74 in 2013 as result of an auto accident involving a DUI driver.

There is more information here:

Anyone know Evaluators Limited Quantico ?
 
gunbarrel said:
My Brother in Law retired as a Major in the Marine Corps, and he told me that around 1980, Lieutenant Colonel George Mason Van Orden (the son) was his boss. He remembers him as a quiet and easy-going fellow who would rather be at the shooting range, than behind a desk, like they were. He was a competitive shooter for the Corps and he managed the Marksmanship Training Programs out at Weapons Training Battalion. He died at age 74 in 2013 as result of an auto accident involving a DUI driver.

There is more information here:

Anyone know Evaluators Limited Quantico ?
Click to expand...


You mean these folks?
 

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AJ said:
You mean these folks?
Click to expand...

Yes, although that is an old insignia.

Weapons Training Battalion (WTB) was within the Marine Corps Development & Education Command (MCDEC) when Van Orden was the CO.

In about 2000, the training guys reorganized, and WTB now falls under the Training Command.

The WTB insignia was also updated as shown on the attached photo.
 

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gunbarrel said:
Yes, although that is an old insignia.

Weapons Training Battalion (WTB) was within the Marine Corps Development & Education Command (MCDEC) when Van Orden was the CO.

In about 2000, the training guys reorganized, and WTB now falls under the Training Command.

The WTB insignia was also updated as shown on the attached photo.
Click to expand...

It is an original decal that was given to a friend of mine by the MECDEC Sgt.Major. IIRC.
 
Worth knowing that Heiser has used its stamp for the 457 belt holster that the FBI used from the late 1950s onwards. You won't have noticed that the stamp has been altered for this project and stayed that way: 'FBI' was removed at Evaluator's insistence for this project (a letter supplied by turnerriver).
 

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I have an Heiser Evaluator’s Model 459 Quick Draw for a j-frame with a dog ear that I got from Crazyphil. Also a 457 for a four inch K frame. A simple little design.
 

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