The old Reverse Draw for Long Revolvers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYrE7e1VmgY


Gun writer Mike Bellevieu (sp? ) demonstrates the reverse or cavalry draw with a SA revolver. He shows how to avoid pointing the gun at oneself.

Did anyone see Peter O'Toole as a Nazi general use this draw with a PPK in, The Night of the Generals?

I like it for long barrelled revolvers like the Ruger Super Blackhawk or the Colt SAA.

I am not sure what the point is/was? Well, cavalry.... So as to be accessible to the weak hand if the strong hand is occupied with one's saber or out of commission?

But why do you like it, T-Star?

Two 1911's behind your back in belt loop holsters would work?

Onomea said:

I am not sure what the point is/was? Well, cavalry.... So as to be accessible to the weak hand if the strong hand is occupied with one's saber or out of commission?

But why do you like it, T-Star?

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Someone asked here a few days ago about how to wear a long-barrelled revolver. Because this was originally used with eight-inch barrelled Colts and Remingtons in the Civil War, it is effective with longer guns and allows sitting down on a log or whatever pretty well. And the gun is accessible to either hand and the draw can be surprisingly fast, with practice.

Yes, it was originally intended to let the trooper have a saber in one hand and reach the revolver with the other. After the M-1911 was adopted, a straight draw holster was usual.

But I've seen photos of female MP's in recent years with similar holsters for their .38's. I presume that tradition was the motive there.

Of course, I'm not advocating this for concealed carry or police uniform use. But a hunter or someone who likes to carry and shoot longer barrelled guns may like it.

It's certainly more realistic than the four-gun rigs that a member showed here awhile back.

And allowing access to either hand lets you fend off an opponent and still draw with the other hand. O'Toole showed the surprise aspect in the movie cited. The persistent major stalking him probably wasn't expecting that. (Omar Sherif played a German quite well.)

"The Night of the Generals" is an excellent film, well worth seeking out.

What a coincidence you posted this now - I was poking through the old holster bin at an ABQ gun store and took a second look at what I had thought was an odd left-handed holster for a long single action. It finally dawned on me it was set up for cavalry draw.



Its marked Black Hills Leather of Laredo, Texas. Very well made, and it was all of about five bucks so I got it.

Its hard to tell without seeing it on somebody, but the cant is very muzzle forward if worn as a lefty holster. But worn on the right it is perfect for a cavalry draw.





I haven't tried it in the field, but it seems like a great way to carry a long barreled single action on a bike or ATV.

sigp220.45 said:

What a coincidence you posted this now - I was poking through the old holster bin at an ABQ gun store and took a second look at what I had thought was an odd left-handed holster for a long single action. It finally dawned on me it was set up for cavalry draw.



Its marked Black Hills Leather of Laredo, Texas. Very well made, and it was all of about five bucks so I got it.

Its hard to tell without seeing it on somebody, but the cant is very muzzle forward if worn as a lefty holster. But worn on the right it is perfect for a cavalry draw.





I haven't tried it in the field, but it seems like a great way to carry a long barreled single action on a bike or ATV.

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I agree, and it's a heck of a deal for five bucks! Wow! That's nice work. I like your stag Vaquero in it.

Do you ever see anyone carry that way on an Indian reservation? I bet they watch movies, too. I know that you work major crimes there. No, I doubt the Navaho police wear their guns that way. Although Jim Chee might, in Hillerman's novels. I think he needed both hands to find his gun some days...

I'm sure someone will tell me how wrong I am, but this is a good concealed carry for a 3 in K frame. Carried inside the waist band or in a pancake holster just over the back pocket. The butt doesn't print like it will with conventional carry if you twist or bend over. The draw is lift straight up, as the gun comes out passed the hip with the muzzle still pointed to the ground rotate the hand and raise the muzzle to the target. The muzzle never crosses the body. Easy and simple, if you are willing to give it a try with an open mind. Just a different method, like everything.

Keep in mind that Wild Bill Hickock wore his guns that way, according to a photo. He was considered to be very dangerous.

I DO NOT believe that he walked around with the bare bladed Bowie knife in his sash. That was either a photo prop or a knife that he really wore sheathed. I presume that most here have seen that photo?

crows said:

I'm sure someone will tell me how wrong I am, but this is a good concealed carry for a 3 in K frame. Carried inside the waist band or in a pancake holster just over the back pocket. The butt doesn't print like it will with conventional carry if you twist or bend over. The draw is lift straight up, as the gun comes out passed the hip with the muzzle still pointed to the ground rotate the hand and raise the muzzle to the target. The muzzle never crosses the body. Easy and simple, if you are willing to give it a try with an open mind. Just a different method, like everything.

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Actually, that makes sense for civilian gun carriers. I doubt that it'll be approved by most cop shops. In the video, Bellevieu made the point that CAS rangemasters often don't permit it. (Cowboy Action Shooting.)

If it's safe for a man of his rotund stature, more slender men should be even safer, IF they pay attentionn and don't start to cock the gun before it clears the body.

A man wearing a crossdraw holster can draw with the hand on that side, if his other arm is injured or occupied. I think Gaylord demonstrated this draw with a Colt .45 auto in his book, "Handgunner's Guide", about 1960.

Texas Star said:

I agree, and it's a heck of a deal for five bucks! Wow! That's nice work. I like your stag Vaquero in it.

Do you ever see anyone carry that way on an Indian reservation? I bet they watch movies, too. I know that you work major crimes there. No, I doubt the Navaho police wear their guns that way. Although Jim Chee might, in Hillerman's novels. I think he needed both hands to find his gun some days...

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The Navajo cops I work with all carry Glock 22s in conventional strong side holsters. I did know a Criminal Investigator for a tribe in Montana who favored a 6" 629 with the full underlug barrel. He was quick to dent a guy's hat if he felt it was warranted.

sigp220.45 said:

The Navajo cops I work with all carry Glock 22s in conventional strong side holsters. I did know a Criminal Investigator for a tribe in Montana who favored a 6" 629 with the full underlug barrel. He was quick to dent a guy's hat if he felt it was warranted.

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How does the Bureau let agents dress in New Mexico? Do any of you guys wear bolo ties? Does anyone still wear them there?

I haven't been to that state in many years. I'm trying to picture you poking around in the holster bin in an Albuquerque (sp?) store. But that holster for that price...you've been living right, or something.

The Bu tends to look on us Indian Country guys with the slightly bemused tolerance you would grant a slow-witted but genial cousin. As long as we dress up for court the bosses are happy.

I work with a guy who will go "full cowboy " sometimes - bolo tie, western cut coat, and Tony Lamas. I usually go with cargo pants and a Hawaiian shirt.