Another Adam 12 question.

[Ivan the Butcher]

Somebody's gonna ask, so might as well be me. What if you don't have pants on?

To most people that is an eye bleach moment! That is a defense all by itself!

Ivan

 

[Checkman]

Somewhat later I found out how they qualified. They'd show up with a briefcase with their duty holster, firearm and cartridge belt slide. They'd stick that on their pants belt and qualify. The gear would go back in the briefcase and they'd leave. The snubby would go back on the belt.

Sounds about right.

 

[Checkman]

I would be willing to bet a cold drink that what and how they carried on Adam-12, Dragnet and the rest of the tv shows was not a reflection of then current police practice but was instead a function of what they had in the prop room at the studio.

All the literature states that the Jack Webb shows took great care to ensure that the actors were carrying equipment and following procedures (with some dramatic liberties of course) that were in use 9at the time). For exampleif you watch all the seasons of Adam-12 you'll see that they swtich from K-38 revolver to Model 15 revolvers. Also the clam-shell holster is in use for awhile then it goes away. I have also read that when "Dragnet" returned in the late sixties Jack Webb started out carrying a Colt DS (like he did in the fifties version), but when he learned that L.A.P.D. detectives now carried The Model 10 snubbie he switched.

 

[Checkman]

Joe Friday also used the Ithaca 37 riot-gun on occasions in the late sixties version. Most notably "The Shooting" (Episode 11, Season 1).

 

[UncleEd]

And then were was Columbo.

He didn't carry a gun and when it
was time for his qualifications, he had
a friend take them for him.

 

[usmc2427765]

I never carried cross draw on or off duty. When I was riding one man or driving with a partner, I did carry a S&W air weight body guard stuffed down behind my sam Browne belt in cross draw fashion for any uninvited guests that might appear at my window.