Bill Jordan and the S&W Model 19...

[Iggy]

Believe what you will about the incident. Doesn't really matter now, as everyone involved in dead.

I have avoided entering into this fray again. I have posted my feelings on this subject here before. I will only say that I was around Cantrell and shot with him when he was on the Highway Patrol. I wouldn't turn my back on Cantrell for any reason. I also shot with Bill Jordan.

I can tell you that the sun never rose on the day that Ed was a "mite faster" than Bill Jordan.

 

[junglefighter]

I met Bill Jordan in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma on May 27,1980 at Mashburn Arms Co.There he signed his book for me.I was very privileged to have met and spoken with him.He left a lasting impression with me,what a great man he was.

 

[jtcarm]

If that's a M19 in his hand on the cover, then he has some MASSIVE paws!

Yep, he was 6' 6". Google Jordan-style stocks. An average shooter probably couldn't reach the trigger with them. Same basic shape as Miculek but with lots of wood covering the backstrap, much thicker, and probably more material around the front strap.

The holster is also his design.

Not only were Jordan's stocks huge, they must've been very heavy. I read once he had his stocks made of lignum vitae, aka guayacan or ironwood, one of the densest woods in the world. Throw it in the water, and it will sink.

Jordan was also the impetus for the .41 magnum. He thought the police load was good but was disappointed the gun was a full-size N-frame. He wrote later he had been naive to think S&W would design a whole new frame around an unproven cartridge (yes, I know, they have done it since then, but this was the truly-conservative 1950s.) I often wonder if the L-frame could chamber a 6-round .41 mag or 10mm. That would be an awesome revolver.

 

[Tory_Werne]

Not Jelly Bryce, Louis M. Werne, Jr.

This is NOT JELLY BRYCE in this 1964 image taken from
"No Second Place Winner" by Bill Jordan (page 56).

This is Louis M. Werne, Jr. with Bill Jordan,
with a more complete answer in a nearby forum.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/139003848-post48.html

Regards, Tory Werne

 

[daddy bear]

Bill Jordan always stopped by a local gun shop when in town. The patriarch of the family run place was an old friend and competitor of his.

I had the priveledge of chatting with him several times in the seventies. The only guy I ever knew with hands that large was a defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions. I was always surprised that Jordan favored the K frame gun. He was a nice guy to visit with. He usually made the approach to me as I was normally in uniform. I never wanted to infringe on his time with his old friend, but there were lots of folks that we both knew. Nice to catch up on happenings.

Jack

 

[Ed Fowler]

Jerry Spence was a great attorney, Cantrell convinced him that he was innocent and Spence took the case to defend Cantrell, a man that the press had convicted long before the trial. Cantrell did not stand a chance, and no way could he afford to pay Spence. Spence took the case and his defense was brilliant. Spence was a true friend to a man who truly needed one.

My vote goes for Spence and Cantrell.

 

[Stan O]

I have the same book autographed as well by Mr. Jordan. A colorful character with deadly repose.

I have that book autographed as well.

 

[Zebadiah]

If that's a M19 in his hand on the cover, then he has some MASSIVE paws!

It was, and he did.

 

[Targets Guy]

My Bill Jordan tribute gun.

 

[Walter Rego]

Another Jordan (and Steve Herrett) tribute

 

[shawn mccarver]

John,

I've seen this picture before with the same assertion that Jelly Bryce is to Jordan's right. Do you have positive attribution to establish that that is Jelly? I don't think it is, FWIW.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

You are correct. Definitely not Delf "Jelly" Bryce.

 

[crazyphil]

I'm all in for Bill Jordan. My Dad had a Model 19 he let me shoot, so I had
to have one too. Mine, shown below, is a 19-4 I bought new, I think it was
around 1977. I also put Herrett's Jordan Trooper stocks on it. About 20
years ago I sent it back to S&W for a tune up and had them put on the
Mcgivern gold bead front sight.

Early on in Bill Jordan's Border Patrol career, he wasn't totally happy with
the holster designed by Askins and Myres, shown 2nd from left. So he
designed his own, and had his design made by an
old German saddle maker in Alpine Texas, C. H. Werner.

About that time he went island hopping across the Pacific as a Marine in
WWII. By the time he got back his holster looked like it had been through
a war, so he stopped in to Myres shop in ElPaso and had a new one made.
Shown 3rd from left.

Before long, it was the most popular holster in law enforcement. Every
officer wanted a holster "just like Bill Jordans". The unpleasantness in
Korea came along about that time, and Bill was still a Marine reserve so
he was called to duty.

By the time Bill got back from Korea, Sam Myres had passed away. Every
holster maker was making a rendition of Bill's holster, and some of them
were not so hot, so Bill got a Trademark to protect his name, and gave
the exclusive right to use it to Don Hume. The Hume Jordan holster is
4th from left.

Later, Hume updated the Jordan Border Patrol holster with a thumb break,
as show 5th from left.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

If that's a M19 in his hand on the cover, then he has some MASSIVE paws!

A quarter in his hands looked like a nickel in mine.
Geoff
Who wishes he could find that picture on line.

 

[CajunBass]

My only contact with Bill Jordan was his magazine articles, and later his book, "No Second Place Winner." I was always of the opinion that the "feud" between he and Skeeter Skelton was two friends ribbing each other.

I ordered a copy of "Hell I was There" off Ebay a few years back. The seller said something like "Someone he hunted and camped with wrote in it." I figured there were notes in the margins or something like that. The book was cheap, so I ordered it anyway.

Turned out that Bill Jordan had autographed it for some previous owner.

This one never gets sold as long as I'm still around.

 

[shep854]

BREAKING NEWS: Sudden string of attempted burglaries at residence in N. Chesterfield, VA...

 

[Cleandean]

Whaaat ... You don't say. Who woulda' thought ?

 

[borderbud]

I was posted to El Centro when he was ACPI. Folks don't mention (or know) his "dry fire " practice that went thru a wall and hit a colleague in the head. Three other close friends blasted a wall. a mirror and a pair of binoculars. Issued Colt New Service 38s, Colt Border Patrol 38s and in 1968 a Combat Masterpiece.

 

[Birdhunter6]

His Handgunner column was always the first thing I turned to when the new G&A showed up in the mailbox.

Got my copy of No Second Place Winner about 1980. Most considered it dated even then, but I learned a lot. I bought a used 58 and ordered a pair of Pachy Jordan grips. I still have them but never fired a shot with them. I have big hands, but not nearly that big!

 

[reach147]

"eyes change to gunfighter aggressive" Okay I'll ask, what does that mean

 

[vinn]

big frame smiths;

I like them !