Current Revolver Duty Gear?

[JayFramer]

Hey all! I’ve become fascinated with law enforcement duty gear for revolvers lately. I’d like to pick up a duty belt, holster, and cartridge slide for my Model 64 Police trade in revolver. Searching on eBay shows a bunch of tired rigs in various states of decay.

What I’m looking for is anyone making NEW (or possibly good condition new old stock) lawman’s rigs for wheelguns. It seems El Paso Saddlery can make one of their thumbreak style holsters for revolvers and a 2 1/4” duty belt, and they offer a 12-round cartridge slide for same. They don’t actually offer 2 1/4” duty belts, though, so I’d need to pick one up elsewhere.

Just curious, gang. Thanks!

-Jay (student of revolver history)

 

[ContinentalOp]

Check out AE Nelson holsters. They still make duty holsters for revolvers.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

While not old school, Safariland makes some level III holsters for K and L frames. There is a guy on his forum, Robbt, that sells tons of like new and slightly used revolver holsters in the classifieds.

 

[Wyo]

Try Aker Leather. They still make a revolver duty holster. Wyoming game wardens carry their products. It ain’t cheap but it really is good, heavy leather.

 

[Muley Gil]

Try ebay as well. I carried my duty revolvers in a black basketweave Safariland Model 29 holsters on a matching Sam Browne belt that no buckle. Instead, it had a concealed hook system and a Velcro inner lining. Instead of belt keepers, I wore a matching Velcro inner belt. I used either drop boxes or speedloaders in matching pouches. I never cared much for bullet loops.

The Safariland Model 29 is a high ride, butt forward thumb snap holster. Anytime I walked though a crowd, I kept my elbow firmly against my sidearm.

 

[Black Knight]

Keep trying Ebay. A few years a go I saw a Safariland swivel holster for a 4 inch K frame. After three days no one had bid on it so I put in a $10 bid and low and behold 2 days later I won the bid. I was the only one to bid on it. I expected a very good condition but used holster but it was brand new still in the plastic bag. I did have to stretch it to accept my model 10-8's heavy barrel. It is a great holster for my use. They are out there but it does take time to find the right one.

 

[JayFramer]

Thanks, all! Checking out those sources now. It seems there are quite a few new old stock gear from the now defunct Tex Shoemaker. Is that considered good quality gear?

 

[crazyphil]

Tex Shoemaker gear is very high quality, and it is priced accordingly.

 

[HardToHandle]

FWIW I picked up a new old stock Safariland speed loader pouch from an Albuquerque police supply store this week. Finding an entire rig is much more of a custom order or piecemeal activity these days.

I have enjoyed and learned a lot from RevolverGuy.com discussing the history of some pretty foolish holster fads. You may want to think if you want real leather or just the synthetic stuff such as Safariland. My experience is they don’t mix well.

 

[Coyote56]

Andrews Custom Leather. “If you can dream it he can make it”.
...might take a while though.

 

[Justin T]

I think Don Hume makes a lot of this stuff. Very very good quality.

 

[gwpercle]

The Baton Rouge P.D. carried their model 64 S&W's in Bianchi rigs .
Sam Browne Duty belt , K-frame holster w/ thumb strap ,
handcuff case , ammo slide w/ 12 loops .
All in smooth black leather and nickel (or stainless ?) buckles and snaps .

Bianchi still sells all this if you are looking for new leather .
Check with Police Supply business's .
Gary

 

[Muley Gil]

FWIW I picked up a new old stock Safariland speed loader pouch from an Albuquerque police supply store this week. Finding an entire rig is much more of a custom order or piecemeal activity these days.

I have enjoyed and learned a lot from RevolverGuy.com discussing the history of some pretty foolish holster fads. You may want to think if you want real leather or just the synthetic stuff such as Safariland. My experience is they don’t mix well.

I knew a number of police officers who bought the plastic Safariland holsters and over time, they cracked, mostly around the thumb break. Of, course, you won't be wearing your rig 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week.

 

[HardToHandle]

I knew a number of police officers who bought the plastic Safariland holsters and over time, they cracked, mostly around the thumb break. Of, course, you won't be wearing your rig 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week.

We had some officers in my area lose their holstered handguns, all auto pistols IIRC, similarly. The Safariland SSIII or similar high security holsters would wear at the belt loop over time. When they were in a pretty rough fights, a bad guy could put all his weight on the holster or yank outward on the grip, sometimes breaking the holster free from the belt.

The gun stayed in the holster and would go skittering away.

This failure sounds bad, but it usually happened with (1) holsters older than five years of rough service and (2) heavier set guys who were right handed (jammed into car seats). The security holsters still served the purpose and prevented loss of life.

The holsters simply do not last forever and needed to be treated as consumable items.

My assumption is the same would be true of laminate revolver holsters if used heavily or potentially after extremely long aging, even on a shelf. Not an issue if intended for display, but age is not the friend to a street cop’s holster.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Tex Shoemaker gear is very high quality, and it is priced accordingly.

While I haven't used their holsters, I have used their belts and other gear. It was very good quality.

Back when I worked as an armed guard I would go to their headquarters and buy direct. It wasn't well known at the time, but they had a "store" in the back, basically a counter where you told them what you wanted and they'd grab it for you, often cheaper than even their catalog prices.

FYI, I used a basic Safariland Safarilaminate thumb break holster when I carried a revolver. I picked it up at a gun show for $15. I didn't like my issued holsters so I used this one instead. It was for an L-frame but my K-frame worked in it, too. It's probably buried in my closet at my mom's house. I'll have to look for it next time I visit and see what kind of shape it's in after 20+ years.

 

[JayFramer]

Thank you all so much!! I snagged a gently used Bianchi duty belt in my size from eBay for a great price after hunting around a long time on there. Then I decided to get a new old stock Tex Shoemaker 12 round cartridge slide. I decided not to buy a used slide as I didn’t want to risk the loops being stretched out or something.

Now on to a holster, of which I am researching the various recommendations thus far. I do have an old, worn out Safariland 29 for my Model 64, but it is stretched out and doesn’t retain the gun very well. It can be pulled free of the thumb break by yanking backwards on the grip with moderate force, not so good.

The other accessories I bought were black basketweave so I’ll need one in that. On to more research and hunting!

 

[Muley Gil]

Thank you all so much!! I snagged a gently used Bianchi duty belt in my size from eBay for a great price after hunting around a long time on there. Then I decided to get a new old stock Tex Shoemaker 12 round cartridge slide. I decided not to buy a used slide as I didn’t want to risk the loops being stretched out or something.

Now on to a holster, of which I am researching the various recommendations thus far. I do have an old, worn out Safariland 29 for my Model 64, but it is stretched out and doesn’t retain the gun very well. It can be pulled free of the thumb break by yanking backwards on the grip with moderate force, not so good.

The other accessories I bought were black basketweave so I’ll need one in that. On to more research and hunting!

Sometimes, if there is room, you can put another snap on the strap, right above the factory one.