OFT II
US Veteran
Getting the revolver out was just half the problem with the clam shell. Getting it back in again without dropping it wasn't easy. Even harder if your other hand was busy.
Joe Friday's S&W Snubbie
- Thread starter Deacon KC
- Start date
Jack Flash
Member
My Lord!
Is this an "only in LA" situation, or did other cities / departments use clamshells?
Sgt 127
Member
There is a piano hinge all the way across the back of the holster, it is spring loaded. The button (green arrow) is inside the trigger guard. When you have a shooting grasp on the gun, you stick your finger in the trigger guard and push the button. A lever trips the catch (red arrow) allowing the holster to fly open. There is a steel "hook" (blue arrow)over the trigger guard to prevent drawing without opening the holster.
The entire holster is leather covered steel. Its very heavy. There is no "draw". You hold the gun in a firing position, push the button and the gun is free. Any angle, any position. Its a blindingly fast draw.
All the old revolver holsters had exposed trigger guards. The Jordan River holsters, the Threepersons. Guns were dangerous, shooting had inherent risks. Lawyers, and duty guns with short 5.5 pound triggers were not the norm. Most AD's occured during reholstering, not drawing. It was thought a covered trigger guard would be more dangerous. If your finger is on the trigger, and, the trigger guard is covered, when the gun goes in, the finger stops, the gun keeps going and the trigger goes back, bang.
The next generation was the Bianchi Model 27 (readily available, it was a a take off of the Berns Martin holster that was awesome, but, never that popular). It was a true clamshell holster (with a covered trigger guard) You had to push the gun through the front and, it popped closed when the gun came out. Since you were actually ripping the gun out, I think it would NOT be a good idea to have your finger on the trigger!
For your entertainment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViX9D9TJ8k8&feature=relmfu
The entire holster is leather covered steel. Its very heavy. There is no "draw". You hold the gun in a firing position, push the button and the gun is free. Any angle, any position. Its a blindingly fast draw.
All the old revolver holsters had exposed trigger guards. The Jordan River holsters, the Threepersons. Guns were dangerous, shooting had inherent risks. Lawyers, and duty guns with short 5.5 pound triggers were not the norm. Most AD's occured during reholstering, not drawing. It was thought a covered trigger guard would be more dangerous. If your finger is on the trigger, and, the trigger guard is covered, when the gun goes in, the finger stops, the gun keeps going and the trigger goes back, bang.
The next generation was the Bianchi Model 27 (readily available, it was a a take off of the Berns Martin holster that was awesome, but, never that popular). It was a true clamshell holster (with a covered trigger guard) You had to push the gun through the front and, it popped closed when the gun came out. Since you were actually ripping the gun out, I think it would NOT be a good idea to have your finger on the trigger!
For your entertainment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViX9D9TJ8k8&feature=relmfu
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The first generation clamshells did not have a stop block on them.
When released, that half of the holster would whack the back of your thigh
SOOOO HARD !@!$$#@$$#@#!#
How well I know...... I have a original first gen Safety Speed from the late 1950's. It was my uncle's who spent 33 years on the Mobile, Al PD.
This is also his 6 inch M&P that he carried.
And YES...we carried our service revolver in a open trigger guard holster. Then again, I never had a AD/ND with one. And I hated the "security" style holsters in the 80's, just downright ugly and rode too high for patrol duty.
My favorite duty rig of all time, and wore it on my last day of work before retiring in 2011. I was the only one at line up with a wheelgun that day..
But, truth be told, I was a white shirt (Capt.)and we were authorized any revolver or semi auto that we qualified with. Our choice.
The young guys were all gaga over the cartridge loops....
When released, that half of the holster would whack the back of your thigh
SOOOO HARD !@!$$#@$$#@#!#
How well I know...... I have a original first gen Safety Speed from the late 1950's. It was my uncle's who spent 33 years on the Mobile, Al PD.
This is also his 6 inch M&P that he carried.
And YES...we carried our service revolver in a open trigger guard holster. Then again, I never had a AD/ND with one. And I hated the "security" style holsters in the 80's, just downright ugly and rode too high for patrol duty.
My favorite duty rig of all time, and wore it on my last day of work before retiring in 2011. I was the only one at line up with a wheelgun that day..
But, truth be told, I was a white shirt (Capt.)and we were authorized any revolver or semi auto that we qualified with. Our choice.
The young guys were all gaga over the cartridge loops....
I remember one episode of Dragnet with a cameo by Kelly Lookabaugh of Smith & Wesson, touting the "new" .44 Magnum that would "tear a car's engine out of its mountings", and Friday's response that, "I'll just stick with my Airweight."
I saw another episode of Highway Patrol with the actor sticking his 6 inch Official Police in the front of his pants rather than reholstering while searching and cuffing.
Is this something clamshell users actually did??
In a similar vein, I've always wondered about a 1970's TV movie that showed the TV cops partially reholstering in their break front holsters by inserting the trigger guard up to the frame in the open front of the holster. I've always wondered if that was purely a TV trick or if it was a real practice in some areas.
I recall an article complaining about cops sometimes copying dumb tricks seen on TV -- like the first round empty chamber from the "Wolf" episode of Police Story. There are certainly lots of dumb tricks to copy.
Is this something clamshell users actually did??
In a similar vein, I've always wondered about a 1970's TV movie that showed the TV cops partially reholstering in their break front holsters by inserting the trigger guard up to the frame in the open front of the holster. I've always wondered if that was purely a TV trick or if it was a real practice in some areas.
I recall an article complaining about cops sometimes copying dumb tricks seen on TV -- like the first round empty chamber from the "Wolf" episode of Police Story. There are certainly lots of dumb tricks to copy.
RMF
Member
Love this thread.... Lewis Leather did make a "Police Special" (or at least the same style as the Police Special cross-draw) with a spring clip as well.
Here is my S&W Pre-40 Centennial in a Lewis Leather crossdraw with spring clip. Looks like its straight out of Dragnet and LAPD Major Crimes/Homicide in Parker Center.
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