Lawman Leather

[jtex54]

Does anyone know if Jerry Andolini at Lawman Leather is still in business and making the Dirty Harry type holster with the cylinder cut out? I have been trying to call them for some time.

Anyone have one of those and are the best shoulder rig going or is a Bianchi X15 as good? Are there others that I should look at for a 29-2 6.5 inch. Thanks,

 

[VaTom]

Does anyone know if Jerry Andolini at Lawman Leather is still in business and making the Dirty Harry type holster with the cylinder cut out? I have been trying to call them for some time.

Anyone have one of those and are the best shoulder rig going or is a Bianchi X15 as good? Are there others that I should look at for a 29-2 6.5 inch. Thanks,

I carried a Model 64 - 2 inch in a Bianchi X15 back in the 1970s off duty. Loved the holster. Sold it to a friend in the early 1980's - wish I had it back when I look at how much they cost now.

Have been looking for a used one at gun shows lately.

 

[Black Knight]

I have a Bianchi X-15 that I bought in the early 1980s for a 6" Colt Python. The only thing wrong with it now is normal wear and tear. The elastic strap has stretched and needs to be replaced. Other than that it has been a great shoulder holster. That big Python was easy to conceal with a slightly longer than normal jacket. It was also easy to get to if needed. I have had other shoulder holsters for different handguns but the XD-15 has been the best I have used bar none.

 

[crazyphil]

Does anyone know if Jerry Andolini at Lawman Leather is still in business and making the Dirty Harry type holster with the cylinder cut out? I have been trying to call them for some time.

Anyone have one of those and are the best shoulder rig going or is a Bianchi X15 as good? Are there others that I should look at for a 29-2 6.5 inch. Thanks,

I have a Lawman Leather that got years ago. There was an
article about Jerry in one of the gun magazines a while back.
They gave his web as: Holsters | Lawman Leather Goods
and his phone 877-445-2962
I had to replace part of my harness but the holster has
held up well. Here it is with my S&W Model 67.

 

[BruceM]

If Lawman Leather is indeed still operating, I'd think very carefully about any business dealings with him. There was a huge amount of controversy regarding him taking orders (and money) and then not delivering product. It seems to me that the whole dustup began with Lawman thought to be out of business and potential customers trying to get "Dirty Harry holster" repro's made by Ted Blocker. Somehow, Mr. Andolini got wind of this and a fair amount of unpleasantness ensued. If my memory is correct, the BBB got involved and Lawman Leather didn't come out on top of that portion of the incident.

At any rate, I'd research this before diving in with both feet. There was a long thread concerning this on this Forum.

Bruce

P.S. Here is one of the threads concerning the aforementioned "dustup": Dirty Harry Shoulder Holster

 

[rednichols]

The X15 is good -- I have personally built many of them there -- and was used by Dirty Harry in the final films. The Bucheimer has a big advantage over the X15: its spring originates behind the muzzle, so there is no muzzle drag during the draw as with the X15. So, though I don't have any personal knowledge about the current makers of either one, I'd look on eBay for the original Bucheimers instead! They do come up from time to time.

 

[Arisin Wind]

I don't think Jerry Ardolino is with lawman Leather any more. It seems he left and set up Wild Guns Leather. I believe he was selling holsters on EBay in the last year or so at very decent prices. Looks like he might have been liquidating his stock there were so many for sale.

The "Dirty Harry" style holsters are up for auction every so often. Makers include Clark, Bucheimer, and others. Even the US government was buying them back in the late 60's and early 70's for issue to pilots. Those are usually black and for 4 inch K frames though I did find a government issued model for a 1911.

The X15 and X2000 and X2100 are good substitutes. As mentioned earlier A Bianchi was used in the later films. It can be clearly seen in Sudden Impact. The problem with those holsters is the elastic strap. That strap looses strength over time and the holster flops around. It's also a thin strap and tends to dig into your shoulder and neck. The trick is to replace it with a leather harness.

 

[BruceM]

I don't think Jerry Ardolino is with lawman Leather any more.

I think that his son took that business over. Lurking back at the far end of my memory is the thought that there was a name change and a change of geography.

The Dirty Harry Holster is one of those things which was used in a movie that actually was a good product and not just a bunch of cool looking silver screen hype. Mine is a mid to late 1970's Bucheimer issue.

Bruce

 

[737shark]

I don't think Jerry Ardolino is with lawman Leather any more. It seems he left and set up Wild Guns Leather. I believe he was selling holsters on EBay in the last year or so at very decent prices. Looks like he might have been liquidating his stock there were so many for sale.

The "Dirty Harry" style holsters are up for auction every so often. Makers include Clark, Bucheimer, and others. Even the US government was buying them back in the late 60's and early 70's for issue to pilots. Those are usually black and for 4 inch K frames though I did find a government issued model for a 1911.

The X15 and X2000 and X2100 are good substitutes. As mentioned earlier A Bianchi was used in the later films. It can be clearly seen in Sudden Impact. The problem with those holsters is the elastic strap. That strap looses strength over time and the holster flops around. It's also a thin strap and tends to dig into your shoulder and neck. The trick is to replace it with a leather harness.

Who made the last holster in this pic

 

[Arisin Wind]

The holster in the last pic is a modified Bianchi X2000 from the 1970's. I did the cylinder cutout and replaced the elastic strap with a leather harness I made. The harness is modeled on the harness used for the Clark Spring Shouder Holster No. 15, which is the holster used in the first couple Dirty Harry movies.

 

[S.B.]

I don't think Jerry Ardolino is with lawman Leather any more. It seems he left and set up Wild Guns Leather. I believe he was selling holsters on EBay in the last year or so at very decent prices. Looks like he might have been liquidating his stock there were so many for sale.

The "Dirty Harry" style holsters are up for auction every so often. Makers include Clark, Bucheimer, and others. Even the US government was buying them back in the late 60's and early 70's for issue to pilots. Those are usually black and for 4 inch K frames though I did find a government issued model for a 1911.

The X15 and X2000 and X2100 are good substitutes. As mentioned earlier A Bianchi was used in the later films. It can be clearly seen in Sudden Impact. The problem with those holsters is the elastic strap. That strap looses strength over time and the holster flops around. It's also a thin strap and tends to dig into your shoulder and neck. The trick is to replace it with a leather harness.

Please pardon my ignorance but, what is the black dot on the spring in your top picture of the Dirty Harry? I've own a couple of Mr. Ardolino's holsters and never saw this before.
Steve

 

[Arisin Wind]

That is a tension screw. It sets how tight the spring grasps the handgun. They came on the original holsters. If you look you can see it - usually in nickle - on some of the other holsters.

 

[S.B.]

Hmmmm not on my original one?
Steve

 

[Arisin Wind]

Hmmmm not on my original one?
Steve

Who made yours? Is the yoke sown or laced? Leather or elastic harness? You have pics?

 

[S.B.]

I bought both from Mr. Ardolino the first one many years ago and my present one took forever to arrive, I think he was based in LV on the last one? I spoke to him several times on the phone because many here(maybe you and or others) were dissing him about delivery?
Steve

 

[Arisin Wind]

I bought both from Mr. Ardolino the first one many years ago and my present one took forever to arrive, I think he was based in LV on the last one? I spoke to him several times on the phone because many here(maybe you and or others) were dissing him about delivery?
Steve

So you have a Lawman Leather holster. A high quality holster. Most of the holsters you see in the pictures above predate Lawman Leather. The Lawman Leather holsters aren't an exact copy of the holster used in the Dirty Harry movies. They lack the tension screw, have a wide "cobra head" belt retention strap (instead of a narrow strap) and have a laced yoke instead of sewing.

I remember several years ago people on this and other forums had ordered holsters from Lawman Leather and were experiencing very long delays in delivery. Some said they did not receive their holsters. I haven't heard of any issues of late. Not even sure if they are still in business.