Police Cartridge Loops/Slides?

[jimmyj]

Police Cartridge Loops/Slides

The first speed Loaders I had were "Dade". These had a large knob at the rear that you pushed forward to release all six cartridges.
The downside was if you dropped one, it would hit on the knob and all six cartridges' would fly away in six different directions.

 

[wrkerr]

Started in '77. Several old-timers still used belt loops, but we had the option of dump pouches with speed strips. That is what I used with my model 10 heavy barrel. We were eventually allowed to carry M25-2's with full moon clips. I really loved that combo!

Now retired, I most often can be found carrying my old M49 with a speedloader in
my pocket, and a 6-loop holder for topping off less than 5 rounds. Surprisingly, I still maintain memory from 40+ years ago..... shoot two, load two, repeat.

 

[crazyphil]

Here is a Bucheimer Patrolman swivel holster with 12 cartridge loops at
the top, and an additional 12 cartridge slide. The revolver is my Model
67 Combat Masterpiece.

PS The belt is by Bianchi.

By the way, a little bit of history:
Go up to the SEARCH function, type in: Jim Cirillo's holster

 

[turnerriver]

Here’s a pretty picture with no real world application-mainly I want to thank all you LEO’s for your service, I have particular reason to be grateful for what you all do every day of your working lives.
Respectfully
turnerriver

 

[Old cop]

We were issued swivel holsters that had 12 round loops as part of the rig and we were trained to load two at a time from the loops. When those holsters began to break at the swivel we were issued a border patrol style holster w/dump pouches. Speedloaders were never officially approved although many of us carried them in our pockets.

 

[mckenney99]

When I joined OSHP in 1980 we were issued a Jordan Border Patrol type holster for our HB M10 and a custom made, covered 6 loop rig that had the handcuff pouch attached at the bottom. We didn't get speed loaders until we traded in our M10's for our new M681's. We were issued a security holster that was referred to as a piece of Samsonite luggage because it was so big and bulky. Again we were issued a custom made 2 speedloader pouch that was attached to the handcuff pouch below. Until sometime around the late 1970's, I believe, everyone had to carry and shoot right handed, no lefties allowed, so everyone was uniformly outfitted. All equipment was issued and no personal items allowed on the gun belt. Second weapons were permitted but not encouraged. I took a lot of ribbing from the old Troops because I carried a second weapon from the first day I was permitted. Usually referred to as "Tackleberry" from the old "Police Academy" movies.

 

[bobcat]

We had to use them when I joined the Border Patrol in 1982, you could have 6 or 12 round, didn't matter as long as it had brass snaps on the bottom. Lots of us carried zip strips in our pockets for extra rounds. Speed loaders weren't allowed, when asked why, we were told that if we threw ammo to our partners, we wouldn't lose all six. Oh, ok, makes no sense. Learned to load two at a time from the loops, old school, but the BP had some true pistoleros.

 

[Muley Gil]

We had to use them when I joined the Border Patrol in 1982, you could have 6 or 12 round, didn't matter as long as it had brass snaps on the bottom. Lots of us carried zip strips in our pockets for extra rounds. Speed loaders weren't allowed, when asked why, we were told that if we threw ammo to our partners, we wouldn't lose all six. Oh, ok, makes no sense. Learned to load two at a time from the loops, old school, but the BP had some true pistoleros.

I always figured if that other officer had shot all of his ammo and we were still shooting, he wasn't going to get MY ammo to waste.

I started in LE in 1976, but due to changing departments, didn't go to the police academy until 1979. It was revolvers only and only loops or drop boxes were allowed, no speed loaders. Uniform and handgun selection was kinda lax at my PD. Leather had to be black and either plain or basketweave, though a saw a few officers who had mixed gear. Caliber selection was .38, 9mm or larger. There were swivel holsters, Jordan holsters, high ride holsters and security holsters. Some had straps that went over the top of the handgun and others had thumbsnaps. Several officers carried the swivel holsters that eventually broke.

The S&W Model 59 was popular in the '70s. When I carried a semi auto, it was a 1911 pattern, carried cocked and locked. One officer had a WW I 1911 and there were several pre WW II revolvers out there as well.

When I retired in 2001, there were officers carrying pre Model 10s with bullet loops, lots of Glocks in .40 S&W, 9mm and .45 ACP and everything in-between.

 

[usmc2427765]

When I joined HPD in 1972, I was issued a really cheap flap holster that can best be described as made of chicken hide. As I recall, we had to purchase our own cartridge belt slides and most of us purchased a 12 round loop slide, mine was from Don Hume. Things did improve later, however progress was very slow.

 

[white cloud]

I have enjoyed this thread a lot.

 

[JayFramer]

I have enjoyed this thread a lot.

Me too! Thanks to all who serve and are serving!!

 

[BE Mike]

Nice collection of USBP leather. I especially like the old Patrol Inspector badge! The USBP used loops until transitioning to speed loaders in the early 80's. Some agents carried speed loaders and 6 round loops for partial reloads, special rounds (snake), etc. The USBP transitioned to semi-autos in the late 80's (Beretta 96D). Below photo from 1986.

 

[JayFramer]

Nice collection of USBP leather. I especially like the old Patrol Inspector badge! The USBP used loops until transitioning to speed loaders in the early 80's. Some agents carried speed loaders and 6 round loops for partial reloads, special rounds (snake), etc. The USBP transitioned to semi-autos in the late 80's (Beretta 96D). Below photo from 1986.

Very nice! I like that digital watch as well. Is that a Casio?

 

[BE Mike]

Very nice! I like that digital watch as well. Is that a Casio?

Maybe. I can't remember what I had for breakfast any more! I lost and broke a few watches on duty back in the day, so it probably wasn't expensive.

 

[Muley Gil]

Maybe. I can't remember what I had for breakfast any more! I lost and broke a few watches on duty back in the day, so it probably wasn't expensive.

I agree on the broken watches. For a while, I bought $1 wrist watches from Wal-Mart. I also wore Casios. Now, I'm wearing a Timex Expedition.

I also kept a few cheap ink pens at work. I have given away some pens because the person who signed the report was, well, maybe not as clean as I was.

 

[JayFramer]

Guys I bought a Tex Shoemaker 12 round cartridge slide off ebay. I like it! But how tight are the loops supposed to be? They’re pretty stiff right now. Hard to get the cartridges out.

 

[BE Mike]

Guys I bought a Tex Shoemaker 12 round cartridge slide off ebay. I like it! But how tight are the loops supposed to be? They’re pretty stiff right now. Hard to get the cartridges out.

They loosen up with use. If they are loose in the beginning, they'll stretch out where ammo won't stay. Some pistoleros would also shave the bottom off each loop, at an angle, at the bottom to make retrieving the individual rounds easier.

 

[ron 57]

I came on the department in ‘78. We had to purchase our own leather out of our uniform allowance. An older officer whom I admired wore loops so that’s what I bought. Safariland gear except for a Smith & Wesson T-break holster. Still have the 125g JHP’s I carried in those loops. Most of the older officers wore dump pouches. Never saw a speed loader until the early ‘80’s.

 

[Gene L]

I came on in 71-72. Used dump pouches. When I went to Athens PD, in 77, started off with dumps, then we got a supply officer who was more into shooting and started wearing speed loaders. I don't think we were issued them initially, it was on you. We had ordinary strap holsters, later issued high-quality front break high retention holsters, which took some training, but were good leather. Had to push the butt forward to release the holster.

Georgia State Patrol when they carried .357s carried six rounds that were hardened on belt loops. They were supposed to be able to shoot through a car block and disable a vehicle. They were brass-cased and the trooper was supposed to keep them shined. I can't remember an incident ever when a trooper disabled a vehicle by shooting through the engine block, but I suppose it happened. They carried .357 HPs in their guns, though.

 

[MG34/bar]

Started in 1970 (full time in 1972) and we had to use dump pouches, while neighboring agencies used those or belt loops. Seemed people were more coordinated that was I and could load fast. I always knew that I was “slow” (in more ways than one) so I carried several firearms. First gun-fight in 1973 I emptied the first and went to the second. My Dept. didn’t allow speed-loaders until about 1975-1976 as I remember. Those were faster, but I still always had more than one gun.