OP
donniedee
Member
uh make that three sets dave
what holsters did the F.B.I. use with there 3.5 27
- Thread starter donniedee
- Start date
hotrod150
Member
In "Hell I Was There", Elmer Keith mentioned Hank Sloan's adjustable welt holster. What's surprising is that he gives Sloan credit for the design.... of course, he goes on to say that he & Milt Sparks went on to improve upon it. It does sound like a great idea, I'm surprised that no one seems to offer something quite like this these days.
Here are some photos of the Hank Sloan holster. Pig Hunter described the holster features.
Unusual example with a safety strap.
Hank Sloan logo with patent number.
Regards,
turnerriver
Unusual example with a safety strap.
Hank Sloan logo with patent number.
Regards,
turnerriver
Hmm and all this time I've been carryin' a .357 in a Keith44spl
( S.D. MYERS WHO???
)
( S.D. MYERS WHO??? )
keith44spl
Member
uh make that three sets dave
Donnie,
Ya got it Sir.........
I'll get started on it purty quick
Su Amigo,
I recently bought a lot of holsters and files of letters from a career Federal CIA agent/ LEO and am still going through the material. Here's one I found today-a left hand Heiser made Evaluators marked model 459 holster made for the 3 1/2" Magnum. This gentleman had a long personal connection with Evaluators Ltd.
This holster is maker inked "mag 3 1/2" on the rear and has a sewn in sight protector-a special order item and one not often seen on this model holster. So an answer to the original question would be "one like this".
Regards,
turnerriver
This holster is maker inked "mag 3 1/2" on the rear and has a sewn in sight protector-a special order item and one not often seen on this model holster. So an answer to the original question would be "one like this".
Regards,
turnerriver
A Registered Magnum 3 1/2 barrel shipped to an F.B.I. agent in Brooklyn, NY September 1936 with a holster I found at gun show, unknow maker of the holster but the RM fits in it like the holster was made for it.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Are you guy's talking about one of these?
The Farrant (?) grips on your gun remind me that many (most?) FBI agents either used grip adaptors or bought custom or replacement grips. One who used to work at the Dallas field office made some superb items much like a cross between Farrant and Hogue. They did not require cutting the frame. I bought a set on a Chief's Special and put them on a 36-1. They worked superbly and fit that frame as if made for it. I later had to sell that gun. Should have saved the grips. I called someone, trying to get in touch with the grip maker, but he had moved on and was no longer interested in making grips. He never had a large market; just made a few sets for agents and a few cop friends. He never got back to me. I've forgotten his name. The grips were colorfully figured Goncalo alves or Coca bolo.
I think the Bureau may have actually issued many guns with Pachmayr adaptors. They knew the value of a better grip.
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Turnerriver, besides the different proportions for K and I frames, those top two look to me that they might be by different makers.
Am I warm?
PS - I added the patent drawing under the Hank Sloan ad.
Am I warm?
PS - I added the patent drawing under the Hank Sloan ad.
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Hank Sloan 1935
From Dusty Roads... a 1960 article on the 20th anniversary of the FBI Academy had this 1935 photo with Hank Sloan identified as being 3rd from the right in the top row.
To my surprise, I noticed that 3rd from left on the top row is wearing his holster cross-draw and that Hank Sloan and two others appear to be wearing shoulder holsters.
Or -- perhaps suspenders coincidentally with a high-ride cross draw...
Odd suspenders, but then neither do I know of a shoulder holster of the era with two wide shoulder straps.
From Dusty Roads... a 1960 article on the 20th anniversary of the FBI Academy had this 1935 photo with Hank Sloan identified as being 3rd from the right in the top row.
To my surprise, I noticed that 3rd from left on the top row is wearing his holster cross-draw and that Hank Sloan and two others appear to be wearing shoulder holsters.
Or -- perhaps suspenders coincidentally with a high-ride cross draw...
Odd suspenders, but then neither do I know of a shoulder holster of the era with two wide shoulder straps.
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Looks like this fella makes some now. Maybe he can help you
We ship worldwide and our customers consist of the normal everyday Joe, like myself, to the sport competition and hunting individuals to all government agencies incl. our govt. contracts such as the FBI, Secret Service, DEA, local police agencies across the USA, customs and border patrol, and etc. The list goes on and on but this gives you a good idea of just how far we've come along in 30+ years since our early days of being a 1 man shop working out of a garage to now operating out of a warehouse with an elite team of very skilled holster making professionals.
Gun Holsters | Kramer Leather
We ship worldwide and our customers consist of the normal everyday Joe, like myself, to the sport competition and hunting individuals to all government agencies incl. our govt. contracts such as the FBI, Secret Service, DEA, local police agencies across the USA, customs and border patrol, and etc. The list goes on and on but this gives you a good idea of just how far we've come along in 30+ years since our early days of being a 1 man shop working out of a garage to now operating out of a warehouse with an elite team of very skilled holster making professionals.
Gun Holsters | Kramer Leather
I've been looking for a Bucheimer Hank Sloan holster for a couple few years now ever since seeing photos turnerriver had posted in the past. As coincidence would have it, I found one on eBay earlier this week. It was a gamble because the seller listed only a single photo of the backside: Lot of Gun Holsters | eBay
I could see the other holster was rough and kept my fingers crossed the Sloan piece would arrive in decent shape as described. Well, it got here today and after a clean-up and coat of neutral Kiwi, I think it was worth rescuing for $12. It's had a dye-job and shows some battle scars, but the stitching is fine and there's no real damage.
Interestingly, this one is pre-patent and marked only "HS". Turns out it fits a 4" K-frame perfectly.
I could see the other holster was rough and kept my fingers crossed the Sloan piece would arrive in decent shape as described. Well, it got here today and after a clean-up and coat of neutral Kiwi, I think it was worth rescuing for $12. It's had a dye-job and shows some battle scars, but the stitching is fine and there's no real damage.
Interestingly, this one is pre-patent and marked only "HS". Turns out it fits a 4" K-frame perfectly.
Another one from the training film.
Note the wide belt loop on a narrower belt. In the video, on the draw (along with that little FBI side flip) the holster can be seen to rotate back and forth on the belt. In the still, it's sitting slightly rearward.
(Edit to add two more.)
Narration: On the draw ..."the holster tips forward, allowing the gun to slide out easily..."
About to holster the revolver, with the wide holster loop allowing the holster to be to the rear... or more upright, with less angle. Oh, heck, -- just look at the picture...
The 1967 Safariland Model 1 FBI Speed Pivot holster:
"A unique belt loop construction allows the holster to pivot forward when drawn."
It's not a bug ... it's a feature.
The 1968 catalog dropped the pivot belt loop. I have a model 1 with a "normal" belt loop. I've only been able to guess at the details of the FBI pivot belt loop.
Note the wide belt loop on a narrower belt. In the video, on the draw (along with that little FBI side flip) the holster can be seen to rotate back and forth on the belt. In the still, it's sitting slightly rearward.
(Edit to add two more.)
Narration: On the draw ..."the holster tips forward, allowing the gun to slide out easily..."
About to holster the revolver, with the wide holster loop allowing the holster to be to the rear... or more upright, with less angle. Oh, heck, -- just look at the picture...
The 1967 Safariland Model 1 FBI Speed Pivot holster:
"A unique belt loop construction allows the holster to pivot forward when drawn."
It's not a bug ... it's a feature.
The 1968 catalog dropped the pivot belt loop. I have a model 1 with a "normal" belt loop. I've only been able to guess at the details of the FBI pivot belt loop.
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hotrod150
Member
"Unique belt loop construction technique" is probably a 2" loop worn on a 1-1/2" belt- as per your training film clips.
Biggfoot44
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Elmer Keith's FBI aquaintance carried a Colt SAA in .38-40 . Keith reported that at the time FBI practice was Agents could carry any revolver at least .38Spl . Maybeso , or perhaps that Agent simply refered to his sidearm as "Colt .38" as far as his employer was concerned.
In his autobiography , G. Gordon Liddy reports as a child he had strong memories of his FBI SA Uncle's issued .38Super . In his FBI days , he was issued an Official Police , but very quickly replaced it with 3.5in M27 .
An aquantance of mine was Vietman Vetran USMC , and by then former FBI SA .He worked Inserstate Fugitives , and was on the Field Ofc Swat team. His duty gun was a personal M19 , that had been tuned by Quantico Armorer. I had the privledge of shooting this gun , and indeed it was smooth. However by this time thru either a weak trigger return spring , stacked tolerences , or probably both , it would occasionally lockup. At the time it was carried in a generic knockoff pancake then issued by our mutual employer. Unknown which holster used during FBI. He was a curious mixture of gun person/ non-gun person. He had amazing shooting skills , but his entire knowledege of all things gun or shooting related came from Quantico. Either circa 1967 with USMC Ofc training , or circa '72 w/ FBI . Anything different or subsequent didn't exist, even subsequent FBI tought techniques was dismissed out if hand.
For a long time I was confused over references to Hank Sloan holsters , because I knew another Federal Agent of the same name , and at least partly overlapping years of service.
The father of a close friend , WWII winner of Silver Star, Dallas PD before becoming a Treasury SA . Retired as SAC , and in retirement years was pt Dispatcher for his Sheriff in West Texas . I don't know about early career , but from mid '60s to retirement carried Chiefs Special , with Treasury Loads. I also recalled they had monthly qualifications. Don't recall holster.
In his autobiography , G. Gordon Liddy reports as a child he had strong memories of his FBI SA Uncle's issued .38Super . In his FBI days , he was issued an Official Police , but very quickly replaced it with 3.5in M27 .
An aquantance of mine was Vietman Vetran USMC , and by then former FBI SA .He worked Inserstate Fugitives , and was on the Field Ofc Swat team. His duty gun was a personal M19 , that had been tuned by Quantico Armorer. I had the privledge of shooting this gun , and indeed it was smooth. However by this time thru either a weak trigger return spring , stacked tolerences , or probably both , it would occasionally lockup. At the time it was carried in a generic knockoff pancake then issued by our mutual employer. Unknown which holster used during FBI. He was a curious mixture of gun person/ non-gun person. He had amazing shooting skills , but his entire knowledege of all things gun or shooting related came from Quantico. Either circa 1967 with USMC Ofc training , or circa '72 w/ FBI . Anything different or subsequent didn't exist, even subsequent FBI tought techniques was dismissed out if hand.
For a long time I was confused over references to Hank Sloan holsters , because I knew another Federal Agent of the same name , and at least partly overlapping years of service.
The father of a close friend , WWII winner of Silver Star, Dallas PD before becoming a Treasury SA . Retired as SAC , and in retirement years was pt Dispatcher for his Sheriff in West Texas . I don't know about early career , but from mid '60s to retirement carried Chiefs Special , with Treasury Loads. I also recalled they had monthly qualifications. Don't recall holster.
I've guessed non-parallel stitching...
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