Ive corrected the article. I thought it went away with the Seventies. The clam shell was an awesome system for those who were well trained with it. Drawing a revolver from a clamshell wasnt just an action, it was an event! Menu. FEATURES Full grain genuine leather handcuff holder Will fit one pair of handcuffs The holder is a BELT CLIP . At one point I had to have one in my collection. I saw some clamshells worn by LAPD vets. Barney had one. Sir, Im glad to hear from you in these pages! Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Open the tools menu in your browser. Hi Ron, Im glad you enjoyed the article. I saw Larry Mudgetts post below, good to know hes out therethe mans a legend! German Police Surplus Shoulder Holster, Used. As a result, with very few exceptions (such as the short-lived Bianchi Auto Drawor the more successful, semi-breakfront Rogers SSII / Safariland 295), the breakfronts didnt make the transition to the autopistol era. The trigger guard pocket of the Berns-Martin (and later Model 27) was a solid safety feature, but often interfered with obtaining a proper grip on the gun. These West German Holsters incorporate a rotary swivel allowing the holster to be worn low on the thigh and turned forward while sitting in an automobile. Sixguns By Keith. Sit down and have a look aroundI think youll find lots more to like here at RevolverGuy. My nick name was Jump-in Joe. Any RevolverGuy who grew up like I did, watching a steady diet of the 1970s police drama Adam-12, will certainly remember those Blue Knights, Malloy and Reed, each drawing a Combat Masterpiece revolver from a clamshell holster that sprung open like magic every time our heroes needed to draw down on some counterculture scumbag. Great department, great people. This rear-quarter disarm technique had become popular with savvy criminals by this time, and the BOSS muzzle lock protected against it. I was a cop in the Detroit area from 1967 to 1982. Designed for 9mm P10, fits similar small compact models up to 6.25" Black leather Swivel for easy draw standing or seated Our current lead-time for new orders is 4-9 weeks for most items. Wish I had kept the weapon and the holster. The Rogers Holster Company SSII holster for semiautomatic pistols was a successful semi-breakfront design (becoming the long-lived Model 295 after the Safariland acquisition) which followed the WRATH, but by 1983 Rogers was ready to abandon his work on breakfront designs over concerns that they were too susceptible to disarms from the front, which his investigation had concluded was the most likely kind of attack that an officer would face. I really enjoyed this article about the clamshell holsters. Safariland & Bill Rogers: The Rise of the Modern Security Holster, American Handgunner Magazine, July-August 2016, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/. To help overcome this weakness, some enterprising officers (and later, manufacturers)peened the rivet and installeda cotter pin to prevent a separation. Super fast. With a pop of a spring and a flash of motion, a bad guy immediately found himself staring down a sixgun barrel before he could even blink! Even after the department finally switched to a high ride breakfront holster made by Bianchi in the mid-1970s, Los Angeles police officers were allowed to purchase their own clamshells and use them on duty, which they did with great enthusiasm into the 1980s. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. I retired it in 86 when we switched to the Sig P220. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Pachmayer rebuilt it for me. Hey Mike.really great article I stumbled acrossmy grown kids gave me the Adam-12 DVD set for my birthday.wow, what memories.I was with San Antonio PD, we were issued Safety Speed breakfronts out of the academy, really good and safe holster. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). . Your email address will not be published. Our Sale Price: $32.00. The 7520 is a holster for electronic discharge weapons (EDW) only. Safariland 762 Radio with Swivel Holder - STX. it was cool. Thats kind of you to say, and Im glad you enjoyed it! It also has a retention strap. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). le-de-France: le drglement climatique, une situation "bouleversante" pour les agriculteurs. Slow down, Mr. Cosgrove. Theres a 1970s speedloader article that might bring back a few memories! Neat.thanks for mentioning that. This way when I stand it falls into place and rests there. Vintage Alfonsos Brown Leather IWB Holster for Colt 1911 5" Browning Hi Power. Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement, SP100 Belt Loop for Safariland Duty Holsters, SW402 Duty Holster Level 2 (Glock, S&W and many other duty gun models) with Drop & Swivel, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. Glad youre enjoying it! Dont discount a clamshell holster because you were not able to operate it. Combining speed with security. Filter by Brand Carry Type Function Holster Ride Holster Series Retention Level Security Mechanism Showing 1-20 of 127 Sort by Most Popular 7360 - 7TS ALS/SLS Mid-Ride Duty Holster $85.75 $209.00 575 IWB Holster GLS Pro-Fit Holster $72.50 The leather and thermoplastic laminate used in Rogers holster designs was a significant accomplishment and the process of creating, using, and shaping the laminate to create a custom-fitted duty holster (protected by U.S. Patent number 4,340,437, issued 20 Jul 1982) was one of Rogers key contributions to the industry. Lastly, the leading edges of the cups were covered by leather that had been skived to smooth the forward drawsomething which had not been done on earlier designs. The laminate produced by Rogers Holster Company offered many advantages over traditional leather construction, such as resistance to moisture (including water, blood, gasoline, etc. Top of a closet, I find the complete evidence box including burglars gun! I sure wish they still made them. Gould & Goodrich Leather Pager Holder Model 614. Public debt should be reduced. Belt Clip: Metal Belt Clip. Dad lost part of his stomach and one third of his intestines, but returned to work. This [SW402] is the ONLY holster worthy of my 1985 Stainless Steel 6 Colt Python (150th Anniversary Model). It was more secure than the temperamental clamshell, and it was easier to reholster with a single hand. Tex Shoemaker NJ 63 Plain Black Police Duty Holster P7M8 P7M13 Leather Lined. John BianchiAn American Legend 50 Years of Gunleather. I've been in and out of this job since 1983 and was looking for something more comfortable but would still retain the weapon. This holster is beyond what I was hoping for! Worse yet, the rivet sometimes broke, sending the holstered weapon flying on the run, or leaving it behind on the seat of the car, orGod help youleaving it in a criminals hands during a struggle. A password will be sent to your email address. But he didnt stop there, check out his site and youll be able to get holsters, belts, ammo and magazine holders made out of alligator, crocodile, tiger shark, emu, salmon (as in the fish), tegu lizard, monitor lizard, ringed lizard, hippopotamus, rhino, elephant, elephant trunk, elephant ear, cape buffalo (last four being trophy hides only) and one of Floridas best hated critter: Python. Oh well, I was an old guy by then, so they pretty much let do my own thing. It was sexy, and reeked of the gunfighter mystique. Good design, but not my choice. . German maker's markings and dates. Police duty belts, holsters and pouches all at discounted prices. To hold the halves closed, the 2800 incorporated a pair of powerful springs that started behind the cylinder, running up and over it on each side, then down the length of the leading edge, to the very bottom. If you know anything about the famous Lewis Holsters, Id love to read an article about it! FFL Fax: 866-721-8691. In an article in the FBI Bulletin, he credited his response to FBI training the department received the year before- drop to the left, learn to fire from the hip. I cut my teeth on the front break Safariland but knew nothing about the clamshell other than the name. There are currently 33844 users online. I truly loved this article. The rig uses a rotating hood to secure the weapon and a separate physical barrier to deter a suspect from snatching the gun from the holster. Work continued on the type, and on the heels of the phenomenal success of the Model 27, Bianchi introduced the Model 2800 Judge, which advanced the art considerably. German Police Surplus AKAH Swivel Leather Compact Holster, Like New New to Amazon DIAMOND D OUTDOORS Denali Chest Holster - Revolver 3", Black 4.9 (25) $10999 FREE delivery Tue, Feb 21 More Buying Choices $109.80 (2 new offers) +1 colors/patterns Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. One of the hallmarks of Adam-12 was that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) worked very closely with Universal Studios to ensure that the program was technically accurate. Thanks for the article. I loved that holster and was never the victim of any of its disadvantages. . Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Vintage Leather POLICE BELT Jay Pee. While improved weapon retention training has contributed to saving many officers lives, there is little doubt that quality retention holsters can help keep the duty pistol out of an offenders hands. No breaking down and then out and up. Phone Model: APX 6000 (NON-XE) / 8000 (NON-XE) MSRP: $84.99. The Berns-Martin holster was closed to incorporate a muzzle plug that was used for support and positioning of the muzzle. As low as $90.99. One of them with a Model 19 and a three row speedloader pouch. The Model 7360 is a new holster from Safariland that is similar in configuration to the 6360. The MSRPs for these holsters start at $125. They were a particular hit with officers in the various city and county motor units, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), who favored the six inch revolver and needed a design that was secure, yet fast into action. $43.00. The 4S could be shorthand for, Four-inch S&W or possibly four-inch, swivel. After a brief flirtation with Bucheimer top draw swivel holsters in the early-to-mid 1960s proved unsatisfactory, the LAPD returned to the clamshell in the late 1960s and issued them well into the 1970s. The Model 27 holster (U.S. Patent number 3,630,420, awarded 28 Dec 1971) was essentially an update of the Berns-Martin design, which used a new, L-shaped spring design that ran down the front of the holster and held it completely closed, instead of the cylinder-clamping U-spring of the older design, which left gaps in the front. I am guessing that I am the last police officer to ever carry the clam shell holster. Minneapolis, MN. Larry Mudgett #15467. It is available with a basket-weave finish in additionto plain and matte black finishes. But good ones. Duty Holsters Holsters designed for use in professional law enforcement. Best Design ROCOTACTICAL Universal Radio Holder, Basketweave Radio Pouch for Duty Belt 569 $18 90 Our current lead-time for new orders is 4-9 weeks for most items. Thank you Sir! 2010? As I recall, you had to get it unsnapped, then rock the grip forward a little bit, then pull up a skoche, then swivel the grip back to push the muzzle through the front, then push the frame/cylinder out the front. With practice, the 070 is as fast as any other security holster. The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. The design required the user to put his finger into the trigger guard to release the gun, which led to some negligent discharges when officers fumbled the draw. From my experience in working with many officers from many states California police officers are some of the best trained and competent officers around. In the Judge, the metal cups that surrounded the cylinder added strength and helped the holster maintain its shape. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 05:57 AM on 01-16-2021. . Oakland was a tough city to police for 39 yearsthank you for all you did to make it safer for the good folks. Rogers first holster design dated back to late 1972 (U.S. Patent Number 3,902,639, issued 2 September 1975) and gave birth to his holster business after he was awarded an FBI contract for it in 1973. Durable, flexible leather is made to strict German specs. Back in the 1970s and 80s, many a small city department, and even many less affluent county sheriffs departments, you bought your own sidearm and leather. FOR ORDER STATUS & QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL (956) 744-3219 - 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM USA CENTRAL TIME. They were truly an innovation for carrying a 6 barrel revolver, which gave officers an inherently more accurate sighting radius. All rights reserved. Thanks for writing in! Gotta love pilot humor! Beinfield Publishing. The effective requirement to reholster with two hands was a big weakness of the clamshell. warranty. These rigs use an internal rubber retention system combined with a rotating strap that is operated by the thumb during the draw. breakfront. The Model 27 and Safety Speed designs were closed because the base of the closure spring was seated at the bottom of the leading edge. "For he is Gods servant for your good. With the notable exception of the AE Nelson Leather Company, nobody is making breakfront police duty holsters anymore. Here is a look at some of the current duty holsters that offer increased weapon protection. A clamshell wasnt your average, pedestrian, top draw rig. FOR SALES INQUIRIES (956) 436 -4888. . As great as technology and human advancement can be too many things in our world today are made to be disposable but Ted Blocker isnt one of them. Thanks for the article now I know the whole story on a holster that served me well. I was recently involved in an incident where an assailant attacked me from behind and made several attempts to extract my weapon out of its holster. Call Us (678) 814-4831 SIGN IN; SIGN OUT; CREATE ACCOUNT; MY ACCOUNT; WISHLIST (0) ; SHOPPING CART (0) ; 0 $20.13. The only officer I've seen wear one was on of the Compton Schools PD officers. The Safety Speed offered an improvement with its cutout trigger pocket, but the Model 2800 took a different approach. They run about $180 and are very similar to the Hoyts except that the basketweave pattern runs parallel to the ground rather than on an angle (as with most other basketweave rigs). #32936 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police - 1975-10-27 / 2010-12-29. It seems that Ive never met a copper outside of California who used a clamshell on duty. Two writers in 1960 and 1970 declared the clam shell obsolete and dead. Burglar spent the rest of his life in prison. The hardest part was finding one for a 4 inch ( Im a short guy and could never carry a 6 inch). Alas, weve lost a bit of the fine art in sidearms today. Thanks, A.E. I don't know much about it. Back. Mike, thank you for the great articles. I'm thinking about buying one for my 1911, but I am concerned with retention in a gun grab. 2x Black Leather Police Security Military Mace/Pepper Spray Holster/Pouch C-309 $ 17.50 Buy It Now $5.95 Shipping Condition: Used Location: Woodside, United States Many of Police & Security. Please email or call us to add this for you. I carried one my whole career. Bart thats an AMAZING page to add to the story of the clamshell! Everyone with the Hoyts drew a certain pleasure in drawing to get that particular pop sound when all parts of your revolver cleared the leather at the same time. I had heard about them from other officers. Theyre moresecure,durable, economical, efficient, and easy to care for, but lack the appearance and charm of their leather forebearers. There are four methods of retention: straps, trigger guard locks, flaps, and friction. Dave, its great to hear from you. The Model 2800 Judge also improved on the cylinder cutouts of the Hoyt, Model 27 and Safety Speed breakfronts by sandwiching a pair of metal cups in between the layers of leather, to hold the cylinder in place. Your email address will not be published. Holsters usually are rated at one of four different levels, with level four using multiple retention methods combined with friction. The Model 2800 Judge incorporated other helpful features, such as a Bucheimer-style thumb break that was more easily operated than the finger-release of the Model 27 or early Safety Speed, and also more resistant to a snatch attempt. Enjoyed the history. Richard, welcome aboard! They probably produced more holsters of this design than any other company, and cemented their position as a leading manufacturer of police leather goods. In Jewetts design, the pouch which held the gun was split into two halves along the front seam, which were joined at the rear by a powerful flat spring that was biased to open the halves in butterfly fashion. Yes, the Hoyt makes a neat pop when you pull off a great draw. If they ever took old dinosaurs back on the street Id be happy to carry a clamshell again. Hey Mike! Lots of officers wanted that holster when I retired but I still have it. speaking of LAPD what type of duty gear do they wear? 'NO BUCKLE' $32.97 0 Bids or Buy It Now 5d 19h See Details Vintage Flashlight Yonkers NY Police Black Patent leather Holster $20.16 Buy It Now or Best Offer See Details (206)678-6640/P.O. Refer to pics for condition! Youre welcome! Ace. Is it for a 4 gun with a big frame? Available in seven colors, finishes and patterns, it is also available to accept pistols with a red dot (6360RDS shown) and/or those pistols equipped with a light. They feature swivel belt loops and are designed for XTS Series Radios. North Hollywood, CA. Their uniforms are somewhat unique in that they don't wear shoulder patches; however, their traffic officers wear them. While placing the trigger finger into the trigger guard during the draw was a commonplace practice during this era, and was encouraged by almost every popular police holster design of the 1940s through the early 1970s (such as the Jordan-style police holster), it created a special hazard in the clamshell holster. Lexipol. If you read the whole comment, youll notice that Ace was referring to handgun hunters hiding in the bushes, not California police officers. He makes rigs for a lot of LEO who are usually (a) single, and (b) dont have support payments. The holster would beat your leg to death if you didnt hold it when you ran. The Berns-Martin Company was a small outfit, and made their holsters by hand, so the output was always limited. Username or email *, Email address *. It incorporated the trigger guard pocket of the Berns-Martin, and the Hoyt-like cylinder cutouts in the inner liner, to help position the cylinder and act as a lock to prevent an upwards draw from the holster.