Unlike many of the more modern retention holsters, the 070 relies on snaps and a particular motion to draw the gun. Tim Dees, now writing as a plain old forum member, his superpowers lost to an encounter with gold kryptonite. This tough duty holster from Safariland keeps your gun secure and accessible at all times. 18530 Mack Ave., Suite 499 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, Duty Holsters | Holsters | CopsPlus Police Supply, 6360 ALS STX Level III Plus UBL Duty Holster, 6365 ALS STX Level III Plus Belt Slide Drop Holster, ALS Mid-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster Model 6390, 6285 STX Tac Low Ride SLS Hooded Duty Holster, Low Ride SLS Hooded Duty Holster - Model 6285, 7360 7TS ALS Level III Retention Mid-Ride Holster, 6365 ALS Level III Plus Belt Slide Drop Holster, 6395 ALS Low-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, ALS STX Tac Belt Slide Holster with SLS - Model 6367, 7390 7TS ALS Mid-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, AccuMold Holster - Model 7105 Cruiser Duty, 7365 7TS ALS Level III Retention Low-Ride Holster, 7280 7TS SLS MidRide Level II Retention Duty Holster, ALS Belt Slide Holster with SLS - Model 6367, Model 7520 7TS SLS EDW Clip-On Style Holster, Leather Double Retention Duty Holster Model 501, Phoenix Triple Retention Duty Holster Model T391, 7285 7TS SLS Low Ride Level II Retention Duty Holster, 7395 7TS ALS Low-Ride Level I Retention Duty Holster, The duty holster is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a law enforcement officer to own. 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. Dont know where it came from. Additionally, the Judge was designed in a manner that protected the rear sight with leather wings on each side, while still preventing the rear sight from contacting the sides of the holster during the draw. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. I was in a few shootings in my career and it always worked like a charm, when we were qualifying no one could beat me on the draw. 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. Send me an email using our contact page, and Ill take a swing. As popular as they were, the clamshell holsters had weaknesses that couldnt be ignored. If you wanted to look cool, it was your huckleberry. The 27, the Judge, Hoyts and Safety Speeds and for a fraction of what they retailed for. View all posts by Mike. My 1st day walking in the office early, I found sillouhette targets over everything, with comments.we need a new tv, the fridge isnt cold, the computers need replacing..stay away ftom the freezer, its NEW!..leave the helicopters alone!!! Swivel Holster Clip (PMLN7939) Swivel holster allows you to wear the radio on your belt, leaving your hands free for the job on hand. To help overcome this weakness, some enterprising officers (and later, manufacturers)peened the rivet and installeda cotter pin to prevent a separation. Your email address will not be published. The MSRP starts at $147. $299.00. Those were the Days. Thanks for adding to the neat history of the clamshell story. Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. Very detailed and informative. And that didnt just look cool . 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. Good comments guys, but are we all writting about Ted Blockers swivel holster? This is an N-frame (Large frame) revolver. 9 Top Retention Holsters For Law Enforcement. With the notable exception of the AE Nelson Leather Company, nobody is making breakfront police duty holsters anymore. There are four methods of retention: straps, trigger guard locks, flaps, and friction. As for the Clam Shell (I have one in my collection), LAPD Motors used to use them. Bravo, Sir! Several of us there carried in clamshell holsters. Dont discount the police officers in California because of the politics of the State they work in. Fighting Leather: The Breakfront, Part I, The Pachmayr Aluminum Competition Speedloader, retention level standards that Rogers created, sold his holster company to Safariland in 1985, https://americanhandgunner.com/safariland-bill-rogers/, http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/vertbelt.html. Designed for 9mm P10, fits similar small compact models up to 6.25" Black leather Swivel for easy draw standing or seated 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. it allows me to sit in the car and have my gun readily accesible on my lap and still keep it holstered. Youre in good company! Best Design ROCOTACTICAL Universal Radio Holder, Basketweave Radio Pouch for Duty Belt 569 $18 90 Wow, what a great follow up in part 2. The current crop of synthetic holsters are superior tools. What part of the U.S. were you policing in? But no agency was so fully committed to the clamshell as the LAPD. While the original Rapid Force Duty Holster was built to endure the roughest aspects of duty, our LVL 2 Slim is a durable option for unmarked and off-duty scenarios. Im not sure, but I think your holster is for a 4 S&W N-frame revolver. With a minimalist design and innovative movement system, the Swivel Drop Leg stays secure, adds a new range of motion, and utilizes less leg space for users who prefer this style of carrying. Bianchi experimented with a series of evolving prototypes and limited production models for the better part of a decade before he finally catalogued his first breakfront duty holster, the Model 27, in 1970. 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. A few classics are still with us. Only the top draws remain, and theyre usually made of synthetics,like those that Rogers ushered in. Safariland 762 Radio with Swivel Holder - STX. I know about 3 of the guys I work with have 'em. . The only officer I've seen wear one was on of the Compton Schools PD officers. Keith, Elmer. 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. The closed muzzle presented two complications. Hoffman and Sons holster company also manufactured clamshell holsters beginning around 1936, out of Arlington, California, and there was a host of others that joined them. $134.00. Slow down, Mr. Cosgrove. Whether you're in Law Enforcement, Competition shooting, Hunting, or just like a good looking Holster that respects you and your gun, Ted Blocker Holsters are a symbol of quality and excellence for over 50 years Featured collection Swivel Belt Loop and Drop Shank for Law Enforcement $144.00 J Belt - 1.5" Wide $95.00 #1 Lifeline Shoulder Rig $265.00 Great holster. Yeah, youre article hit a nerve! Does it look like thats possible? 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I moved from California because of their politics, but I can assure you the police officers I worked with, I would have gone to war with any day. $161.55 USD. MSRP: $38.00. I used to fit prescription leather shoes for small children and I recognize quality work. <p>This HD Swivel set is compatible with QD swivel mounts and is constructed of steel with a manganese phosphate finish & 1.5' loops.</p> Got days off, the unwanted kind.4 months later got called back up to see the sergeant and offered a job.as long as I promised not to shoot anything else there! The two problems: "A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself.". Yet, the most damning problem with the clamshell holster is that it had a disturbing tendency to open up on its own, dumping the gun onto the ground. Mine opens just past 90 degrees, so one handed reholstering was pretty easy, if not fast. If you read the whole comment, youll notice that Ace was referring to handgun hunters hiding in the bushes, not California police officers. $135.00 USD. The 357M is likely shorthand for .357 Magnumthis could be a reference to caliber, but instead I think its more likely a reference to the S&W pre-Model 27, which was simply called, The .357 Magnum before model numbers were assigned to all guns in the 1950s. The department let me carry it until I retired, our senior Sgt. ; ^ ). Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. This is a big part of the reason that these holsters were disapproved for duty use in the CHP by the early 1960s. This required a careful surgery to cut the holster apart, to get the gun out. The Safariland 6285CHP holster was designed for the California Highway Patrol. I just have to find a good sample, first. The design required . Thanks Martin! 1978. Our Price: $23.95 Now: $20.99. It is simple to reholster one handed with proper technique. Glad to have you here. Using thick Kydex and Melonite-finished steel, the Duty Holster from Dara Holsters & Gear is backed by a lifetime no B.S. 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. It easily outclassed the rabble of unimaginative top draw designs that polluted police supply catalogs throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. The inventor of the clamshell holster was Mr. Frank C. Jewett, whose patent for the design was granted on 10 October 1933. Besides, they had panache. Lots of officers wanted that holster when I retired but I still have it. Free Shipping on Orders Over $99! It wasnt a security holster for general duty use, so Rogers got to work in the late 1970s and designed the first purpose-built security holster for uniformed police officers, the Rogers BOSS. The MSRP starts at $110. The swivel belt loop is in good shape and swivels freely. HOLSTERS BY GUN MODEL. However, they were not alone in the business. Thank you for writing in and adding to the story of these iconic holsters. The Pro-3 Slim Line holster from Uncle Mikes offers a traditional thumb break combined with an internal locking system to increase the officers ability to retain the weapon during a disarming attempt. Due to the quality of the holster and the customer service, I have purchased one for every pistol I have. Thanks for the article. Gould & Goodrich Leather Universal Radio Strap Model 654. Despite all of these issues, the clamshells remained very popular for decades. Although the innovative Type I had security features, it was a concealment rig for plainclothes investigators. As such, they shared the faults of all swivels. Wow, thank you! Your duty holster keeps your trusty sidearm close at hand; it can and should be as unique as you are. Wolfe Publishing Company. Your email address will not be published. I came across a right hand swivel model from an auction site and wondering if you could help identify what revolver it fits. This also helped to retain the gun and resist an upwards draw, in conjunction with the metal-reinforced cylinder cups. Please email or call us to add this for you. At a time when major agencies like the CHP had already traded their clamshells for breakfront designs, the LAPD stood by their old favorite. I had heard about them from other officers. Brinks issued the Safariland when I joined them in98, and I carried my model 64 in it until leaving the company in 07 At least I bought the holster when I left. Hooray! Designed by Bill Rogers, the 070 has been made by Safariland since the mid-1980s. It, too, has its fans. Copyright 1996-2021, Officer Media Group, Endeavor Business Media - Public Safety Interactive. If you really want an LAPD swivel holster, call Hoyt Holsters of Coupeville, WA. A password will be sent to your email address. Because somebody ask a qusetion and we just ran with our comments on swivel holsters being unsafe and outdated. It seems that Ive never met a copper outside of California who used a clamshell on duty. Yes, I thought it was cool too, that Mudgett stopped by RevolverGuy! Yet, while clamshells made their way onto police Sam Brownes all over the nation, Southern California always remained the center of the clamshell holster universe. Only difference was he switched to a S&W 357 Magnum- Next one wasnt going to prison. Rating: Bianchi Accumold 7120 Defender Level 2 Duty Holster. Also, it was easy for the pushing motion of the index finger to continue after the gun had been drawn, with the finger now on the trigger. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. No helos shot, nothing else destroyed but my pride and $600 later that day to buy them a new freezer. A nice touch! I thought it went away with the Seventies. 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. Saved my life one day when a bad guy surprised me on a porch with a 12ga shotgun. Thank you Sir! Seller: sfniners (2,626) 100% +C $29.91 shipping. They probably produced more holsters of this design than any other company, and cemented their position as a leading manufacturer of police leather goods. Hello Mike: Like the other readers, I really enjoyed the history on how the clamshell holster came to be. The development of a revolver duty holster that was both fast to draw from and secure, took some time to mature and the breakfront was a big part of that process. We also buy individual holsters or store inventory.. . Thanks for taking the time to research all this, then sharing it with us. An outstanding article once again by this fantastic author. warranty. These rigs use an internal rubber retention system combined with a rotating strap that is operated by the thumb during the draw. While Ive never been a fan of the holsters that had an opening on the entire front section of the holster, the design did lead to some development of hybrid breakfront/top draw rigs.