Excellent historical review of holster use in LAPD. I was Security Police (SP) in the U.S. Air Force from 1975 to 1979, and we carried the Smith & Wesson Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" in .38 Special, with standard 4" barrel. It was a good weapon, hampered by weak duty ammunitiion (130 gr. full metal jacket bullet at about 850 feet per second. I knew an SP at Lowry Air Base in Denver who was previously stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. He fired upon a fleeing Datsun during a bank robbery. The 130 gr. FMJ bullets dented -- DENTED -- the trunk lid. One bullet penetrated the rear window and fell harmlessly to the back seat. This same 130 gr. FMJ load is popular among civilians today as a practice cartridge; considered far too weak for serious defense. However, when elk hunting in Idaho years ago, I carried a .38 snubnose loaded with the 130 gr. FMJ to harvest grouse and rabbits I might encounter. A rifle was too loud for such work, alerting elk and deer to your presence, but in the deep woods above the St. Joe River the "Fartzenpoofer" (my designation) 130 gr. bullet was ample for small game. We SPs carried a standard pattern black leather holster, open top, with a retaining strap whose end snapped onto the holster's side. This was a good holster, but not as good as the thumb-break holster. These old side-strap holsters are often found on internet auction sites in new condition or very lightly worn. They're a good belt holster for tramping the woods with any medium-framed .38/.357 with 4" barrel, but they will not accommodate bull barrels or barrels with full length underlugs. Quality is usually very high, made under government contract by highly reputable holster makers. We carried two drop pouches that emptied loose cartridges into our hands. When Bianchi introduced the rubber Speed Strip, most SPs invested in this device that simplified and sped reloading. Because Speed Strips were not noticeable on the belt, the Air Force turned a blind eye to their unauthorized use. In the late 1970s, Air Force pilots typically carried 2" and 4" Model 15s, square butt, with standard barrel. Elite fighter pilots, if they were lucky, were issued Smith & Wesson Model 39 semi-autos in 9mm caliber. Ammo was, according to one armorer I spoke with, 115 gr. Full Metal Jacket. In the very late 1970s and early 1980s some lucky pilots were issued the Model 59, with a higher magazine capacity than the 39. Model 39s and 59s were also issued to Air Force general officers, who were allowed to keep them upon their retirement. Such Air Force-marked 39s (and especially 59s) are rare. Every few years, one surfaces on an auction site and collectors pay thousands of dollars for them. We SPs, who had a far greater risk of being involved in a gunfight than aircrews or generals, plodded along with the excellent but outdated Model 15 .38 Special into the early 1990s. Eventually, the Beretta M9 9mm pistol became standard issue to SPs. All those wonderful Smith & Wesson Model 15 revolvers with their adjustable target sights (many of them dated to the 1950s and also had target hammers and triggers) were sent to a disposal facility in Little Rock, Arkansas and crushed with hydraulic rams. Uncle Sam didn't even have the decency to remove their fine, diamond-patterned walnut grips, these were splintered in the crushing process. The flattened revolvers were sold for scrap metal. When I think of the many exceptionally smooth actions and fine handwork in all the Air Force Model 15s I encountered, flattened and rusting, I want to cry. We Security Police alumni -- and today's USAF Security Forces -- should have been given the opportunity to purchase them as government surplus. They would still be highly useful home defense weapons, and backwoods guns capable of dispatching a snarling mountain lion or coyote. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you for preserving this history.
One of the last episodes of Adam-12 that featured Mark Harmon as a probationary officer Gus Corbin riding with Jim Reed re-lived Scotty's exact situation , except he lost his weapon while jumping from the unit ,NOT realizing he was un-armed ,continued to chase down the suspect into a lumber yard. Malloy rolls up (acting watch commander) & finds his gun laying on the ground .
I guess I'm a bit lucky. My brother-in-law left me his duty rig made by Jay-Pee along with his cuffs and his iron claw. I still keep everything polished like he kept it. Don't have his model 10-6 but bought a 10-10 to take it's place. Loved all his stories and still take it out to remember him. Something like that is a treasure forever. Thanks for your service from both of us.👍🇺🇸✌️
Excellent. I started in 1980 in my home State. Carried a model 15 S&W. 4" for three years. Went to a 4" Colt Python. Always used a high ride Don Hume holster w/ adjustable thumb break.
My brother-in-law, who's path you may have crossed (Freet) started me with my first firearms training. I bought a S&W 686 for home defence but had no holster for the range. He pulled out a box of old holsters for me to pick one from and had a big belly laugh when I chose his first holster out if the academy, the Widowmaker. Good for the mountain range but I wouldn't want to use it on the street. He has since passed but I hear him through your stories, just like the ones he told, and imagine you two sitting for hours swapping stories. Thank you for all your works and wishing you continued success.
Years ago a member of the police department where I worked had a clam shell holster, that he was very proud to have. One day he was showing it’s function when he hit the button, gun fell out and he grabbed it. Unfortunately he pulled the trigger on the S & W Model 19 .357 magnum. The round went through his right knee, causing considerable pain and embarrassment. Spent a couple months on JRI. The department transitioned to Bianchi break-front holsters. Everyone hated them. Some became loose, gun would fall out or the tension was so tight you couldn’t draw with any precision.
It's good to hear from a professional that will talk honestly about the ups and downs of their experiences. I would genuinely appreciate taking a class with mr. Reitz. Just too bad I can't, with Cirillo and Awerbuck as well.
Scott, I carried a clamshell. I believe most of the accidentals were caused because the clamshells had to be serviced every once in a while The clasp, button or device. that kicked the holster open, needed to be serviced or the clamshell might open at a very bad time. I worked SW AM's and was in a foot pursuit of a burglar and he ran into a small apartment. I reached for my 4" 38 and it was not in the holster (not a clamshell). I got my backup and waited for my partner to catch up. We got the suspect and I walked the alley and found my gun in a water-filled pothole. I was a big fan of the clamshell. The breakfronts and some others were crappy. A good post
Circa 1979. We had the cheapest issued holsters the government contract called for. Was enclosed at the barrel end and we would knock out the flap. It had a thin snap strap over the hammer that would, after a while, become stretched and the gun (S&W Model 10 bull barrel 4 inch) would invariably fall out in any chase or physical arrest. I finally bought a really nice holster from another Department’s supply which retained the holster securely especially from the rear. Still have my box O holsters for my off duty carry. Thanks for the memories:)
What a story!! I suspect that you are about my age. I was born in the early 50s. I was never a policeman, but I respect them no end. They are great bunch of guys! I became very familiar with them at an early age. I was 16 and looked every bit of 12. I had straw colored natural blonde hair, and my Daddy bought me a 1953 version of a BMW 500cc twin.motorcycle. I wore a pair of huge ski goggles to protect my eyes, and weighed in at 126#. Needless to say, I became well known to all the CHP that were attached to SunCity, Perris, and Romoland -Homeland which is now known as Menifee California. Its directly on Hwy 74 towards Hemet. All I ever had to do is show them my registration and DL and I was basically free to go, but they became friends. Not close enough to know each one by name, but they were a cool bunch of guys. They loved looking at my old bike. It is the little brother to the now freshly introduced BMW R/18. If you are into motorcycles and particularly BMWs , I implore you to look at this new R/18. 901ccs per cylinder! 1802ccs , tons of torque, and except for size , looks like it could be the spitting image of my old bike.
I once modified a 1911 angled shoulder holster to eliminate the thumb-break. To retain the cocked and locked pistol, I riveted a snap into the leather between the trigger and trigger guard. It did work, though I never tried a long jump down a flight of stairs. To release the snap all I had to do was yank hard on the pistol grip. It soon dawned on me that the snap or leather would eventually fail over time, so I quickly retired the rig. I still have it in my holster collection to serve as a reminder of my occasional stupidity.
Awesome stories would love to heat opinions of what the seasoned or task force guys thought of different calibers and ammo in real shootings or how often perps shrugged hits off
Another bad thing about the clamshells were the way they flopped around if you were in a foot chase with a suspect. You either had to tolerate all that flapping or run with your hand on it. Top/front break holsters were probably the better holsters for field duty.
Interesting video. Good delivery. The clam shell holsters were a horrible idea. I wonder if the inventor / maker / marketer "greased the palm" of the department procurement officer ---?
Most of Norwegian police used Hogue gripped stock m10 and flap holster until ca 99- 2002, then they got synrhei holster. Then came NOKAS ,and just after that HK pistols were starting to be ordered for all standard cops . Other units used Sig p226, other Colt and SW models.
In the early ‘70s we had swivel top-draw holsters and I’m a leftie. I stopped a motorist for a traffic violation and when I was getting out of the cruiser I realized my gun was gone. The seatbelt had unsnapped the retention device that went over the hammer of the gun and it slid onto the floor of the backseat. We stopped using those holsters and were issued the Jim Jordan Boarder Patrol style, much safer for us.
Great stories and insight from real world experience. If I could only have one handgun, it would still be a 6" .357 mag revolver. For the longer sight radius, enhanced velocity, and ability to contact shoot.
i purchased a model 68 3 months ago. CHP issued. $1700 bucks! around the same time i purchased a CHP issued model 68. i like my 68!!!! i was able to purchase the holsters that were CHP issued. they are Bianchi "The Judge"
A lot of these old experimental holsters during the 70s, 80s and 90s were a trip into the realm of Solutions searching for a Problem, usually finding out a whole mess of new problems arising from their design. Thumb break top draw. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.
I bought a new Blackhawk brand T series rig. It's better than the SERPAs but still not great QC. 🤨 I prefer the newer Safariland TS7 ALS designs. Safe, easy to clean-carry.
Serpa "issues" literally only can happen if you didn't learn good pistol habits from the beginning. I've had the straight index finger default since the first moment I handled a pistol when I was young. Same deal as the Glock "issues" in the 80s with cops used to 13 lb revolver triggers pulling it as soon as it came out of the holster at the range.
