Posted: 8/20/2025 1:19:48 PM EDT
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Recently picked up a S&W 28-2 Highway Patrolman. Came with a basic leather holster. Curious what LAPD and other police would have used back in the 70s and 80s. Now looking for a place to find a classic duty belt and holster. Any recommendations? Currently only able to find current police duty belts. Trying to go for the classic look as seen in 70s & 80s films, particularly John Carpenter's They Live.  
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A day without a buzz is like a day that never was
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AZ, USA
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That's a Sam Browne buckle/belt. Search "Sam Browne duty belt 2.25" Safariland was popular in the 1980s and still sells belts like that. Idk about the 1970s, but that belt design is pre-1900 (named after British General Sir Samuel James Browne, who designed it). It gained popularity in the US military right after WWI and then was popular in LE use too (with or without the shoulder strap). |
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According to John Bianchi's book, "Blue Steel and Gunleather", LAPD and CHP used Bianchi Model 27 and Model 2800 break front holsters as issued equipment. CHP also used "clam shell" type holsters for motorcycle officers. Watch some old reruns of "One Adam Twelve" and "CHiPs" to see what Malloy, Reed, Jon and Ponch were using. Gary |
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Originally Posted By Veers57: Recently picked up a S&W 28-2 Highway Patrolman. Came with a basic leather holster. Curious what LAPD and other police would have used back in the 70s and 80s. Now looking for a place to find a classic duty belt and holster. Any recommendations? Currently only able to find current police duty belts. I doubt LAPD ever issued Model 28s. The Model 28 and similar large frame revolvers were most commonly used by State Troopers and sheriff deputies. Regardless, I would imagine the most popular duty holster would have been a good quality version of Bill Jordan's design, commonly called the Border Patrol. Don Hume was probably the largest supplier of them. Bianchi probably did too. They made them with a thumb break for K-frames, don't know about the N frames. A good quality Sam Brown belt or a Don Hume B-106 "River Belt" are excellent choices along with matching dump or speed loader pouches. Ebay is a good place to look if you're good with used. |
| Best bet is to rummage through those junk boxes in the corners of dusty gun shops and at gun shows. Old school leather is plentiful cheap and genuine. Back then dump pouches or shell loops would have been most common as opposed to speedloader cases. Before I moved cross country I had several old police duty revolver rigs that were either given to me for free or cost under 20 bucks. |
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Thanks for all the info. This will help in my search. Close enough works for me. My basis was more on what Nada (Roddy Piper) carried/used in They Live, realizing that it was doubtful LAPD would be carrying a big frame pistol, let alone a Colt Python. Figured going with a Model 28 would give me more ammo choice as compared to a Model 14, which Adam-12 carried in the early seasons. |
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Originally Posted By Veers57: Thanks for all the info. This will help in my search. Close enough works for me. My basis was more on what Nada (Roddy Piper) carried/used in They Live, realizing that it was doubtful LAPD would be carrying a big frame pistol, let alone a Colt Python. Figured going with a Model 28 would give me more ammo choice as compared to a Model 14, which Adam-12 carried in the early seasons. |
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Tex Shoemaker or Safariland are among my favorites. Go on Ebay or Vintage Gun Leather and thank me later. I was able to put together piecemeal a decent rig consisting of a Safariland Model #87 belt, Tex Shoemaker Model #35K (fits my 4" S&W Model 10-6 HB, Model 67-1, and Colt Official Police), and k-frame . 357 HKS speed loader pouches (all black basketweave for that old school look) for a reasonable price. Probably $100 or so IIRC. You just have to hunt for deals. |
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I have a 1961 vintage Jay Pee leather duty rig. These were standard NYPD issue. It is designed for a 6" medium frame revolver as was common then. Really didn't move to 4" when blouses and shoulder straps went away, and high ride holsters became the norm for riding in patrol cars ( same reason we prefer the G45 now). As you can see, this officer was well equipped for his era. 14 cartridge loops and a single cuff case. The suicide strap was no big deal because its sole purpose was to retain his weapon if he had to chase someone. If he perceived danger, the gun was already in his hand. Swivel belt loop meant he could sit down in a car. Also note that this officer probably started when the blouse was daily wear. The attachment rings for the shoulder strap are present, but the strap isnt, instead there are belt keepers.  |
Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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You would not be far off with leather black basket weave stuff with a clamshell holster and a dump pouch for your reloads. Something like this only with the appropriate holster and dump pouch. Attached File |
Nobody is coming. It's up to you.
| Yes, AE Nelson. My first holster issued to me was a AE Nelson front break for my 6 inch nickel Mod 19 pistol. Fantastic pistol, great holster. Carried that for two and a half years until my department switched to G22’s. I was given an exact copy of that pistol as my retirement gift. First accessory’s I purchased was 4 speedloaders, speedloader case and a break front holster from AE Nelson. |