Holster redux

mballai

It looks like my topic got locked before I had a chance to thank everyone and mention that I'm a lefty, so perhaps a cross draw might work a bit better for us southpaws than the average guy--assuming the perp is right handed....Thanks guys!

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

Der Gebirgsjager

mballai: I feel sort-of duty bound to relate a true story to you; an incident which occurred around 1970, and with which I was intimately involved. I have to leave out some names, the location, etc. At that time the crossdraw holster was very much in use as optional equipment (not issue) by a well known West Coast law enforcement agency. The standard issue weapon of the time was a 6 inch .38 Special revolver. Two uniformed Officers initiated a traffic stop on an ex-con for driving under the influence. The Suspect had just burglarized his employer's residence and stolen several guns, none of which were loaded, but the butt of a P-38 was visible sticking out from under the driver's side of the front seat. The Suspect was contacted at the left front window and asked to get out, but he locked the door and rolled up the window. The partner Officer, who was wearing a crossdraw, saw the P-38, opened the right front door and reached across the front seat and extracted the Suspect across the seat onto the sidewalk. A scuffle ensued, and the Suspect was lying on his back with the Officer sitting on his abdomen, holding him down with one hand and reaching for his handcuffs (right rear hip) with his other hand. The Suspect pulled the Officer's revolver from the crossdraw, pushed it against his chest, and pulled the trigger. Dead Officer. This all happened very quickly, and the other Officer, who had been at the left front window, rounded the car just as the Suspect pushed the shot officer away and began to get up with the Officer's revolver in his hand. Dead Suspect. Perhaps the roughest part of this story is that the young Officer who died had followed his Dad onto the department, and his Dad had presented the revolver and holster which he had worn on duty for many years to his Son as a gift when the Dad retired and the Son completed the Academy. Looking back on this incident and how equipment and enforcement tactics have evolved today, it's obvious that several mistakes were made. The point here, however, is that a crossdraw presents your weapon butt forward to an opponent. Needless to say, the concerned agency almost immediately outlawed the use of crossdraw holsters. I doubt if you are a Law Enforcement Officer, and I doubt if you intend to wear a crossdraw openly; but even concealed by a sportscoat or open jacket the presence of your weapon can become readily apparent in a scuffle that might begin as something requiring less-than-lethal force. Hope this tale helps with your decision. Go with strong side to rear of hip carry.

mballai

I've pretty much given the heave ho to the idea and it's not because of the adversary's access--it just seems to be slower overall in presenting, and that's not a good thing.



Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead