Vintage Jay-Pee swivel Duty Holster

[Major 2]

A visit to the Toy store today netted a NEAT Score

This vintage Jay-Pee Swivel Duty holster for a 357 Colt was in the $5 catch all basket ...SNAG !
It is dated 1945 and this example left hand  marked Jay-Pee  1945

...but they were made into the 60's ...here "triple ace"  B.Gen Robin Olds wears a similar USAF issue circa 1965 this one has his S&W Combat Masterpiece 357 secured

Last photo is a later version circa 1950's  marked Jay-Pee 357 COLT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

$5! Outstanding find, Major. Congratulations. Do you know what percentage of them were LH and RH?

[Major 2]

Still researching

Will, it looks like LH was made to order about 10 % of production...

My example is Police duty - note: the snap keeper to stabilize the swivel feature... I think Motor Cycle patrol

The USFA Holster was a different and simpler design , and was hung from the US M1956 Pistol Belt

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Major. Isn't it interesting what you can find in bargain bins and such?

[Rube Burrows]

Nice find. I have one of my grandfather's swivel duty holsters.

[Major 2]

I have this one - it came with this COLT Police Positive - I bought from the estate of this fellow.

Office Bill Stackhouse and his Indian Scout Motorcycle- photo Circa 1931 , seen here wearing the holster & COLT

The Holster is a Brauer Bros MFG.  1929 service holster 

[Major 2]

Still researching

Will, it looks like LH was made to order about 10 % of production...

My example is Police duty - note: the snap keeper to stabilize the swivel feature... I think Motor Cycle patrol

The USFA Holster was a different and simpler design , and was hung from the US M1956 Pistol Belt

The Audley Safety Holster Company was established in the early 1900s, prior to 1905, by F. H. Audley who had previously been a Saddle, Harness and Boot maker. These were trades he had learned early in life as a young boy and developed over 30 in the Saddlery and Harness business.

Having started his own saddlery business in New York, at 2557 Third Avenue (Near 139th Street), in approximately 1876 and operating until 1885, F. H. Audley closed his business and went into business with Mr. P. H. Comerford remaining in Saddlery, Harness & Boot making. In 1891, Frank H. Audley went back into business himself and although making quality saddlery and boots, he struggled over the next 10 years until the turn of the century.

In the early 1900s, F. H. Audley moved his shop to 8 Centre Market Place, across from Police Headquarters and it was at this time he starting getting a lot of exposure to Police equipment. From this time, F. H. Audley filed many patents for various pieces of Police equipment which he developed and sold to many of the New York City Police Officers that utilized he services from his accessible location.

The most famous of these inventions was the Audley Safety Holster which F. H. Audley applied for patents in 1912 and they were approved October 13, 1914. The holster incorporates a spring loaded steel catch in the body of the holster which securely holds the pistol in place. It can only be released by using the index finger to depress the catch. It is virtually impossible for anyone other than the person wearing the holster to do this. No other retaining strap is required.

They were popular with many officers in WW1 and were also used by many American Police Departments. The Audley Company was taken over by the Folsom Arms Co., and eventually became the Jay-Pee holster company. ."

[Major 2]

 I'll have to keep an eye out for USAF Issue , I had not set out to collect vintage holsters (I sorta blundered in )

The Bauer Brothers Duty holster came with the COLT Police Positive I bought. (photo above)
and another Original WWII US M3 Enger-Kress Shoulder Holster with a 1911 Ithaca from a Pilot I acquired
I also got a Really cool soft holster with my WW2 bring back 1918 Luger.
and a capture Beretta M1935 came with its issue holster.

Then I acquired the P38 soft holster on eBay for the captured Mauser 

" voilà "  I had a budding assortment !

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's a fine collection, Major. It's cool to see them with their original holsters.

[Major 2]

Thank you
The top 3 are with the original holsters from when they were brought back and have been with, over 70 years.
The P38 byf (Mauser) was a capture gun, but no holster, I found that one on eBay.

My Colt Commando (lettered by COLT) Manufactured Jan.2 1945 fits the JAY-PEE like a glove.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Nice. Looks right at home in it.

[Major 2]

A Colt Commando is in reality a Official Police 38 special service revolver in War time parkerized finish with 50,000  made.
The Commando was made between 1942-45 , when Colt returned the subsequent service revolvers to the standard blue.

 

[Johnny McCrae]

I'm looking forward to viewing your awesome collection in person in the not too distant future.