Berns-Martin
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2014) |
Berns-Martin is the name given to a brand of split-front
Development and functionality
The Berns-Martin holster was first developed in the 1930s by J.E. Berns of the Navy Rifle Team, who, assigned to shore duty in Alaska, decided he wanted to carry a long-barrelled gun for hunting and invented a holster that allowed him to carry such a revolver high on his hip and out of the Alaskan snow. The leather work was left to Berns' Navy teammate Jack Martin, who had previously designed the sheath for the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife,[3] hence the name "Berns-Martin" for the company.[4] The holster was patented by John Emmett Berns in 1935 as 2,001,321 for a Revolver Holster.[5] When used in a hip holster, the revolver is drawn by pushing down (slightly) on the revolver grip while rocking the top of the revolver forward through the open front of the holster. While in the holster, a leather covered steel spring holds the revolver cylinder (and the rest of the revolver) securely in the holster, regardless of what physical gyrations the wearer might go through. No less an authority than Jeff Cooper stated that the Berns-Martin holster "keeps the pistol secure enough for anything up to parachute jumping, and yet permit drawing without releasing any latch or strap beforehand."[6]
The 1950s to 1970s
From the 1950s through the 1970s the holster type was popular with American law enforcement due to the high level of security provided to the
As of 2012, C. Rusty Sherrick was producing a Berns-Martin type holster in a belted version called the Gumshoe Special.[10]
As of 2018, A.E. Nelson of Scio, Oregon, makes traditional break front hosters in a variety of duty configurations for medium and large frame revolvers.
Further reading
- No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan.
References
- ASIN B0007E1256.
- ^ Bianchi Holster catalogue. Monrovia, California: Bianchi Holster Company. 1971.
- ISBN 978-1849084314.
- ^ Keith, Elmer (June 1932). "The Berns-Martin Speed Holster". The American Rifleman. 80 (6).
- ^ Google patents. "Holster". USPTO. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Cooper, Jeff. Ibid.
- ^ Berns-Martin (1967). Holster catalogue. Elberton, Georgia: Berns-Martin. p. 4.
- ^ Berns-Martin (1966). Price list 1966. Elberton, Georgia: Berns-Martin. p. 4.
- ^ Combs, Roger (1983). Holsters and other Gunleather. Northfield, Illinois: DBI Books. p. 256.
- ^ Sherrick. "Gumshoe Spl". Sherrick. Retrieved 5 February 2012.