Steve McQueen made this style holster famous in the movie "Bullitt." After searching the internet for years to find a modern version of the old Safariland Model 19 holster, I finally discovered this Vega DA-111. As much as I like the new holster, I still love my old almost worn-out one as well.
Greg | 04 January 2024
My Colt Cobras are so light that they are comfortable to carry in any of the varities of holsters that I have. My go-to holster maker right now, is The Southern Trapper. I'm in the process of working out a new design just for my pair of Colt Cobras.
Vertical molded leather shoulder holster "Upside Down" for Revolver - Vertical shoulder holster made of the best vegetable * leather, thermoformed for a better fit of the weapon in the holster. Part of the shoulder strap is equipped with an elastic band made of soft material to increase comfort on the body.
Author with Vega Holster
The design of the upside-down position holster utilizes a completely enclosed trigger guard to hold the revolver securely in place. The nylon expansion band on top allows easy insertion and drawing of the gun.
Wearing a jacket or sport coat is a requirement with shoulder holsters, but I almost always have a sport coat on. There is an old corduroy jacket that I often wear with jeans, so I often get to utize one of my shoulder holsters.
The Original Holsters
If you've read much of my Gun Blog at all, you know that my 1974 and 1978 Colt Cobras are two of my favorite carry guns. So I'm always keeping an eye open for new holsters for these two guns. Last June I ran across this upside-down, vertical shoulder holster. It's Italian made from high quality cowhide leather. Modern improvements make this holster even better than my two antique versions of this design. Specifically, the leather molds itself to the gun, the center-piece in the back where the straps meet, high quality snaps and buckles and a widened strap over your shoulder to support the weight of the gun reduces stress.
Steve McQueen made this style holster famous when he carried a 2.5" Colt Diamondback .38 in a Safariland Model 19 holster in the 1968 movie "Bullitt." McQueen based the character of Frank Bullitt on San Francisco Inspector Dave Toschi, with whom he worked prior to filming. McQueen copied Toschi's unique "fast-draw" shoulder holster. Toschi later became famous, along with Inspector Bill Armstrong, as the lead San Francisco investigators of the Zodiac Killer murders that began shortly after the release of Bullitt. Toschi is played by Mark Ruffalo in the film Zodiac, in which Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) mentions that "McQueen got the idea for the holster from Toschi."
McQueen based the character of Frank Bullitt on San Francisco Inspector Dave Toschi, with whom he worked prior to filming. McQueen copied Toschi's unique "fast-draw" shoulder holster.
Toschi later became famous, along with Inspector Bill Armstrong, as the lead San Francisco investigators of the Zodiac Killer murders that began shortly after the release of Bullitt. Toschi is played by Mark Ruffalo in the film Zodiac, in which Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) mentions that "McQueen got the idea for the holster from Toschi."
If you've read much of my Gun Blog at all, you know that my 1974 and 1978 Colt Cobras are two of my favorite carry guns.
It's Italian made from high quality cowhide leather. Modern improvements make this holster even better than my two antique versions of this design. Specifically, the leather molds itself to the gun, the center-piece in the back where the straps meet, high quality snaps and buckles and a widened strap over your shoulder to support the weight of the gun reduces stress.
They don't make them like they used to.
Nobody wants to hear that. I don't want to say it, however... it's true. My Bucheimer and Bell Charter Oak holsters for my Cobras have stood the test of time and conquered. These holsters will likely be around long after I'm gone.
A friend of mine came to my home for a visit recently. He wanted to trade for a gun in my collection. When I told him I had more than $2,000 invested in holsters for that particular gun, he looked at me like I was crazy. So you see, I like new holsters too.
Vintage Holsters for my CobrasMy MOS when I served in the United States Army was 76Y. For you non-military readers, the Military Occupational Specialty of 76 Yankee means that I was a Unit Armorer. While on REFORGER 85, I trained with German Paratroopers and qualified as "Expert" with the German G-3 rifle, the Israeli Uzi 9mm sub-machinegun and the 9mm handgun.