Old School Gunning

These photos are pages from Ed McGivern's Book of Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting, a book that dates back almost eighty years. I am not trying to be snarky, it is just interesting to me to see how things have changed over time.

First, a cop wearing a Montana State Patrol issue holster, as designed by Mr. McGivern.

Note that it is a crossdraw holster. That design was apparently adopted because the troopers had to transport prisoners in the front passenger seats of their cars. A crossdraw holster kept the gun away from the prisoners. These days, the thinking would have been that in a face-to-face confrontation, a crossdraw holster presents a nearly irresistible opportunity for an adversary to try and grab a cop's gun.

Second, Chief McNight of the Lewiston PD draws a revolver from a shoulder holster:

Note that the Chief's index finger is on the trigger as he pulls the gun. If things were really tense, that'd be a good way for him to have fired a round into his arm, severing the brachial artery and bleeding out in very short order. There are two things that can be done to prevent that. First, of course, is following the Four Rules. The second is when one is drawing from a shoulder or crossdraw holster, to raise the other arm up, at least shoulder-level or above, until the handgun has cleared and is pointing downrange.

There were other things in the book. In one sequence, McGivern shoots at a cop who was standing behind a sheet of what was then known as "bulletproof glass". Then McGivern changed places with the cop and let the cop shoot at him. These days, few would want to stand behind a sheet of bullet-resistant glass that has already taken a hit or two.

Different times, different rules. While a few shooters have managed to beat one or two of Ed McGivern's records, nobody has ever come close to matching his skill with a handgun. Reading his book is kind of like a backyard softball player reading a book on how to hit a ball by Stan Musial-- interesting reading, but no way in hell are you ever going to do that shit.

(Now, if you want cop snark, go to this post and look at the two pictures.)