Two clips of my special draw for my 1860 Colts. A little fun gunplay.

[Bill Akins]

I had just had a big wart taken off my left trigger finger the day before these two video clips were made, so I couldn't do much drawing with my left hand.
My holsters are not offset angle crossdraw, but are standard vertical draw that I just tilt on my belt to be angled. But, since they are just belt loop holsters they can move around some when the revolver is drawn and sometimes that can mess up my draw. I've got a design for a four revolver fixed holster rig that I want to build so that the holsters will not move around on my belt when I draw from them like my current holsters do. Anyway, here's the video link.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfKzaxsRVGM

[Bill Akins]

Any other fast draw artists here? Would be gunslingers who used to watch Roy and Dale, Clayton Moore, Gene Barry, Steve McQueen, Chuck Connors, James Arness, Nick Adams, Clint Walker, James Garner, Hugh O'brian, and all the others back in the 50's and 60's like this old man did and got the hankering to learn to quick draw just for fun. Anyone?


.

[Hawg]

Not bad for an old dude. Be interesting to see what kind of comments the twirling gets tho. I think a lot are going to be horrified, At least they were when I talked about doing it. Course I do it with live ammo.

[kwhi43]

Well I use to think I was quite the quick draw artist. This back in 1965. Had
a Colt 45 . Lived out in the country and loved to walk around my pond scaring
the frogs. When they would croak and jump I would draw and fire trying to
beat them with with my bullet into the water. Well this one time I was a little
quicker on my trigger finger than my draw. The 45 went off in the holster
blowing the bottom out and the bullet entered my jeans and traveled the full
length inside my jeans and came out the bottom of the leg and went into the
ground beside my foot!!!. If the bullet had entered my leg I would have died
as I was about a 1/4 mile from the house and on foot. Guess I'm lucky to be
here. Well what did he do you ask? Well sir, I put the 45 back in my holster
and went right on quick drawing. I was thinking if I got scared and stopped,
I would never draw again. In my later years, I have stopped though.

[g.willikers]

Pretty danged slick for doing it backwards like.
Neat, thanks for the video.

[bedbugbilly]

Bill - pretty slick! Gene, Gabby and Roy would be proud of you! I was going to try this with my Vaquero (loaded of course ) but my better half put the "nix" on it until I get my cast iron chaps made.

I chuckled when I read post about the revolver going off in the holster. Reminded me of a story my Dad used to tell. He chummed around with a bunch of fellows in the twenties and thirties (couples) and one fellow had a Colt SAA 45. He used to fancy himself as a "quick draw artist". One New Year's Eve, he'd had a little too much to drink and proceeded to put on a "show" of his quick draw in the basement of the house where they were all partying. He quick drew just fine but he should have unloaded his wwapon first . . . he, ah . . . well . . . shot his pistol after drawing and put one right through the furnace.

Another tale I heard as a kid was about a "town character" who once worked on a ranch for several years out west. He fancied himself a "cowboy" and would often have a little too much to drink as well. He once did a "quick draw" for some fellas who were egginghim on and was going to show them how he could "fan" his Colt. Unfortunately, he cocked it when he drew and as he went to "fan" it, tore his palm completely open on the hammer firing spur.

Interesting videos Bill . . . you've obviously practiced a lot! Thanks for sharing!

[4V50 Gary]

Sound isn't optimal, but dang, that draw & twirling is nice.

[munson1]

Kool Bill !!!!!! Nice Job!!!!!!

Lover of Single Actions & Old Westerns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken

[Bill Akins]

Glad you fellas liked it. In addition to shooting them, I get a lot of fun out of twirling and quick drawing my BP revolvers. My daughter in law (who knows of my quick drawing penchant) got me a present for my 57th birthday and she found the perfect rope handle bag to put it in that had a pic of one of my favorite heroes (Roy Rogers) on the bag and the text line below the pic was perfect. I was delighted to say the least!
Needless to say, I kept the bag.
Here's a scan of the bag.....

p.s. Look at the barrel lengths of Roy's Colts. He usually had 4 & 3/4" barrels on his t.v. series (like the Lone Ranger did) but not in this pic. Those appear to be 7 & 1/2 inch barrel '73 peacemakers.



Roy and Dale were not just my heroes because of their western fame. There was that to be sure, but they were also both philanthropists who adopted a whole group of kids and raised them as their own. They also did a lot for charities and children's hospitals. When Roy died there was only a small article and pic in my newspaper. Shameful. But what can you expect from a liberal media who doesn't want people to remember heroes who were popular in the movies and t.v. for carrying guns and righting wrongs as INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS who were not portrayed as government sanctioned agents or peace officers.

I remember seeing their very last t.v. performance together a few years back with them both very elderly and dressed in their western outfits singing "Happy Trails".

After Roy died, the IRS raped his estate. Dale died shorty thereafter. I've called and spoke with their son Rusty Rogers at the Roy Roger's museum a while back, and they had to sell a lot of stuff like Roy's saddles and guns to pay off the draconian IRS. I'm not even sure if the museum was able to stay open. Haven't spoken with Rusty Rogers in a while. The media can downplay gun carrying Roy Roger's significance if they want, but he will always be a hero to this babyboomer. Roy's appearance in commercials helped sell a lot of Mattel shootin shell western toy guns back in those days too. (I had a couple of Mattel shootin shell fanners) Which influenced a lot of us towards real guns later. Something the media today wouldn't like and no doubt resents what Roy stood for. So it's no wonder the press downplayed the news of his death. This man was a MAJOR western movie and t.v. star. At one time the highest paid t.v. actor and most popular western star of that era. Him and his wife were wonderful, Christian, charity giving people. And the press just gave a tiny blurb to his passing. Even less of a blurb to Dale's passing shortly thereafter. Again, shameful. I truly hate the times we live in. I really do.

When I was very small, maybe 5 or 6, Dale Evans visited our Seminole Heights Baptist Church in Tampa, Fl. Yes, THE Dale Evans. When mom introduced her to me, I didn't recognize her without her cowgirl outfit on! Lol.
I asked her where Roy and trigger was and she told me they were at home. I remember she was wearing a 50's era hat and had a fox or some kind of fur wrapped around her shoulders. Very UNwestern garb. I was disappointed, as a child I expected her to ALWAYS be wearing her cowgirl outfit! At that young age it never occurred to me that she wouldn't! Lol.

When I was 12 in military school (Sanford Naval Academy, Sanford, Fl.) at a field trip to six gun territory, I also met and spoke with Kirby Grant (Sky King) who was performing in the shootout at the now defunct western theme park "Six Gun Territory". He gave me one of his spent blank shells. Kirby Grant died in an accident where he somehow drove off the interstate and his car landed in a water filled ditch upside down and although the crash did not kill him, he drowned. For those of you who remember "Sky King", the pretty girl "Penny" died last year. The old 50's western stars are starting to rapidly thin out.

I miss those old days and our old western stars. Sitting in my car one evening at Parris Island, I even wrote a song about missing them when I was in the Marines back in 1972. It's words are kind of dated today though. I've strummed the guitar and sang it a lot over the years but never recorded it. Just a simple guitar chord progression of G, C, and D. Let me know if you want to read the lyrics and I'll post them.


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[kwhi43]

Yes, I do Bill. I'm sure I'm not alone, just the first one to ask.

[Hardcase]

Very slick, Bill! I'm afraid that the best I can do with a backwards rig like that would be to drop my gun on the ground.

Once a month or so, my father in law comes over and we spend all day Sunday watching old-timey westerns. Roy, Gene, Wild Bill Elliot, all of those guys. He saw them the first time around in the theater and we have a great time seeing them again at home.

[duelist1954]

Great video.

Man, I wish I was co-ordinated enough to do that!

[Bill Akins]

Thanks again fellas, glad y'all liked my special draw video.

Okay [email protected]. Here's the lyrics to the song I wrote that you'd like to read.

You have to realize that some of the lyrics are dated to the 1970 movies and t.v. shows I was comparing the older western films and 50's t.v. westerns to when I wrote the song back in the early '70's. Dated lines such as "Mary Tyler Moore's become a bore....". The Mary Tyler Morre show hasn't been made in many years now. "Clint Eastwood's gone detective" was referring to his Dirty Harry character and that he had just about stopped making westerns except for "The Beguilded" and the much later made "Unforgiven" (Neither of which I cared much for).

But maybe I could update the lyrics and make it more pertinent to today. Of course the first verse would have to start out as "Fifty years ago...." instead of "Twenty years ago", cause I wrote this OVER 30 years ago. In some parts in parenthesis below I explain a few things, such as Sterling Hayden and Gene Barry and Tex Ritter's tune. Those are just explanations and not part of the song though.

I called it, "John Wayne you left too soon".

Verse #1.
Twenty years ago through the biggest knob on your black and white t.v. screen. The sixguns blazed everywhere it stayed and the Lone Ranger was king. Richard Boone wore a horse head chess piece and Paladin's hideaway gun, young Clint in a show called Rawhide, Steve McQueen was the wanted gun. Hugh Obrian played Wyatt Earp, remember his fancy vest? A white shirt and his buntline specials, he outdrew all the rest, Nick Adams as the rebel, Clint Walker as Cheyenne too, where have y'all gone I ask in song, I've got the western blues.

Bridge
Now Clint Eastwood's gone detective Gunsmoke's gone and I miss Matt, I'm sick and tired of sitcoms, I want my westerns back. Rory Calhoon at the movies, Gene Autry strummin tunes, I want some more just like before John Wayne you left too soon.

Verse #2
Now Tex Ritter's gone but remember his song...(Next six words sung to the tune of "Do not forsake me oh my darlin") Do not forsake my western drama....Gary Cooper's gone too and I'll tell you...the Dukes of Hazard won't quite do. Maverick's gone to Rockford files, Bat Masterson's in Burkes law, (Gene Barry 1950's "Bat Masterson" in modern 1970's era law drama called Burke's law) Bonanza's doing re-runs, Sterling Hayden was gonna make Jaws. (Hayden was supposed to be the old fisherman in Jaws but didn't take the role) Now Randolph Scott's a businessman Roy and Dale where are you at? Mary Tyler Moore's become a bore I want my westerns back.

Bridge
Now Clint Eastwood's gone detective Gunsmoke's gone and I miss Matt, I'm sick and tired of sitcoms, I want my westerns back. Rory Calhoon at the movies, Gene Autry strummin tunes, I want some more just like before John Wayne you left too soon.

Verse #3
Barry Sullivan was The Tall Man, Clu Gallager Billy The Kid, Chuck Conners as The Rifleman, Duncan Renaldo the Cisco Kid, The Grey Ghost was a southern soldier, I was his biggest fan, now the sitcoms have took over and that I just can't stand.

Bridge
Now Clint Eastwood's gone detective Gunsmoke's gone and I miss Matt, I'm sick and tired of sitcoms, I want my westerns back. Rory Calhoon at the movies, Gene Autry strummin tunes, I want some more just like before John Wayne you left too soon.

Verse #4
Tombstone Territory was a great one, Bronco Lane a good one too, Jim Bowie with his big knife, Rin tin tin with the boy in blue. Shotgun Slade with his scattergun, Festus with his mule, I miss em all but I recall, I hope that you do too.

Bridge
Now Clint Eastwood's gone detective Gunsmoke's gone and I miss Matt, I'm sick and tired of sitcoms, I want my westerns back. Rory Calhoon at the movies, Gene Autry strummin tunes, I want some more just like before John Wayne you left too soon.

Verse #5.
Wagon Train and Sky King's plane beat All In The Family's drool, Conrad in the Wild Wild West and Artie were so cool. They may be gone but by this song I remember a few. If I left some out without a doubt you'll remember some westerns too.

Bridge
Now Clint Eastwood's gone detective Gunsmoke's gone and I miss Matt, I'm sick and tired of sitcoms, I want my westerns back. Rory Calhoon at the movies, Gene Autry strummin tunes, I want some more just like before John Wayne you left too soon. Yeah I want some more just like before....John Wayne....you left....too soon. (Followed by a yodel like Roy Rogers did with the Sons of the Pioneers in the song "Hold that critter down" or "The Devil's Great Grandson").

End.


.

[shafter]

Wow! Those old hands move pretty quick! Nice pistols but I'm not sure about the holsters. When I'm in the mood to wear my gun butt-forward I just slide the holster to the other side. Straight up and down.

[Bill Akins]

Shafter wrote:
Wow! Those old hands move pretty quick! Nice pistols but I'm not sure about the holsters. When I'm in the mood to wear my gun butt-forward I just slide the holster to the other side. Straight up and down.

Thanks Shafter. Yeah, my holsters are just cheapo Oklahoma leather ones. They are actually vertical holsters that I just push to tilt on my belt to angle them. They are NOT crossdraw holsters and they move around sometimes when I draw and mess up my draw as you can see in the video. So to stop them moving around and to get more secure holsters, I have me this idea for a multiple and modular holster rig I want to build.

My idea is to make a modular holster rig design that will allow me to draw my butt forward draw when not in a SASS match and then quickly convert my modular holsters to allow me to conform to SASS rules for their matches. From my correspondence with other SASS shooters and reading the SASS rulebooks, it appears they would not allow my special style of butt forward draw. Because for one section of the draw the revolver is twirled on my finger and also because even though the revolver is barrel downward at 30 degrees in the holster, the rules state it must be vertical. So I can't use my draw in SASS matches, but I still want to use it elsewhere and also be able to use the same holster rig for SASS matches. So I had to design something that would be quick change and modular to work for any application.

In these rough sketches below you can get an idea of my modular multiple holster design that allows a quick change between one, two, three or four holsters and in any angle or vertical position and butt forward or butt rearward. These are just rough sketches of course, but you can get the idea. In this way no matter how the SASS rules are interpreted, I can conform to them while at the same time having the ability to configure my rig how I want to use my special butt forward draw when not in an SASS match.
The best of both worlds using the same rig. I may also use thin sheet steel in between layers of the leather to provide stiffness so the holsters don't move around when I draw like my current ones do.

Below, modular quick detach four holster configuration. 30 degree angle butt forward configuration. Yes I would be carrying 4 revolvers. Maybe 6 including the double shoulder holster rig I want to also incorporate to use with my modular lower belt design. Why 4 or 6 revolvers? Why not? I'm a big guy and I can take the weight of 4 or 6 revolvers and because it's different from every other holster rig out there and also because there is less reloading that way . Yeah, I know, I'm nuts.

But just in case I need more firepower, I plan to have extra leather cylinder holders on my belt for my BP revolvers, especially for my quick cylinder changing Remys. (The leather pouches for Ruger 10/22 10 rd rotary magazines work perfect for holding extra BP cylinders and are cheaper than buying the ones made specifically for holding extra cylinders).

Sure it will be a heavy rig carrying four guns, but I don't plan on hiking with it and remember, I can modular configure it to just two or even one holster if I want. So I can load it up, or lighten it down to whatever application I want to use it for. Nothing like this exists, so I have to make it.



Below, same main belt (with steel sheet reinforced between leather layers downward projecting rectangles that the holsters attach to), but instead of using four holsters as above, I remove two and just use two quick detach holsters in a completely vertical configuration. By simply changing the holsters to opposite sides, I can quickly make them butt forward but still vertical. In this way I can use both the butt forward and butt rearward VERTICAL configurations for SASS matches. I can also change the angle from completely vertical to 30 degrees or less. The holsters will be securely attached so they don't move around on the belt like my current Oklahoma leather holsters do.



This will be a project I will be working on for awhile.

What do you think? Like the concept of a modular do anything in any configuration holster rig like this?





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[shafter]

That looks like a real interesting rig. I like the four holsters and I bet the cavalry and outlaws of the old days would have liked it too! Be sure to post a pic when you make it.

P.S. Thats a good idea about the 10/22 mag holsters. I've been wanting to get some for my 22. Its nice to know they can serve double duty.

[Hawg]

Because for one section of the draw the revolver is twirled on my finger and also because even though the revolver is barrel downward at 30 degrees in the holster, the rules state it must be vertical.

Twirling is not allowed because you cannot allow the muzzle to sweep anyone including yourself. A 30 degree cant is legal.