Shot show: flashbacks

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by Massad Ayoob

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The old heads among us (Clint Smith and our editor, to name two) will remember when the S&W Model 58.41 Magnum was touted as the service revolver that would make the .38 and the .357 obsolete. That was in 1964 and the prophecy was not fulfilled. The Model 58, introduced in 1964, was discontinued for lack of interest in 1978, and almost immediately became a cult favorite among gun people. Well, S&W introduced it "back" this year in their classic line. Buy one--ignore its ugly integral lock--and relive the past.

Speaking of the past, can you recall when the debate between whether Safariland or Bianchi made the best holsters and duty gear, was worth more than one beer in the cop bar after work? It was one of the great "brand wars" of the old days, right up there with Colt versus Smith & Wesson, and the Plymouth Fury Pursuit versus the Ford Interceptor patrol car package.

Well, if that wasn't settled when both Safariland and Bianchi were absorbed into Armor Holdings and in turn into BAE, it was settled at the SHOT Show when the holding company announced that from now on, they were all going to be under the aegis of Safariland. For the foreseeable future, your Bianchi Accumold gear will come in a package that says "Bianchi by Safariland." And, no, I haven't had a chance to ask John Bianchi or Safariland pioneer Neale Perkins how they feel about it--both are long since retired from the police equipment wars.