Development and functionality

The Berns-Martin was first developed in the 1930s because of a need for a secure holster for large frame revolvers; it was later modified for medium and small frame revolvers. 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.

The 1950s to 1970s

From the 1950s through the 1970s the holster was popular with American law enforcement due to the high level of security provided to the revolver

Revolver

A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...

. Because the Berns-Martin can only be used with revolvers (the steel spring will not work on the flat sides and frame of a pistol

Pistol

When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...

), and the near universal adoption of semi-automatic pistols by American law enforcement, the Berns-Martin has fallen out of favor since about 1980. Additionally, the muzzle-up configuration of the shoulder holster was inherently dangerous, with the loaded pistol pointing up into the armpit and spotlighting the brachial

Brachial artery

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the arm.It is the continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries...

 and axillary

Axillary artery

In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla and the upper limb...

 arteries.

Decline

As of 2006, C. Rusty Sherrick was producing a Berns-Martin type holster, called the Brown Shoe Speed Drawhttp://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/vertbelt.html. At one time Bianchi International

Bianchi International

Bianchi International of Temecula, California is a worldwide producer of leather and nylon goods for the law enforcement industry. Since the 1970s they have produced items from gun holsters to duty belts and everything related in between...

 manufactured a version of the Berns-Martin, but no longer does. Blackhawk Products Group also sells a Berns-Martin inspired holster called the Blackhawk CQC Leather Speed Classic.