1950-1970's ERA[before plastic, what would you carry?

P64

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For concealment, S&W model 49 J-frame shrouded hammer original Bodyguard.

For OWB under a jacket, S&W model 59. They came out in 1970, so that fits your time-frame (barely).
 
Great topic:)

Have been thinking about posting a question like this, even though it was before my time. (Born in 1974)

From what's been mentioned here

I could see myself carrying a Colt LW Commander and/or a S&W Cheifs Special.

Question: Were Detonics & Colt Officers models around in that era? If so, what was their reputaion?


Also enjoying the pic's that some of you guys have posted. Keep them coming.
 
In the 1970s I carried a S&W model 66 on duty, autos were not allowed. Off-duty, I usually had a Colt Govt., Commander, Gold Cup or Browning Hi Power. One of my co-workers routinely carried a 6 1/2" Mod. 29 Smith in a Dirty Harry type shoulder holster while off-duty;-)
 
if we had concealed carry in that era i'd say a S&W model 36 or 37. And if i feel like it a 4 inch model 28 highway patrolman.
 
In a perfect world, some sort of N frame and/or J frame.
I must say its interesting reading folks choices, and how often what worked then is still workin now.
 
Question: Were Detonics & Colt Officers models around in that era? If so, what was their reputaion?
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Yes, Detonics pistols showed up in the late 1970s IIRC. Generally, people thought they were cool because they were so compact, but not very reliable and a lot of recoil and blast. The Colt Officer's Model (I assume you mean the 1911 platform ones) showed up in the mid to late 1980s. There were also several other semi carry gun options available; Star PD, AMT, S&W models 39 and 59, and the ubiquitous PPKs and PP. A lot of revolvers were carried, typically J frame Smiths or D frame Colts, Charter Arms, and a variety of small framed guns, but some of us carried large frame revolvers or autos either because we didn't care if it showed or we wanted the firepower.
 
The Colt was called the Officer's ACP. There was a Colt revolver on the medium frame called the Officer's Model. The large frame model was the Shooting Master (and there was another large frame target model, too). I owned one of the Officer's ACP. I wouldn't say it had a lot of blast but it was certainly a handful to shoot.

Star pistols from Spain were the first to produce very lightweight pistols, all single actions rather like Colt, except none had grip safeties that I recall. There was a .45 model called the PD, already mentioned, and a thin and compact model called the Starlight as well as a variety of .380 models over the years. I couldn't say how popular they were but gun writers often mentioned them.

Some PPKs were produced with an alloy frame but only in .32. I believe those were produced at least by 1960. The groundbreaking S&W Model 39 was also around by then and one company used them as a basis for a cut-down model called the ASP, I think it was. Those were also written about a lot but I never saw one.
 
If I was going to carry something that I have from the '50s and if I had to put it in my pocket, my 1954 Armi Galesi Mosel 9 in 32ACP.
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If concealment wasn't as big of a problem then my 1954 Colt Commander,
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1954 is my birth year. maybe why my picture taking skills are so bad.
 
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