MovieChat Forums > The Unusuals (2009) Discussion > Detectives and left handed holsters

Detectives and left handed holsters

posted 13 years ago by liyantheswimmer-1
7 replies | jump to latest

In Pilot, Casey Shraeger is always seen with a holster on her left, but she pulls the trigger with her right hand when she fired two shots at the Asian man with the shotgun. Amber Tamblyn holds the gun kinda odd, but point is, she draws her gun with her left hand but holds and fires it like a right-hander. After rewatching a scene before they entered the building, I noticed Walsh had a left-hand holster the entire time and pulled out the gun with the left hand but fired with the right, too. But some of them have right-hand holsters and fire with their right.

Can someone clear this confusion? Because I'm very, very sure that right handers always use a right-handed holster. Isn't it more natural, and faster? Is there some sort of real life clause where they'd make detectives wear guns on the left so they'd think before drawing? Or is it training?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[–] thomas998 13 years ago

Never paid a lot of attention to the holsters...or even the type of guns they used. But I do know on some pistols they have a clip release on only one side of the gun, so while the trigger could be pulled with either finger the clip release is easier to press with your left hand on some pistols... if that were the case with the one they are using you would want to hold it in your right hand even if you were left handed so you could easily drop the clip... otherwise you would have to turn your hands and make addition movement to drop the clip and reload. Not sure if that explains the reason some of the lefties are shooting with the right hand, but it might.

Could also just be a case of hollywood actors not having a clue about guns.

[–] liyantheswimmer-1 13 years ago

No handguns are factory-made with concealed carry clips. Those clips are after-market add-ons, definitely available for both left and right hand carry. They're for concealed carry and in the show they used open carry holsters, no need for those clips although it's possible they added one (on the wrong side) anyway. Nothing's ever correct in reel life.

I think those holsters and props are supplied to the actors, usually actors have nothing to do with these things. I just don't understand how the wardrobe/armoury guy messed up on something so simple. My guess now is that they had purchased the wrong holster. All that makes sense to me.

[–] rip_ford 13 years ago

By "concealed carry clips" do you mean clip-on holsters because that's something quite different from a clip. And most holsters would probably be considered after-market add-ons since they are usually sold separately from sidearms.

The previous poster was talking about magazine releases and he is correct that not all guns have ambidextrous controls. However I would expect a major metropolitan police force's standard issue sidearms to have ambidextrous controls.

As for why Shraeger is using a left-handed holster in the first episode, I would assume the production's armorer made a mistake. If you want an "in character" explanation, when the first episode begins she is working an undercover vice prostitution sting. Her outfit doesn't exactly provide a lot of places to conceal a sidearm. Assume she's carrying a compact and it's either in a thigh holster, not likely since she's wearing a tight skirt, or her purse. She gets picked up, given her new assignment, and taken straight to Walsh's place. He then takes her down to the station where he has to give her a change of clothes to wear (and why does Kowalski apparently have clothing in her size in his locker?) so obviously her own clothing and gear are not available to her at that time. As a detective working a homicide and not undercover she wants a larger gun with a belt holster so she goes to the precinct's armory and signs one out but for some reason they are temporarily out of right-handed holsters so she has to temporarily use a left-handed one. Later she replaces it with a right-handed holster.

As for Walsh, in later episodes he's still wearing his gun on the left and he shoots left-handed too so assume that he's left-handed and that's not a mistake.

[–] canada3dayer 12 years ago

some people prefer a cross-draw, where the shooting hand goes across the body, while others prefer a direct draw, I guess you'd call it, where you reach down to the hip on the same side. best way to tell if it's intended to be a cross-draw or direct draw is to look at the direction the butt of the weapon is facing - facing front, cross-draw; facing rear, direct draw.

When the pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is NOT our friend. USMC

[–] ellieschulte 11 years ago

Jeremy Renner is actually left handed.

[–] lancer165 11 years ago

My memory tells me that when I was a member of UK armed forces we wore our holsters on the left side pistol butt facing forward. My memory also of any western involving US cavalry or even RCMP the same applied. US forces in movies appear to wear it similarly. Now if they were all General Pattons then i can see holster being worn on the predominant side. Our law enforcement operators are not acting like gunslingers [I hope]. They were most definitely dressed for quick action.

Law enforcement would get their weapons out if they 'though' there was danger. I think most police forces use the cross draw. That is not for speed of course.

Now if we are talking about the wonderful Raylan Givens then that is a completely different topic.

BTW only found this gem tonight on my 'talktalk' internet ISP toy and watched two episodes. Found it not only good but addictive and amusing in great part. Awaiting the long story of the murdered policeman's background to come out. As it only ran for one season may not even find that out.

[–] loki242 9 years ago

Law enforcement would get their weapons out if they 'though' there was danger. I think most police forces use the cross draw. That is not for speed of course.

Seriously???

Police officers wear their gun on their strong side. Period. Why would someone even mention some BS crossdraw crap outside of a John Wayne movie.

You hate Congress but every election you re-elect YOUR "guy" and wonder why things never change!