We spend a lot of time identifying and talking about the guns used in various tv shows, movies, and more. What we never seem to do is identify the gear used in these various films. Let’s rectify that because I think it can be interesting to discuss and see what Hollywood thinks is the best way to carry a gun. Today, we are going to narrow things down and take a look at a distinguished holster maker who has been making it to the big screen for decades: Galco.
Not only has Galco been providing holsters for the big screen, but they designed and built custom pieces for movies. Galco’s products in films have also helped them move holsters to the general public, so it seems mutually beneficial. Let’s dive into Hollywood’s holsters.
“Thief” – The Original Jackass Rig
The original appearance goes back to Michael Mann’s directorial debut, Thief, in 1989. The main character packed a custom long slide 1911, but he wasn’t carrying it in a shoulder rig. This movie predates Galco, and at this time, they were known as the Famous Jackass Leather Company.
Mann outfitted the cast and crew with guns, spare mags, and more to make it believable. One such thug was armed with a shoulder rig that was known as the Original Jackass Rig. This shoulder holster would stick in Mann’s mind for years to come. The Original Jackass Rig was designed for a Chicago cop looking for a horizontal shoulder holster.
“Miami Vice” – The Original Miami Classic
Mann remembered the shoulder holster from Thief, and in 1989 when he created Miami Vice, he wanted the main character, Crockett, to wear the same shoulder holster. Mann and the propmaster couldn’t find the Original Jackass Shoulder Rig because the Famous Jackass Leather Company had become Galco. Eventually, worlds collided, and Mann and the propmaster found Galco.
The President of Galco flew out to fit Don Johnson with a shoulder rig. That rig would become the Miami Classic. Johnson wore the rig and carried a Bren Ten for a few seasons, and the holster became quite popular. It’s certainly Galco’s most famous holster and is still in production to this day.
“Die Hard” – Left-handed Jackass Rig / Galco Miami Classic.
In 1988, Die Hard premiered and changed action movies forever. In the first film, we see Detective John McClane carrying a Beretta 92F series pistol, high tech for the time, in an original Jackass Rig. His holster is only seen at the beginning of the film, sadly.
In Die Hard With a Vengeance, we get a very clear view of the Galco Miami Classic. It’s a left-hand model with wider comfort straps. Concealment isn’t necessary for a cop, so why not use the wider, more comfy straps? He uses the tie-downs as well, which is smart for a man constantly on the run.
“Tomorrow Never Dies” – Galco Executive
Galco is James Bond-approved. Our hero, Mr. Bond, carries his Walther PPK in a Galco Executive shoulder rig. The little gun and the Executive are just right for each other. The Executive is a low-profile, minimalist shoulder rig that maximizes concealment. Its lack of big wide straps makes it better suited for smaller guns.
This is not a traditional shoulder holster. It has one loop which attaches to the holster. The other is a band that goes around the neck and body and attaches to your belt. The Executive is simple and a good choice for a secret agent carrying a rather small gun.
“Beyond the Law” – Custom Dual Wield Shoulder Holster
Beyond The Law is where Galco gets into making custom rigs for silly movies. Beyond the Law follows an undercover cop infiltrating a biker gang. His weapons of choice are a pair of S&W 39s with a nickel finish and pearl grips. Quite gaudy, but have you seen the guys that ride Harleys?
He carries the two guns in a shoulder rig, which is admittedly smart for a biker. It keeps the guns off the waist and is easier to access while driving. You never know when you need to calvary draw your handgun while riding your motorcycle. Plus, if you run out of ammo, you can’t reload, so draw your spare. As far as I know, Galco made this rig based on the Miami classic, and it’s not tough to set up a Miami classic for dual wielding.
“3000 Miles Of Graceland” – Dual Shoulder Rig
Oh yeah, a very similar rig pops in 3000 Miles to Graceland. The bad guy in the movie, Kevin Costner, carries a pair of fancy 1911s. He carries them in a custom Galco rig. This one appears to use wider straps, but it might be a completely custom piece. It’s a vertical shoulder holster system and uses retention straps around the triggers.
It’s tough to say if it’s based on any rig from that era. However, this overly stylish film makes great use of these guns. The holster is seen several times carrying them. If you are going to dual-wield, you might as well use a shoulder rig.
“Face/Off” – Dual 1911 SOB Rig
Face/Off is a crazy movie and comes from a time when we all thought John Woo would make Hollywood movies. It’s one of my favorites for the sheer craziness of it. Nic Cage and John Travolta both ham it up, and I love it. Nic Cage’s character, Castor Troy, carries a pair of gold 1911s but doesn’t carry a shoulder holster.
Instead, he uses a custom small-of-back rig made by Galco. It fits his two 1911s for an easy draw and works well under his cape-like jacket. Galco produced the rig for the film and made a small line out of their custom shop, and they occasionally pop up. However, I wouldn’t use this for any practical purpose.
“Way of The Gun” – Galco Royal Guard
Let’s get back to earth and focus on a more grounded use of holsters. In the film Way of the Gun, our protagonists carry M1911s in Galco Royal Guard holsters. These are IWB rigs and make a lot of sense for a criminal to carry. They hide the guns easily and don’t attract attention. Both characters conceal their firearms effectively.
The Royal Guard is a classic IWB design made from Leather with dual snaps for the belt. They ensure the gun is accessible but only barely pokes out above the waistline. Both characters wear them just behind the hip to maximize concealment.
“Longmire” – Speed Master 2.0
The Speed Master 2.0 is a most leather OWB rig with a classic forward cant. Attached to it is a paddle system that secures it to your belt but also makes it easy to remove. The Speed Master 2.0 carry rig is perfect for our quasi-cowboy Longmire. Longmire prefers his classic M1911 and lever action rifle. He’s a turn-of-the-century cowboy, not an old west cowboy with a six-shooter.
This big holster doesn’t offer active retention, and if I were a cop, a Safariland would probably be my go-to. However, it does give him that steer hide style to go along with his duster and cowboy hat.
Lights, Camera, Galco
Galco has been everywhere, man. They’ve popped up in numerous action movies, comedy movies, and more. Galco also just happens to make great holsters for you and me too. If you want to feel like Crockett, McClane, and even Castor Troy, check out our lineup of holsters.
