Jerry Ahern
Dirty Harry Shoulder Holsters Return and "W" Bids Farewell
By Jerry Ahern
Jan 21, 2009 - 5:50:17 PM

Dirty Harry Shoulder Holsters are back and one of the finest Presidents this country has been blessed to have has bidden farewell to the nation.   It was quite a Thursday, the 15th of January, 2009, the first day of the 31st Annual Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show, held this year in Orlando, Florida.

Sharon and I even saw one guy walking the aisles wearing mouse ears!   We knew that our old friend, Jerry Ardolino, had been coaxed back into the holster making business with the return of Lawman Leather, the original and only source for the Original Dirty Harry Shoulder Holster.

We’ve known Jerry for about 32 years, since his days as a wild and crazy Chicago cop.   He’s an author, too, one of his books –EXTREME COP – detailing his days with the Windy City’s Finest.    Jerry came over to our house that time more than three decades back, wearing his 6 ½-inch blue Model 29 .44 Magnum in a Dirty Harry.   Sharon photographed it and I wrote about it.   Jerry Ardolino sold whole bunches of Original Dirty Harry Shoulder Holsters for a wide range of handguns – not just S&W Model 29s. 

A while back, Jerry called to inform us that, along with some associates, he was bringing Lawman Leather back to the holster making scene, but that I shouldn’t reveal that until he gave me the okay.   That has been given.   Jerry delivered an Original Dirty Harry Shoulder Holster to Sharon and me at the SHOT Show, made for my 7 ½-inch Cimarron Arms stainless steel single action.   It works wonderfully well and will be a terrific field holster for this long-barreled revolver.   Due to a proprietary process, Lawman Leather can precision fit an Original Dirty Harry Shoulder Holster to virtually any handgun ever made, regardless of when it was made or current availability.

If you read EXTREME COP, you’ll soon realize that Ardolino did things in his own way.   Although their spheres of endeavor can only be described as worlds apart, one cannot help but think of the lyrics to “My Way” as sung by the incomparable Frank Sinatra, when one considers President George W. Bush’s farewell address to the nation.    As Sharon and I sat in our Orlando hotel room, listening to this fine man’s final remarks as the 43rd President of The United States, we were both struck by “W’s” grace, dignity and resolute conviction that he tried, to the best of his ability, to do what he thought was right. 

What more could anyone ask of a President than what George W. Bush so selflessly gave?   To borrow a little from that song’s lyrics, he did, indeed, do what he had to do, saw things through.   And, yes, he expressed some regrets, as well.

Sharon and I often discussed President Bush over these last eight years.   Kiddingly, we’ve theorized that all that was left to happen on his watch was for Yellowstone’s caldera to blow or malicious aliens to attack from outer space.    For a guy who just wanted to work with “both sides of the aisle” to make America a better place, Fate thrust upon him miseries and responsibilities which would have caused lesser men to crack.   But, George W. Bush stood up for America, stood up for his convictions, stood up for all of us.   His mom and dad – Bush 41 – must be so proud of him and should also take great pride in themselves as parents.   They raised a real man, a real American. 

Thursday was an interesting day – that’s for sure.   Amid all the gloom and doom about the economy, the SHOT Show aisles were packed and all the people to whom we spoke were optimistic and enthusiastic because business was rolling along – and not just personal defense related items, but hunting firearms, too.

For more information on Lawman Leather, visit: www.lawmanleathergoods.com


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