Tag Archives: Star BM

The ‘Throwback’ Yaqui Slide is Actually Still Relevant

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By the 1970s, the “Yaqui Slide,” essentially the Bikini of the holster world, was often seen in both IPSC circles and in use as a practical carry holster, well-liked by such practitioners of the modern shooting method as Col. Jeff Cooper of Gunsite fame, who reportedly brought the concept back from San Salvador where it had been created by one Edwardo Chanin.

Since the early 1990s, Galco has carried the modern Yaqui Slide in its catalog, and it is still popular today. Part of it is cultural, as on-screen iconic characters such as Tom Selleck’s Jesse Stone – who carried an SW1911SC Gunsite Model – and Tom Cruise’s Vincent in Michael Mann’s Collateral used such gun leather.

Then again, the other part is that it still works.

More in my column at Guns.com.

Looking for a good 9mm with a little history that won’t break the bank?

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Classic Arms is selling ‘”fair condition” Star (Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A) Model BMs, which is a 9mm Colt Commander-sized single action made for Spanish police between 1972 and 1992, for $149.

Wut.

These sweet little pistols are great– I’ve picked up a few in recent months. Pro-tip if you get into collecting these: C.G.P. markings on the slide are for the Civil Guardia Policia for Spain and P.A. is the Policia Armada for Spain. CGP patrolled the rural areas while the PA patrolled the cities (Madrid, Barcelona, etc.).

The model was used by LaFrance Specialties to make the famous “NOVA 6-Pack” in the 1980s that could use either a chopped 6-round mag or the standard 8-shot.

Photo via an old GunsAmerica listing

Stars from the Eger Collection, lol:

Standard…

And with Chinese elm aftermarket panels by Reine Smith at 4S Grips and an Outbags full-grain leather Colt Commander-sized holster that fits like a glove.