Because of its visibility in a popular television series, the Galco Miami Classic shoulder rig worn by Don Johnson in Miami Vice has become a subject of interest as well as controversy among some gun trivia enthusiasts. Over the years since the show’s first airing, questions have been raised concerning the holster’s origin and evolution and the circumstances surrounding its introduction to the show. The account below addresses all the questions we are frequently asked.

When the pilot episode of Miami Vice was broadcast in 1984, Galco had been manufacturing the shoulder holster rig eventually known as the Miami Classic for the past 14 years. It was then called the Original Jackass Rig, after the Jackass Leather Company, the name under which we did business until our company name was changed to Galco International, Ltd.

The first custom-made Jackass rigs began service in 1970 with officers of the Chicago Police Department, whose input helped Rick Gallagher develop and refine the earliest generations of Galco holsters. It was the Jackass Rig, which popularized horizontal carry and originated the silhouetted, cut-off end of the shoulder holster. In the early 1970’s polymer swivel connectors were introduced as a refinement to the Spider harness and holster, notably predating Fastex/Nexus. In this period the Jackass rig was advertised in Shooting Times magazine and written about by Dick Metcalf in the same magazine.

Hollywood recognized the appeal this product would have to the popular imagination and helped to give it the celebrity status it enjoys today. The Jackass rig worn by James Caan in the 1981 movie Thief documents the evolution of the Jackass rig and the fact that Michael Mann Productions was using it in Hollywood at that date. However, by the time that same production company was developing a television series starring Don Johnson, Property Master Charlie Guanci was (as were many of our loyal customers at that time) unable to contact us. In 1980, Jackass Leather had changed its name to Galco International, Ltd. and, in 1983, had moved from Chicago to Phoenix.

In desperation to get a Jackass-type shoulder holster for the Bren 10 that Don Johnson would be wearing in the series, they approached a local holster maker, Ted Blocker, who replicated a Jackass Rig to the best of his ability. Attempting to locate the polymer parts, his supplier went so far as to find Galco and speak with Robert Hansen, then Sales Manager. When pressed, the supplier admitted the true purpose behind his inquiries, but to no avail. When the level of frustration and desperation on the Miami Vice set finally reached our ears directly, we phoned Property Master Charlie Guanci, who requested that Rick Gallagher fly out to Miami immediately to custom fit Don with a holster like the Jackass rig used in the movie Thief.

At the time, Don was refusing to wear his existing rig and wanted to switch to a belt holster. The leather that held the harness together was printing through his Armani suits; it was also binding, pinching, and limiting his movement in performing his stunts; and much of the time the replica holster failed to conceal the Bren 10. Don’s problems, the wardrobe people’s problems, and the Property Master’s problems were all solved within seconds after Don put on the new Jackass Rig and declared, “It fits like a glove”.

From that moment, Galco’s Jackass Rig, designed by Rick Gallagher over 14 years earlier, became the real Miami Classic rig, destined to be the most copied shoulder holster system in the world today.

Over the course of the television series the Bren 10 was replaced with a S&W 645 and finally a S&W 4506. With each change, the appropriately fitting Galco Miami Classic shoulder rig was sent to the Property Master to be worn by Don Johnson.

We trust this account will clarify some misunderstandings and help answer the Number One holster trivia question of today!