Okay, here goes reply #2 ...
I had spent an hour getting pics and stuff ready on reply # 1 when my computer switched to another page and discarded the entire post .... so here goes a truncated #2 ...
First, thanks for all the thoughtful advice so freely given ... it has really helped flesh out my Character!
In order to be more accurate, I bought a 'Gun that Never Was', a '51 Colt in .44 Cal ... Will Ghormley made me a copy of a Maine and Winchester Slim Jim holster, and Chuck Burrows cut down an old belt to make my gun rig ... pics below.
Californios also did not carry Bowies, but had their own type of knife called a Belduque. I could not find a lare enough Belduque, so Josh Dabney was kind enough to make this one for me. I have been waiting for over two years for the Botas De Alas to carry it in, and I look forward to wearing the knife ...