I made a holster for an 8" 1860 conv. I wanted it to have the 'feel' of an RC Gallup holster on page 89 of Packing Iron but without the hammer being buried behind the upper curve. The original holster is clean and without any noteworthy decorative work. The maker's stamp and a bead along the top curve is all. The natural beauty of the leather does the rest.



It also needed to be a 30 degree cross draw holster, which is much better than trying to pull that long iron into your arm pit to draw it out of a strong side holster. To do that I just widened my pattern for a Slim Jim belt loop and angled the top back towards the center of the holster. Then I stitched and riveted it on at the proper angle.



To get the color I diluted a mixture of what-all colors I had on hand with about 4 parts alcohol.

My sentiments exactly. Your work is a genuine pleasure to view.

Thank you Mr. McCrae

The .44 Russian was the first cartridge to use inside lubed bullets rather than heeled bullets.  Thus the case is larger in diameter than the .44 Henry.  The Smith & Wesson .44 American has dimensions very close to the .44 Henry rimfire or centerfire.  When the Russians suggested seating the bullet so the case lube was inside the case and protected that required the case to be larger in diameter.  This new larger case became the .44 Russian.

Ah, the myth that refuses to die. The .44 Russian as originally loaded used an OUTSIDE lubed bullet. The first inside lubed CF metallic ctg. rd. was made in 1865:  the 56-50 Spencer.

Back to the .44 Russian...  It was only at the behest of a famous target shooter (Bennett or Paine, can't remember which) that UMC started making inside lubed .44 Russian ctgs. due to fouling concerns and that was in the 1880's.

Here are some photos of early .44 Russian ctgs. to confirm this:

https://www.oldammo.com/september04.htm

Thanks for the coffee, having mine with a pair of sunny side up eggs and everything bagel.

Very slow attendance yesterday, was no one till about 1pm the maybe 6 couples between 1 and 3
and then zip till 6pm closing.

Excitement at the home front as woods about 1/2 mile away was set ablaze by a kid.
 Lots of SMOKE and heavy ash fell on my place, my wife said. SHE called the FD, they put it out, and the cops nabbed the kid, with the help of a witness.

Just went and warmed up my coffee, and wishing you all good day 

Morning y'all.
Coffee and tea are ready.

Rained overnight.

'Tis 52 and mostly sunny. "Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Chance of precipitation 40%. High temperature around 75F. Dew point will be around 52F with an average humidity of 59%. Winds will be 8 mph from the WSW."

Slim