Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L

CAS TOPICS => The Leather Shop => Topic started by: Skeeter Lewis on April 16, 2023, 11:42:21 AM

Title: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 16, 2023, 11:42:21 AM
This is a type of holster I've seen in a few photos, popular in Mexico and the southern states.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 16, 2023, 12:08:47 PM
Here is an original . . .
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 16, 2023, 12:11:09 PM
The customer wanted it aged, so it wound up like this.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 16, 2023, 02:07:38 PM
That looks really good, Skeet! You nailed the look perfectly. Your customer should be quite happy with it. What a nice design. That's not one I'm familiar with but I like it. It's not limited to any particular barrel length. I'll bet it will fit a handful of different types of pistol, too. Thanks for the photos.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Coffinmaker on April 17, 2023, 07:41:41 AM

 :) Hey Hey Hey Skeeter  ;)

That be Hubba Hubba Bubba fer sure.  Nifty neat that it accommodates any barrel length.  There is just something . . . . really nifty about lots of barrel showing below the holster.  You really nailed it  ;D
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Abilene on April 17, 2023, 09:07:15 AM
Like a gun bucket with a half flap.  I like it!
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on April 17, 2023, 12:31:29 PM
I recall
seeing a similar holster on a photograph of a Gaucho attached to a very wide belt.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 18, 2023, 05:29:24 AM
Here's one . . .
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Major 2 on April 18, 2023, 06:40:41 AM
Sweet job Skeet

The design is reminiscing of a Califorian design in the mid 1850's
Capt. Schaeffer's original 1851 holster and the copy.
Some variations of the theme ...
for the S&W Mod. 36 Chief Special (or perhaps Colt Detective)
and stretching it some (modified to full flap) for my EMP
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Rube Burrows on April 18, 2023, 08:18:26 AM
Great job recreating the holster. You did it perfectly. Love to see something old and less seen like this come to life and also have period photos to show its use.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 18, 2023, 08:56:52 AM
Here's one . . .
What a great photo.

Nice work on those, Major. :D
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Coffinmaker on April 18, 2023, 09:28:21 AM

 :)  The one I remember most  ;)

Let us remember, I don't remember much . . . . was a 60s ish TV Oater, and one of the good guys had a short Walk-n-Draw with a Nickel 7.5 inch SA hanging out the end.  I don't remember the name of the Show, but his screen name was Manolito.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Mogorilla on April 18, 2023, 10:48:05 AM
Manolito Montoya, Played by Henry Darrow.   Show was High Chaparral (see my avatar, I was a fan) 
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Dave T on April 18, 2023, 01:24:52 PM
I can't help but wonder if that design could have been the inspiration for the "Yaqui Slide" Jeff Cooper discovered in Central America and brought back to show his friends.  The legendary holster maker Milt Sparks (the founder, not the company as it exists today) produced them for years.  I got one about 1977 from Sparks and carried my Commander in it under a sports coat as a detective.

My other option for concealment in those days was an original Summer Special by Bruce Nelson.  What goes around comes around.  (smile)

Dave
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 18, 2023, 02:38:51 PM
Major 2, that Schaeffer holster is a beaut.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Buck Stinson on April 18, 2023, 03:32:55 PM
Skeeter,
The original holster and belt you show in post #2 was from my collection.  I bought it from a friend at one of the early Cowboy Collectable shows in Cody.  Both holster and belt were in near new condition and lined with felt.  The belt had .44 caliber loops.  The back of the holster was marked in ink $1.25.  I have been offering this as a reproduction on my web site, for years.  These are very neat little holsters.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 18, 2023, 03:38:04 PM
Skeeter,
The original holster and belt you show in post #2 was from my collection.  I bought it from a friend at one of the early Cowboy Collectable shows in Cody.  Both holster and belt were in near new condition and lined with felt.  The belt had .44 caliber loops.  The back of the holster was marked in ink $1.25.  I have been offering this as a reproduction on my web site, for years.  These are very neat little holsters.
Now how cool is that?! Does that holster have a style name or other identifying designation?
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 18, 2023, 05:28:32 PM
Thanks for that post, Buck. So very interesting that you owned it.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 19, 2023, 03:55:34 PM
This is it with the customer's hogleg.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 19, 2023, 06:08:04 PM
Outstanding. Thanks for the pic.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 21, 2023, 06:19:34 PM
Love this one.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 21, 2023, 06:54:51 PM
That looks really good. Does the one you made have any cant to it? That would make a perfect crossdraw with about 10 degrees to it.

Do you have a photo of the back side of yours?
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 22, 2023, 04:20:00 AM
Mine is made straight up. The balance of the revolver gives a butt-forward lean.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Marshal Will Wingam on April 22, 2023, 08:25:05 AM
So a cant for crossdraw would not be needed, then. Thanks for that.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Cliff Fendley on April 28, 2023, 09:31:38 AM
Regarding crossdraw holsters.

Question for Buck who has owned and studied more originals than many of us ever will. Did any 19th century holsters have the loop on crooked to create a canted crossdraw holster?

From my observation most if not all originals were sewn as a straight loop but were tilted on the belt to the users preference. I personally have never owned or handled a holster from the 19th century time period that was specifically made as a crossdraw tilted holster. I know I wear a straight Meanea style holster in a crossdraw position myself.

By the way great work as usual Skeeter.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on April 28, 2023, 04:49:35 PM
I think you're right, Cliff, about the straight hang (apart from army holsters). In any case, this holster is too small to accommodate an angled loop.
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Shorty Kurtz on May 01, 2023, 12:24:25 PM
Skeeter,
Where did you find documentation on this holster? It is AWESOME and I have been trying to find odd and different holsters for victorian recreation but am having a hard time finding good sources...

Thanks,
Shorty
Title: Re: 1890s holster
Post by: Skeeter Lewis on May 01, 2023, 02:19:07 PM
Shorty, there are a few photos of folks wearing this holster, and of course there's the occasional original. as in post#2. It seems to be mostly a Mexican style. We're used to cut-down holsters nowadays, so it's interesting to see they existed back then. If I come across any more images, I'll be sure to post them.