Leather...

[St. George]

I really like 'good' leather...

I own modern leather from 'John Day Cattle Co.', 'El Paso Saddlery', 'Rock Creek Leather', 'Wild Rose Trading Company', and 'San Pedro Saddlery', while my period-original holsters include a beautiful floral-carved and rawhide laced 'R.T. Frazier' crossdraw, and a Mexican-Loop with a Charlie Russell-styled Buffalo Skull carved at the cylinder 'bulge'.

Good leather enhances your Impression and is a joy to own.

One thing I found by accident was that a 'Cheyenne-style' El Paso Saddlery holster I'd gotten for one of my Colts was a bit loose.

Remembering that holsters of the era weren't wet-fitted to specific revolvers, I took a closer look and out of curiosity - I slipped my then-new Schofield into it, and realized that with wetting and a bit of stretching - I had a perfect holster for my big Smith & Wesson.

You've read how to do this before - so just ensure that you've oiled your piece and wrapped it in Saran Wrap before you try fitting to the dampened leather.

Go slow - and once it's seated, let sit awhile, so the leather gets the idea to form itself around the new configuration, then remove and let dry.

Not all Colt holsters will accomodate the Schofield - but some will, with a bit of TLC, and Colt holsters are far more common than Schofield holsters.

You may find yourself a bargain.

Hope so...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Go West]

I had Gene Brown of Tucson make a pair of Schofield holsters for my 5" models. Nothing fancy, but good workmanship and they appeal to my subdued taste. He said to jam the guns in the holsters (dry) and set them in the sun and they would form fit to the guns. They did and they come out easy and still grip the guns.

[St. George]

Your holsters are made specifically for your Schofields - mine was made for a 7 1/2" Colt Single Action Army.

As such - a bit of stretching was required to allow for the difference in frame configuration.

The holster maker knows what amount of 'stretch' he's got in his leather, so for yours - his advice was spot-on.

'My' holster wasn't supposed to fit anything beyond the Colt.

I mentioned this to the guys at El Paso Saddlery when I was at Fort Bliss - and they were surprised that I could fit my Schofield as I did.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Forty Rod]

Would someone a hundred twenty five years ago have done something like this?  You bet your sweet bippy they would have.

Thanks, St. George.  It's worth a try if I ever need it.