Quote:
Originally Posted by rednichols
FYI, and I've mentioned it before, The Autry holds Tom's revolver and 'that' Myres holster; and the holster itself it holds as being Lone Wolf Gonzaullas, not Tom's. There is only one surviving original Tom Threepersons holster and that's the one that I hold, which I bought from the widow of the chap who received it personally from Tom in 1934 at the Prescott rodeo.
Attachment 342874 Attachment 342875
Tom's LEO service began and ended before Myres was in the holster business; so 1920-1927 for Tom, and 1931 onwards for Myres with his Tom Threepersons Style Holster range including the No. 614 based on Tom's original (which I believe was made by Egland in Douglas, where Tom was both in a rodeo as his alter ego Tom Three Persons winner of the Calgary rodeo of 1912, and joined the Army, both in 1916).
The Autry is providing images for The Book, of the revolver and badge of Tom's that they hold, and of the holster of Gonzaullas that they hold, which will cost me/us more than a low-budget operation like ours would wish; and if they'll allow us to re-post them here we will. What's been missing all these years, of all three items, is the other side of each! |
Red Nichols is a treasure of information in all matters relating to holsters and leather gear. His knowledge exceeds anything available in a dozen libraries, and spans at least five decades of experience.
At the risk of being impertinent, I will offer a bit more information for those interested in the Tom Threepersons history.
Tom Threepersons was born near Vinita, Oklahoma in about 1887. His heritage included both Anglo and Native American ancestry. Just about the turn of the 20th Century the family moved north to Alberta, Canada, and engaged in cattle ranching in the Calgary area. Tom's father and a hired man were murdered by cattle thieves when Tom was in his early teens. The culprits were arrested, then admitted to bail and released. Tom confronted them in a saloon, shooting and killing them both. He was arrested, tried, and acquitted.
Threepersons later joined the Northwest Mounted Police. During his service he reportedly interdicted a bank robbery in Calgary, shooting and killing several bad guys. He also is credited with stopping a train robbery, also involving some shooting of outlaws. Threepersons and another officer took the trail of a criminal gang in early winter, engaged in a shoot-out that left his partner dead, and Tom was forced by deep snowfall to abandon their horses and continue pursuit on foot into the Yukon Territory. The outlaws were holed up in a cabin when Threepersons found them, and all 3 fell to his guns.
Threepersons later returned to the US. In about 1916 he signed on with the US Expeditionary Forces as a muleskinner (packing and handling mules for the US Army). At some point he was badly injured by a mule kicking him in the head, resulting in severe headaches for the remainder of his life. He is reported to have relied upon good stiff Stetson hats to protect his head for the rest of his life. He turned up in San Antonio, Texas where he worked as a police officer. Later he moved on to El Paso, Texas where he was a police officer, city detective, and was appointed as a mounted US Customs officer serving the border area. During the early prohibition era Tom was run down by a truck carrying smuggled liquor. At about that time he had a holster made by "Tio Sam" Myres, S.D. Myres Saddlery Company. Whether that holster was of his own design, or was a creation by Sam Myres, it became a standard of North American law enforcement and sportsmens' use for decades, and continues to be produced by several companies today.
Tom Threepersons later signed on to manage a cattle ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico. While there he confronted several cattle rustlers, and in the ensuing battle succeeded in killing them. He was arrested and jailed, escaped jail, and returned to the US. Settling in the Silver City, New Mexico area, Threepersons was a cattle rancher and businessman until the 1960's. At one point Hollywood expressed some interest in making a movie about his life, an idea he rejected with comments to the effect that he just didn't like those Hollywood people very much. Tom Threepersons lies at rest in the Masonic Cemetary at Silver City, New Mexico.
Tom Three Persons was a Canadian of "First Nations" heritage and a noted rodeo champion. During the time period being discussed he was repeatedly confused with Tom Threepersons, the notorious American gunfighter, and he strongly denied any connection. This appears to be nothing more than a coincidence in name and association with the Calgary, Alberta area during a similar time period.
The Threepersons' style holster was unusual for its period (circa 1920) for several reasons. The design utilized minimal leather, just enough to secure the revolver during moderate activities, with the grip-frame fully exposed for rapid access. Moderately high ride (by standards of the day). The trigger guard was fully exposed. The holster featured a modest butt-forward cant, rather than the (then standard) straight drop. Elements of the Threepersons design can be seen in many subsequent developments through the 1980's, and continuing on to today.
I have recited this from memory rather than relying upon records, so there may be some minor discrepancies. Regardless, Tom Threepersons was a legend of the early 20th Century, and his holster design remains a classic.
G. Gordon Liddy (of Watergate fame, or infamy) was a FBI agent during the 1950's. In his autobiography "Will" Liddy discusses his association with, and training by, Special Agents John Paul Jeter and Wayne Bratner, both old time Cherokee Strip lawmen and gunfighters recruited by J. Edgar Hoover to teach gunfighting skills to FBI agents. Liddy carried a 3.5" Pre-Model 27 in a Threepersons' style holster.