I dropped by a small show this morning and was looking at a K22 Masterpiece in a holster. The gun was a little overpriced for its condition so I asked about the holster and he agreed to sell it to me.

It's Heiser model 719 and fits my K22 Outdoorsman perfectly. I have a question about the marking on the holster though. This one is simply marked "Heiser Denver" inside a simple elongated oval. Other Heisers I've seen have a much more detailed marking; i.e., "H.H. Heiser, Maker, Denver". I assume that Heiser changed their markings at some point and was hoping it might help date the holster.

This holster also has brown paint on the front snap button which I understand would make it a post-war holster.

Any Heiser collectors here that can provide some more insight?
Thanks..
Craig

Well, its clearly a worthless pieced of junk and should be discarded. I'll send you my address.

Heiser model numbers only related to the style of the holster. You may find the same markings on one made for a Colt auto, an N frame, and a K frame. If you take your holster and turn it over in good light, you can usually find the gun it was made for in ball point written on the back. Somewhere near the Heiser imprint. A 6" floral carved holster? Don't be a sissy. Flowers are for girls!

Me, on the other hand, don't really care what others think so I could use it in good health. Yes, the Heiser logo has changed several times over the years. We have a few folks here who study that kind of thing and should respond with the years. Its been said they went out of business in 1958, but some/many of the skilled employees went on to work at Colorado Saddlery.

At today's gun show a guy had a very nice holster with an even nicer price. He was asking $595 for it. Too rich for my blood.

I stop and consider every Heiser I see. But there are some show stoppers for me. If the price is in the stratosphere, and there is no gun marking, I pass.

The companies products seem to endure. If your assumption is correct about the dating, I must have more than a few produced in the prewar. They also seemed to have made sheaths for Randall for a good long while.

The smart people who have them don't turn loose. They just keep them and use them for more years. My guess: The hoster may be worth nearly as much as the gun.

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Dick Burg

Thanks Dick...but I think I'll hang onto it for a while...flowers and all.
It does have a ballpoint pen marking above the logo (see the 2nd pic above) but I can't make any sense of it.

One online site said that they produced this style holster from 1925 to 1955 but I was wanting to narrow it down and figured the logo marking might be one way.

The guy I bought it from handed it to me and said it was a $50 holster...which I readily agreed to.

I read that one of the Heiser ads said "No man has lived long enough to wear out one of our holsters!" Probably true...
Craig...

That particular maker's mark was used throughout the 40's and early 50's. Why Heiser used more than one trademark during this period I can't say. I'm afraid,from what I know at least,you may not be able to "pin it down" much closer. Forum member turnerriver may be able to tell you more exactly by cross-referencing his various catalogues. That's a nice holster,btw. What is marked in ink? I can't tell because of the camera flash. Veru often,those markings will tell you just what specific model the holster was made for,even though more than one model from more than one manufacturer will fit. For example,if your Outdoorsman's fits,so will a Colt Official Police. In fact,I'm guessing the ink is "OP5". If that's the case,it's for an Official Police 5".
f.t.

__________________
South Carolina-God's country

Good eye F.T.
I've been examining the ink area above the makers mark and it could easily be "OP5" as you stated. Initially I thought it was "OO5" but your guess makes more sense.
Also....thanks for the info on the makers mark. I don't really have a need to be exact on any date but a date range is nice to know.
Thanks..
Craig...

I have the same pattern holster from Colorado Saddlery, marked
"K-38" on the back. Of course, you have the forerunner.