About 6 months ago, I sold one of our former forum members a couple of guns. They were what we call "Registered Magnums". One a 6 or 6 1/2 and the other a 3 1/2. Both in what I'd call good condition. Lets just guess at maybe 90%, give or take. Remember, everyone rates guns differently so that is my idea of condition. Oh, and they were consecutive registration numbers. I've known the buyer for a long while now, maybe not 15 years but getting near it. And he made an offer and I accepted, as much because I wanted someone who knew what they were as anything.

So back to the question. Deep in my piles of litter, I've got a nice holster that will fit the long one. Its also in what I consider good condition also. Probably not as old as the guns, but the maker has been out of business for a while now, like since 1960. Its a western style gunbelt and holster made by H H Heiser. Kind of a hens tooth, and its made for a S&W with target sights. No, there is no ballpoint inscription as to what its supposed to fit, but its clearly a N frame holster and it has the leather block for the rear sight. Oh, and the 30 cartridge loops are "38" size (also 357). I kind of forget what I paid, but it probably was in the neighborhood of $400. I'm inclined to just ask that for it.

Anyone got any suggestions? It is the only one of its kind I've ever seen, but it has no decorations or carvings, just nice old brown leather.

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Dick Burg

I'd just send it to the fella that bought the pistols from you, but I've always considered holsters as a throw in on a deal.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Probably pretty heavy leather. All my Heisers are very thick and well made. While that's not the type of rig I prefer (except for a SAA), I think your price is fair. It's not fancy or carved or tooled. If it has the sight block, it probably is a later holster. I say let it go for $400 and break even.

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Dr. B

Something tells me that $400 is too high without photos, but won't be enough if you post photos.

First of all,I feel like you paid too much for it if it's a plain jane western rig,even though it's a Heiser. They just don't bring the big bucks that the carved,or even laced,holsters do. I once offered a plain,mexican loop Heiser (just the holster) here and asked $150. Wound up selling it for half of that after letting it run for over a month. I also think you will have to sell it to an individual collector,or put it on ebay to get the best price. Not a chance of getting anywhere near $400 for it here. The membership here just won't pay what a vintage leather collector wants for his stuff. They just don't have a passion for it,I guess. Probably need to take it with you to all of those shows you attend and price it as you like and see what kind of attention it gets.
f.t.

p.s. I know that you don't post pics,but does it look anything like this one (yes,I know this one is for a left-handed user)?



Or this one?

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South Carolina-God's country

If it is a Hunter or a Triple-K,maybe. But a Heiser? I don't think so.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

FWIW - I sold one (right handed H.H. Heiser) just like the one in FatTom's upper picture - just the holster - for a little over $100 about 18 months ago to a holster collector. I might could have gotten a bit more, but didn't press it.

I guess I live in a different market. Yes, its identical to his 2nd photo, but it has the belt with .357 loops. Its all for naught, Blake didn't want it. He's maybe a bit too chubby around the midriff so he'd need to lose maybe 20# for the 36" belt to fit him.

I did go to the OGCA show this morning and picked up two other Heisers. One clearly a prewar with the black snap, the other probably 1950s with a plain brown snap. Don't know what they fit, but I'm going to try a K22 in the one.

Thanks for posting the photos. The picture thing took a dive for the ugly about 10 years ago. Smithnut and I were posting a bunch of photos when someone came along and started saving our photos for his own benefit. Nothing wrong with that, but he stated that he intended to publish a book with them included. I didn't put a contract out on his hide, but considered it. Smithnut began including a copyright notice on everything he posted after that. Keep in mind we do this for fun and its kind of offensive to attempt to make a profit on our stuff.

On the idea a Hunter holster is worth more than Heisers... I'm waiting to hear Turnnervier's view.

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Dick Burg

Hunter holsters were apparently very popular from the mid 1970's through the 1980's. . .back when your LGS actually carried leather holsters in inventory. I've gotten 2 thrown in with guns I've bought. They were both M19's. One from 1978 and one from 1988. I'd call them $75 holsters. I'm always happy to have a holster thrown in; but, I prefer a Bianchi all day long. Of course, Heiser, Lawrence, and Eubanks all made superior holsters and in a price range way beyond a Hunter or a Bianchi.

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Dr. B

I don't think anyone was suggesting that Mr. Burg,at least not me. I was inferring that a Hunter might commonly be "thrown in" whereas a Heiser most probably would not,at least by anyone knowledgeable enough to know the difference! I also think that turnerriver would concur.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

OK. I personally prefer Bianchi and Safariland. I think those 2 kind of merged at some point. John Bianchi pretty much stopped making them himself. I also really like Galco for a number of reasons. They seem to be well made and hold up well. I've still got Bianchi holsters from the 1970s still working hard. A lot of other brands seem to start getting ragged as they pass 10 years or so. I've pretty much kicked the habit of stopping at all used leather bins. Guess I could get back in that groove again at some point.

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Dick Burg