Those who have followed lawandorder's thread MAKER SPECIFIC
......A. W. Brill know that Red Nichols has done a ton of research
on the Brill's and Threeperson's holsters.

Red has posted Chapter 3 of his book on his web site (go to
Red Nichols Holsters and click on Red's Book) where he tells
the story resulting from all the research noted above.

Down around page 8 or so Red tells about a holster that was
Tom Threeperson's very own personal holster. And he shows
a couple of photos of said holster. He believes, with good
cause, that the holster was made by A. B. Egland.

Well, I told you all that to lay the foundation for the subject
of this post: Santa Claus came early to my home. Yesterday
my mail lady brought me a small package. It is a replica of
Tom Threepersons holster made by Red Nichols.

I thought perhaps some of you would like to see it, so here
it is.

Attached Images

	SAM_0383.jpg (46.1 KB, 644 views)
	SAM_0384.jpg (38.6 KB, 501 views)

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Phil, very very nice.
Thanks for sharing (and to Red for making) this great & unique holster !

When (and how / eventually a signed copy...) can we get Red's book ?

P.44

That is a good question. I too wish I knew when. Hope I'm
around long enough to read it when it comes out.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Phil's is a First Proto, here's the second. Phil and I have discussed, and the 'production' version will be a more exact replica in the ox-blood, Mexican carved version of the original. Tom's replica badge impression, will go on the backside rather than the front as here. The leg strap is not yet attached, as on Tom's original.

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Apologies for the very large image, I'm between image editing software after a computer changeover.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Very nice, is it lined and welted?
Can't really tell from the pictures.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

Tom's holster literally was the first of its kind (the threepersons holster design) and indeed has a full welt, but no lining. It also has a second welt that is skived (tapered to a wedge) for about 2" at the frame (uppermost part of welt). In truth the massive welt is all that was new about Tom's holster then and the replica/homage will be built the same way. See more about the holster's history on my website; indicating that the Rabensburg/Brill predated it significantly (Rabensburg is on record as saying he invented his holster for Capt. Hughes in 1907, the year Rabensburg began his apprenticeship in Austin). Tom's is likely from around 1916, while he was rodeoing and before he joined the Army during Pancho Villa's day. By 1920 he was a lawman, by 1929 he wasn't. Badly injured by horses and gunfights, he became a rancher, died 1969 (age in dispute because his age is reported variously in historical records).

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My goal is to make the replica quite exact (not my original goal, though, so the first two were basket stamped and one was black [Phil's personal holster now] and one is brown); yet his badge marking on the rear will make it obvious that it's a replica. So: Colt SAA 4-3/4" only, with the odd leg strap addition through the end of the holster, right hand.

Lining -- both protos are half lined with kangaroo, with a result quite like other holsters of the era such as the Brill/Rabensburg (very thin brown leather). But Tom's is not lined, either half or full, so perhaps not for the homage version, either. I do have white, heavy thread coming from America for the welt, to make it more accurate in appearance; but it will be nylon and not the linen used in the original (easy to tell apart -- linen will burn but can't melt, but nylon does both). So the replicas are not meant to fool anyone.

I've included a pic of his SAA held with his badge at The Autry Museum; and of the Triple Lock reputed to be Tom's (whereabouts unknown to me). I once thought Tom's holster, which appears to be a 5-1/2" SAA, could have also held his Triple Lock; but the pic indicates a 6-1/2" barrel which is too long for the holster. The "other" of holster, a Myres, reputed to be Tom's is held by The Autry as belonging to Lone Wolf Gonzaulles, who as a Texas Ranger also carried the 4-3/4" Colt SAA as well as his Fitz'd 1911s.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thanks Red,
I may just havta make a version for myself.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

Here is that SAA replica resting in Tom's holster until such time that I
have a real SAA that I can carry. It is a kinda honor wall in my office
with historical icons like the Kentucky Flintlock on the left and the 1860
Army in the center. An appropriate place, I think, for the Peacemaker
and Tom's holster on the right.

Attached Images

SAM_0391.jpg (106.5 KB, 164 views)

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

When you do, get it 'right': Tom's actual holster has a welt inside that's tapered specifically to bear against the SAA frame (still unsure where I got the idea that it was shaped for a DA, perhaps the stitching layout) and so doesn't follow the shape of the stitching at the top of the welt per se:

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My replica SAA (a modified cap gun) is exactly to size; and his front sight is 10mm tall so I've mounted a tapered rail on my replica (zero at the rear sight, 10mm tall at the front sight) to ensure the ejector rod gets moulded into the ideal position. Even the ejector rod on my replica is filled in behind the thumb piece to ensure the leather doesn't inadvertently get moulded in behind it and shift the rod while holstering.

His holster is a 5-1/2" and the rough cutout Tom made at the top front actually matches up with the location of the Bisley rear target sight. We know a lot about his 4-3/4" 44/40 SAA and yet a source states he had a second SAA in 45 cal.; 5-1/2" Bisley perhaps? Plausible, unproven, and perhaps unprovable because only the Smith shipped 1915, the one Colt that was built 1905, and the one Winchester, have documented serial numbers.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Simply wonderful and fantastic! I just really enjoy, so immensely, these bits of history on holsters of that time period which led to so much development of the holster industry...!

I have cloned the original Tom Threepersons holster, because it has been lost to history for more than a hundred years now, and how would the original be repatriated to USA from Australia? It completes the story that was once thought told by the Myres No. 614 legend (which is really 'the FBI story') and I'd hate to have the knowledge lost; it's construction details are quite precise. I'm not using the original linen thread for the clones; instead it's waxed #346 white nylon. Hand cut from Wicket & Craig side leather that is vat-dyed from the tannery as 'brown', machine split to 12 ounce thickness, and hand oiled with neatsfoot to replicate the original colour.

This one is serial number 3P001, American made (by an American who cut it from American leather with an American knife and stitched it on an American machine; who just happened to be standing in Queensland, Australia at the time). The holster pattern is quite exact, having been made from a pic that was enlarged until it matched the original front and back:

IMG_1788 (1).jpg IMG_1789.jpg

I'll be offering these exacting (as opposed to exact) replicas only as you see it in the image (his original on the left, my clone on the right with replica SAA inside): right hand, oxblood colour, Colt SAA 4-3/4", original carving pattern, over-length muzzle with leg strap riveted through it, double welt at the uppermost end skived to a single thickness after 3", unlined, odd stitching pattern on the belt loop and for 2-1/2" belt, cutout for (I think) a rear sight such as the Bisley's; and Tom's prohibition-era badge imprinted on the reverse (his name is on his badge and so on the imprint, too).

No 'makers mark' on the reverse, as with the original; and its not my design anyway. I doubt I'll bother to offer a second version of it -- replicas (not clones) built for other SAs and for DAs and in other colours and finishes -- because there are plenty of copies of the Myres legend already.

Price tbd (that is, whatever Phil tells me; it was at his insistence that I stayed with the original carving and the original colour and moved the badge imprint from the front to the rear).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Just to clarify because the positioning of the photos do not jive with the
text, Red's replica is the one with the gun inserted. Pricing? Like in all
things, I only suggest. Red decides.

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In Omnia Paratus

Red you call the leg strap an "addition", just curious why it would be on this great historical recreation.

Great job on your research, and additions to the history of handgun leather.

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LEX ET ORDO

It's there because it's on Tom's original. He was a rodeo rider as well as a lawman and it was at a rodeo that he handed it over to Fred Wells, 13. I reckon Tom added it for rodeo work. There is a pair of holes through both sides of the belt loop that I reckon held a hammer thong at some point (on the original, not on the clone) and another near the trigger guard.

So, it's only there on the clone because Tom thought it necessary on his original.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Hard to believe that it has been 5 years. Time goes fast when your
having fun.
Thought it might be appropriate to pull this old thread up again,
especially because of mention of the book, which is now a reality.
Tom's original holster, recreated by Red, still hangs on a place of
honor on my office wall.

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In Omnia Paratus

Very nice!