My MIL's father, Victor Alexander, was a noted saddle maker, who spent much of his career making saddles and leather gear, including scabbards and holsters for Bona Allen Saddlery from the 1940s until the early 1970s.

While the family has many fine examples of his saddlery work, and have donated some of his saddles that are displayed at the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody, WY, none of his holsters, scabbards, ect. remain in the family today.

If any of you happen to have any Bona Allen holsters or scabbards that he made, they will have his signature mark of a flower stamped into the leather. If you have any of these articles, please share pics of those items. Thanks
.

The Bona Allen factory was in Buford, GA. Harnesses, saddles, postal bags, holsters made the family very wealthy. Most of the famous cowboy stars owned saddles from Bona Allen.

Here's a little history regarding the career of my wife's grandfather. While he was a noted saddle maker, he also made other gear. I hope some of his work is in the hands of Forum members.
Points West: Victor Alexander, Saddlemaker - Center of the West

It is kinda weird that you posted this today. I was showing my step-father some of my holsters yesterday. His father owned a hardware store in our town for many years. Over the years, he had worked the store many times. He said they used to buy saddles from Bona Allen. He asked me if I had heard of them. I told him no, but looked them up on the Internet and read about them.

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Ranger514 I live near the old Bona Allen factory. When I return home next week I can get you some pictures of the Bona Allen factory and yellow brick mansion if you like.

The link is very helpful :-). Given that Victor was at Bona Allen after '49 suggests that there would be very few holsters out of their factory. By that time a saddler was either building saddles or holsters but not both, in the sense that they had chosen to build one or the other by the '20s and the major players were well established in the holster industry. And then even these (Myres, Heiser) were supplanted by the non-saddlers of the '60s such as Bianchi, Shoemaker, Safariland (the leather company not the plastic company), etc.

__________________
Red Nichols The Holstorian

That would be great! I've never really toured Atlanta, although my wife has family who still live in that area. I've flown into and through ATL, but that's about it. Thanks for the offer. My wife and MIL would enjoy seeing the pics.

I have a fully floral carved Bona Allen saddle and spur straps in my gun room, made around the turn of the century. found in an attic at an old estate sell. The saddle was only rode once by a boy that died shortly after and was put away in the attic. Its like brand new, and the wool is pure white..........................................M*

Pictures please!

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!