Paris Theodore and Seventrees

rednichols · #1 09-06-2017, 09:36 PM

In my research for The Book I get more and more interested in the people, than the products, behind their companies. And it is their context that makes sense of their contribution to the industry.

Take, for example, Paris Theodore. Contextually his company, Seventrees, doesn't appear to have lasted more than a couple of years. Yet its impact on the industry was very large.

There is a pair of diatribes on the 'net, at The Gun Zone, about Paris. Some folk didn't like him. I emailed the chap back in '13, questioning just what was being accomplished with that, and the reply was, 'you didn't know him then'. And that's true. And I don't doubt that everything about Paris there, is true. And I say that because, the essential facts can be verified elsewhere.

How about his: Paris Theodore is on IMDB. So is his wife Lee Theodore. Paris appeared in a ground-breaking play staged for television with Mary Martin; Martin was a huge star then and I have always remembered seeing it then. And Lee was assistant choreographer for the film West Side Story. A bit more hunting around and one realises that for Paris, the holster bit was just a blip in his life. He went on to be interested in pistols and during the Bond era, his ASP made a lot of sense.

Bios of Paris mention that he died of complications from MS. Ok, everybody dies of something. But it was only by reading about an Australian Olympian who died recently after suffering from MS for four decades, that I realised that Paris could have been dealing with it for so long that he had no reason to care about much else; holsters, pistols, making other people happy. Lee died after a long illness at a nursing home; I reckon that would've sucked up a lot of his attention, on top of his own illness.

Seventrees was supposedly founded in 1966. I say 'supposedly' because I have only two print bios, one derived from the other, to indicate this. I DO have two printed magazine articles about Seventrees that appeared in early 1968. And there is only one known version of his catalogue, and it is always accompanied by a 1969 price list. And an ad from 1972.

From all this I deduce that Bruce Nelson created his holsters -- what is now known as the Summer Special claimed to be 1967; the Professional, ditto; and the Nelson M&P that appeared in Bianchi's 1969 catalogue (only) -- based on what he learnt from those articles and Chic Gaylord's own catalogue which featured the same construction but with less sophisticated styling and features vs. Paris'. Even the performance features, such as clearing the knuckle, were set out by Paris as important; later Bruce emphasised this, too. Did you know that Bruce worked for Bianchi in the late '60s, still a teenager?

Milt Sparks built his company at first, on competition sets to take advantage of the void in the market left by Andy Anderson. He states, in writing, that this market was too fickle and it was his concealment sets that lasted -- and they were Bruce Nelson's holsters, for which Bruce was happy with just being credited.

Then John and I came up with the Askins Avenger followed by the Pistol Pocket; and whether John knew it or not, they were based on my own personal fascination with Paris Theodore's designs.

Put those two together -- Bianchi and Sparks -- then Paris' construction and styling (which he acknowledged were derived from his employer, Chic Gaylord, who operated in the 1950s) had a huge impact on the industry because they are used even today, as what I call the Eastern School of Design.

So: Chic was first, Paris gave it credibility, Bruce jumped on board and Bianchi followed, Milt capitalised on Bruce, Bianchi expanded on the style, and yet Paris only operated a few years.

By the way, speaking of short company life-spans having a big impact on our industry, be aware that Bianchi Holster operated only 1966-1987. Oh, and Bruce was employed by Bianchi during the years he says he created his designs, in the late 1960s. He may even have built his own brand, called CLL, while working for Bianchi.

And John told me he put Chic Gaylord out of business. Yet a set of articles about Chic Gaylord, based on a long interview with him, says he was not bitter about any of the players -- except Paris.

Texas Star · #2 09-07-2017, 12:15 AM

So, where would you say that Ken Null fits in here?

BTW, I don't know him and have just seen a couple of his catalogs, not actual holsters.

He appeared to have taken over the upscale, sophisticated market once occupied by Gaylord and Seventrees. I don't know if he's still in business.

His catalog asked for LE credentials before he'd accept a holster order. Never saw that provision elsewhere.

StakeOut · #3 09-07-2017, 01:06 AM

I bought a Seventrees shoulder holster from Paris for a 1911 in 1969 at the Midtown Manhattan location.

It was a piece of heavy plastic with a snap to secure the pistol hanging from it muzzle up.

crazyphil · #4 09-07-2017, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

In my research for The Book I get more and more interested in the people, than the products, behind their companies. And it is their context that makes sense of their contribution to the industry.

Take, for example, Paris Theodore. Contextually his company, Seventrees, doesn't appear to have lasted more than a couple of years. Yet its impact on the industry was very large.

There is a pair of diatribes on the 'net, at The Gun Zone, about Paris. Some folk didn't like him. I emailed the chap back in '13, questioning just what was being accomplished with that, and the reply was, 'you didn't know him then'. And that's true. And I don't doubt that everything about Paris there, is true. And I say that because, the essential facts can be verified elsewhere.

How about his: Paris Theodore is on IMDB. So is his wife Lee Theodore. Paris appeared in a ground-breaking play staged for television with Mary Martin; Martin was a huge star then and I have always remembered seeing it then. And Lee was assistant choreographer for the film West Side Story. A bit more hunting around and one realises that for Paris, the holster bit was just a blip in his life. He went on to be interested in pistols and during the Bond era, his ASP made a lot of sense.

Bios of Paris mention that he died of complications from MS. Ok, everybody dies of something. But it was only by reading about an Australian Olympian who died recently after suffering from MS for four decades, that I realised that Paris could have been dealing with it for so long that he had no reason to care about much else; holsters, pistols, making other people happy. Lee died after a long illness at a nursing home; I reckon that would've sucked up a lot of his attention, on top of his own illness.

Seventrees was supposedly founded in 1966. I say 'supposedly' because I have only two print bios, one derived from the other, to indicate this. I DO have two printed magazine articles about Seventrees that appeared in early 1968. And there is only one known version of his catalogue, and it is always accompanied by a 1969 price list. And an ad from 1972.

From all this I deduce that Bruce Nelson created his holsters -- what is now known as the Summer Special claimed to be 1967; the Professional, ditto; and the Nelson M&P that appeared in Bianchi's 1969 catalogue (only) -- based on what he learnt from those articles and Chic Gaylord's own catalogue which featured the same construction but with less sophisticated styling and features vs. Paris'. Even the performance features, such as clearing the knuckle, were set out by Paris as important; later Bruce emphasised this, too. Did you know that Bruce worked for Bianchi in the late '60s, still a teenager?

Milt Sparks built his company at first, on competition sets to take advantage of the void in the market left by Andy Anderson. He states, in writing, that this market was too fickle and it was his concealment sets that lasted -- and they were Bruce Nelson's holsters, for which Bruce was happy with just being credited.

Then John and I came up with the Askins Avenger followed by the Pistol Pocket; and whether John knew it or not, they were based on my own personal fascination with Paris Theodore's designs.

Put those two together -- Bianchi and Sparks -- then Paris' construction and styling (which he acknowledged were derived from his employer, Chic Gaylord, who operated in the 1950s) had a huge impact on the industry because they are used even today, as what I call the Eastern School of Design.

So: Chic was first, Paris gave it credibility, Bruce jumped on board and Bianchi followed, Milt capitalised on Bruce, Bianchi expanded on the style, and yet Paris only operated a few years.

By the way, speaking of short company life-spans having a big impact on our industry, be aware that Bianchi Holster operated only 1966-1987. Oh, and Bruce was employed by Bianchi during the years he says he created his designs, in the late 1960s. He may even have built his own brand, called CLL, while working for Bianchi.

And John told me he put Chic Gaylord out of business. Yet a set of articles about Chic Gaylord, based on a long interview with him, says he was not bitter about any of the players -- except Paris.

As you probably know, Tony Kanaley (Sparks) had a Seventrees
catalog up on the 1911 forum, but it looks like all the photos are
gone now.

There are several good Seventrees holster photos I found at
the following: https/www.glocktalk.com >forums >practical
tactical >carry issues
Some Seventrees and Null Holsters for "Show and Tell"
posted by ChiefWPD June 23, 2014

Another post, I found interesting, is on the Pistol Smith Gun
Forum titled Seventrees in NYC by 256M-S April 2001.
pistolsmith.com >pistolsmith >Gunforum >Holsters and Belts
I found it interesting because, as Garrett says, it is written
by someone who actually knew Paris, was a friend of Paris,
and not based on second hand research.

rednichols · #5 09-07-2017, 08:56 PM

I've a pdf of the Seventrees catalogue, though it's too large to insert here. A friend built this pdf from my own copy of the catalogue and we've added a page (Paris' catalogue was loose leaf, one product per page, single sided) of a product that's rarely seen (the page, not the product). Anyone who'd like a copy (of course there is no charge) simply PM me :-).

shawn mccarver · #6 09-07-2017, 09:09 PM

Ken Null is still in business, and his holsters are the closest you can presently get to Seventrees. I could be wrong, but I believe Ken has all the patterns, or the dies, or whatever they are called.

Ken Null's shop is located in Resaca, Georgia.

JayCeeNC · #7 09-07-2017, 10:32 PM

I've posted this pic before, but it's relevant.
I called Ken Null about 10 years ago and asked him about this holster.
He said that he bought Seventrees in the early 1970's and hasn't used this Hanover, PA, stamp since 1975.
In 1976 he incorporated as KL Null and moved to Georgia about 1988.

bearpa · #8 09-07-2017, 10:43 PM

It's really to bad how some people talk a person down, after their gone and can't defend themselves. Especially ones who never knew the person, using supposition and hearsay!

Whatever his faults he did a lot for the field of defensive handguns and concealed carry. Got to respect him for that.

rednichols · #9 09-07-2017, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCeeNC

I've posted this pic before, but it's relevant.
I called Ken Null about 10 years ago and asked him about this holster.
He said that he bought Seventrees in the early 1970's and hasn't used this Hanover, PA, stamp since 1975.
In 1976 he incorporated as KL Null and moved to Georgia about 1988.

That fits my timeline then; which was largely by deduction. It's curious that Ken has not ever, to my knowledge, given out a comprehensive history in this regard, either by interview or as a monograph. 50 years without, is a very long time and has only led to speculation rather than information.

crazyphil · #10 09-08-2017, 04:32 AM

Red, does your Seventrees catalog show this holster?
I would like to put a model name on it if possible.
Thanks.

PS Nothing on the back. It's one you identified
by the "stitch signature".

Vonkendell · #11 09-08-2017, 09:59 AM

I have one of his shoulder holsters--white synthetic for a large revolver--very fast and comfortable uses a twisting motion to release the gun. Thinking of buying his city slicker for a j frame also in white. I wear white shirts and a suit daily and use faux ivory altamont grips. the Ken null and my Bianchi 9r and my original summer weight jack *** are my favorite shoulder holsters. If your daily wear is a suit recommend that you take your holster and gun with you when you get it tailored. I also used to have a seude lining sewn into my right hand trouser pocket where I would carry a S&W model 38 in nickel which alas succumbed to a cracked frame after decades of carry. S&W was most gracious in getting me a steel replacement.

Thanks Red for keeping us informed. I started carrying in the early 70's and there were some great designs then that are still great designs today.

rednichols · #12 09-08-2017, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

Red, does your Seventrees catalog show this holster?
I would like to put a model name on it if possible.
Thanks.

PS Nothing on the back. It's one you identified
by the "stitch signature".

Actually that's the one with the double impression inside, of a Colt and a Smith, and it's actually marked Seventrees on the back :-). Pics courtesy turnerriver:

paris by witty (2).jpg

paris by witty (5).jpg

But no, it's not in Paris' catalogue. It looks remarkably like a Gaylord from the front; that unusually shaped hammer guard is on Elmer Keith's Gaylord. Neither Chic nor Paris show it in their only known catalogues -- unless: it's an improved "Federal Speed Scabbard", the name that Chic gave to his holster with a much-abbreviated version of a hammer guard. In which case, hopefully Paris called it something else :-).

SG-688 · #13 09-08-2017, 05:36 PM

The cuff case must be the most enduring Seventrees design - copied and produced my many others.

The 1972 ad and a January, 1976 ad from a police magazine for Seventrees holsters -
a division of Armament Systems Products Corporation (ASP), 315 W. 39th St. NY City.

SG-688 · #14 09-08-2017, 05:58 PM

I owned this unmarked bargain-bin holster for 30 years before Lou Alessi suggested it was a Theodore prototype like the revolver holster in his 1973 patent. Somehow it ended up in Illinois in 1975. $5.

Yep. It is either cross draw or appendix!!!

-db- has one for a Chief Special.

Looking for these pictures reminded me of Active Holsters, a circa 1983 company that produced holsters with no stitching, only rivets and snaps, conceptually similar to Theodore's no stitch designs.

crazyphil · #15 09-08-2017, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

Actually that's the one with the double impression inside, of a Colt and a Smith, and it's actually marked Seventrees on the back :-). Pics courtesy turnerriver:

Attachment 301973

Attachment 301974

But no, it's not in Paris' catalogue. It looks remarkably like a Gaylord from the front; that unusually shaped hammer guard is on Elmer Keith's Gaylord. Neither Chic nor Paris show it in their only known catalogues -- unless: it's an improved "Federal Speed Scabbard", the name that Chic gave to his holster with a much-abbreviated version of a hammer guard. In which case, hopefully Paris called it something else :-).

I think turnerriver still has the one that you speak of with the
double impression and Seventrees on the back. This one looks
identical, at least from the front, but has no marking on it at
all. They are both shown on turnerriver's initial post with the
group of holsters that he acquired.

The back of the one with the double impression is shown in
turnerriver's #1 post at You Never Know What You Will Find.
The back of the one with no lettering on the back, that I have,
is shown in post #11 A LITTLE SEVENTREES.
The "stitch signature" appears to be about the same.

I agree that this holster does look kinda like Chic Gaylord's
Federal Speed Scabbard.

I don't have Chic's Federal Speed Scabbard, but I do have
the Gaylord Combat Speed Scabbard made by Lefty Lewis,
a close friend of Chic's, who dba Bell-Charter-Oak.
Seventrees on the Left, BCO on the Right front & back.

JayCeeNC · #16 09-08-2017, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG-688

I owned this unmarked bargain-bin holster for 30 years before Lou Alessi suggested it was a Theodore prototype like the revolver holster in his 1973 patent.

That's a slick rig! Nothing like innovation coupled with quality construction.

SG-688 · #17 09-09-2017, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

....: Chic was first, Paris gave it credibility,...

Chic was first. Paris gave it "sex appeal" ...

(As they say in advertising.)

rednichols · #18 09-09-2017, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG-688

Chic was first. Paris gave it "sex appeal" ...

(As they say in advertising.)

I must agree because putting sex appeal into holsters was our literal motto at Bianchi. Now take that to its logical conclusion and realise that particular sex appeal is directed at men rather than to a general audience.

Which reminds, that I read about The Avengers when Honor Blackman was replaced, that the next actress was said to need have 'man appeal'. Shortened to 'm appeal'. So the character was called 'emma peel'. She certainly had that and ditto when she appeared in OHMSS: Diana Rigg.

rednichols · #19 09-09-2017, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

I think turnerriver still has the one that you speak of with the
double impression and Seventrees on the back. This one looks
identical, at least from the front, but has no marking on it at
all. They are both shown on turnerriver's initial post with the
group of holsters that he acquired.

The back of the one with the double impression is shown in
turnerriver's #1 post at You Never Know What You Will Find.
The back of the one with no lettering on the back, that I have,
is shown in post #11 A LITTLE SEVENTREES.
The "stitch signature" appears to be about the same.

I agree that this holster does look kinda like Chic Gaylord's
Federal Speed Scabbard.

I don't have Chic's Federal Speed Scabbard, but I do have
the Gaylord Combat Speed Scabbard made by Lefty Lewis,
a close friend of Chic's, who dba Bell-Charter-Oak.
Seventrees on the Left, BCO on the Right front & back.

I really thought I had replied with a 'mea culpa' because I failed to notice that there were two of these :-). Yes indeed, Phil, yours has the Seventrees signature stitching.

Taking nothing away from what turnerriver has collected here, I can't shake the feeling that all of these had a little something wrong with each one. Comparing the backsides of this particular pair, the one you have isn't as pure to Seventrees as the other. Seventrees marks appear to have been put on last, to explain why the mark is 'burned' in rather than stamped in. So perhaps this one didn't 'make the grade' and was never marked. Notice that for a maker who used an exreme carry angle up to 60 degrees, yours is darn near zero.

crazyphil · #20 09-09-2017, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

I really thought I had replied with a 'mea culpa' because I failed to notice that there were two of these :-). Yes indeed, Phil, yours has the Seventrees signature stitching.

Taking nothing away from what turnerriver has collected here, I can't shake the feeling that all of these had a little something wrong with each one. Comparing the backsides of this particular pair, the one you have isn't as pure to Seventrees as the other. Seventrees marks appear to have been put on last, to explain why the mark is 'burned' in rather than stamped in. So perhaps this one didn't 'make the grade' and was never marked. Notice that for a maker who used an exreme carry angle up to 60 degrees, yours is darn near zero.

Thank you for your comments Red. The cant is close to or
maybe exactly zero degrees. Although I have nowhere near
your expertise, I can't find a single flaw in the holster. Don't
know how it could have been a reject. My model 19 fits
perfectly in both the holsters shown above.

turnerriver · #21 09-09-2017, 09:25 AM

The cover of my Seventrees catalog.

Here's an example of the Seventrees cuff case, this one is stamped N.I.S. as shown.

As SG-688's holster and the cuff case show Paris Theodore was an innovative designer.
Regards,
turnerriver

crazyphil · #22 09-09-2017, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turnerriver

The cover of my Seventrees catalog.

Here's an example of the Seventrees cuff case, this one is stamped N.I.S. as shown.

As SG-688's holster and the cuff case show Paris Theodore was an innovative designer.
Regards,
turnerriver

The holster looks like the same style, more or less, but they
don't say what they call it. Maybe inside?

There is a cuff case like yours for sale now. Only a hundred
bucks, but free shipping. WooWee. If this is the same one
I mean that in a good way! Hope you sell it.

PS Looks like maybe you caught a break from Irma.
Not really a break, but not a direct hit either.
But the poor folks on the West Side will get it.
Be safe.

Texas Star · #23 09-10-2017, 03:16 AM

Why does that Seventrees holster have a mottled brown color? Can anyone tell if it's horsehide?

Are most Seventrees holsters a more uniform, darker brown?

crazyphil · #24 09-10-2017, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Why does that Seventrees holster have a mottled brown color? Can anyone tell if it's horsehide?

Are most Seventrees holsters a more uniform, darker brown?

That might be the "little something wrong with it" that Red
referred to. I kinda like that "mottled" look, but it is probably
not the standard. I'm not expert on leather, but believe it is
horsehide.

rednichols · #25 09-10-2017, 05:36 PM

Elmer Keith's Chic Gaylord:

taffin version.jpg

Notice that the magazine's editor (the author would have known better) thought it was a Sparks.

Elmer metioned Chic in his column from time to time, and in Hell I was There.

rednichols · #26 09-10-2017, 05:54 PM

Phil's pic of his Seventrees and his Bell Charter Oak, side by side, gives an opportunity to inspect what we tend to miss about the Eastern School.

SAM_0533.jpg

Chic and Paris weren't just using an alternative that simply omitted the welt of the Western School.

Compare the two, which both feature matching circled areas.

At 1, note that Paris' has the stitching jammed right up against the revolver frame, and the leather is actually formed vertically from a flat-back holster; whereas Lucky's has a very large space from the seam to the frame that is equally moulded into front and back.

At 2, Paris' has a very large empty pocket at left of the barrel. This was to allow the barrel to shift back into it during the "sling draw". Lucky's is 'conventional' as we would do at Bianchi: formed closely to the barrel in that area; the large vacant space (also used by Hume) doesn't do anything except increase the area on the backside for the belt loop attachment.

At 5, the barrel line is well back of the fold on Paris', because he normally placed a deep sight channel in the fold (didn't quite finish the job on this one); the topstrap of the revolver in Lucky's is hard up against the fold.

At 3 and 4, Paris' (and Chic's before him) is a compound moulding to shield both the side of the hammer and its tip; and is cut well back into the holster to allow the now quite stiff leather to shift out of the way of the barrel during the draw. Lucky's is 'conventional' as Wally Wolfram did it: a simple flap that bends out of the way during the draw and doesn't need that big cut-back.

It was Chic's thinking that his construction at (1) was the equivalent of the welt in the Threepersons (he speaks highly of Tom, who was still living, and his holster in his 1960 book) that caused Elmer to have trouble with his big N frame falling out of his Gaylord: the holster got loose and the revolver was very top-heavy. Realising this, Elmer had Milt copy the holster but put a welt in his; and not just any welt, but an adjustable one from the Hank Sloan.

None of this takes away from the superb work that Lucky puts out. It's just a review of how the Eastern School is distinctive.

Fastbolt · #27 09-10-2017, 06:07 PM

I've still got one of those Null white plastic, single strap "pull through" shoulder holsters for a snub I used to own. The straps are cracked from age.

Remember the Quell shooting technique?

Quell System - Album on Imgur

I've used elements of it to help cross-dominant eyed shooters from one time to another.

crazyphil · #28 09-10-2017, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

Phil's pic of his Seventrees and his Bell Charter Oak, side by side, gives an opportunity to inspect what we tend to miss about the Eastern School.

Attachment 302279

Chic and Paris weren't just using an alternative that simply omitted the welt of the Western School.

Compare the two, which both feature matching circled areas.

At 1, note that Paris' has the stitching jammed right up against the revolver frame, and the leather is actually formed vertically from a flat-back holster; whereas Lucky's has a very large space from the seam to the frame that is equally moulded into front and back.

At 2, Paris' has a very large empty pocket at left of the barrel. This was to allow the barrel to shift back into it during the "sling draw". Lucky's is 'conventional' as we would do at Bianchi: formed closely to the barrel in that area; the large vacant space (also used by Hume) doesn't do anything except increase the area on the backside for the belt loop attachment.

At 5, the barrel line is well back of the fold on Paris', because he normally placed a deep sight channel in the fold (didn't quite finish the job on this one); the topstrap of the revolver in Lucky's is hard up against the fold.

At 3 and 4, Paris' (and Chic's before him) is a compound moulding to shield both the side of the hammer and its tip; and is cut well back into the holster to allow the now quite stiff leather to shift out of the way of the barrel during the draw. Lucky's is 'conventional' as Wally Wolfram did it: a simple flap that bends out of the way during the draw and doesn't need that big cut-back.

It was Chic's thinking that his construction at (1) was the equivalent of the welt in the Threepersons (he speaks highly of Tom, who was still living, and his holster in his 1960 book) that caused Elmer to have trouble with his big N frame falling out of his Gaylord: the holster got loose and the revolver was very top-heavy. Realising this, Elmer had Milt copy the holster but put a welt in his; and not just any welt, but an adjustable one from the Hank Sloan.

None of this takes away from the superb work that Lucky puts out. It's just a review of how the Eastern School is distinctive.

In all a very good analysis Red. I know that everywhere
you said Lucky you actually meant Lefty. Lefty Lewis who
does business as Bell-Charter-Oak.

BTW Congratulations on achieving 5 Star status with this thread.

rednichols · #29 09-11-2017, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

In all a very good analysis Red. I know that everywhere
you said Lucky you actually meant Lefty. Lefty Lewis who
does business as Bell-Charter-Oak.

BTW Congratulations on achieving 5 Star status with this thread.

This time I am going to blame spell check cause I do know his name :-)

crazyphil · #30 09-11-2017, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

This time I am going to blame spell check cause I do know his name :-)

An author wrote about a paratrooper jumped from the plane
and yelled Geranimo. After spell check he yelled Geranium.