"Sloan Holster" - Historical Notes

[lw]

For those interested, we’ve compiled a short page at our website on some historical aspects of the “Sloan Holster.” Covered are areas such as the idea behind the design, Bucheimer’s contract, royalties and more. Supporting documents were supplied by the Sloan family.

The link to our page is here:

The "Sloan Holster" - Some History

larry wack
FBI - Ret. '68-'03

FBI & G-Men Of The 1930s!
Stop by our site today:
historicalgmen.squarespace.com

[bruce5781]

Pretty cool site, Larry. Thanks for sharing.
You might want to post it over in the Gun Leather & Carry Gear section.

Thanks,
Bruce

[rednichols]

Larry, superbly done and matches entirely with my own research records. This obituary of Sloan's sets out his career at length and should corroborate what you have:

"Seguin (TX) a Part of H.L. Sloan's Career", The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, 13 Nov 1975.

You'll find it, as I did, on newspapers.com.

Your deduction of Sloan's holster being an elaboration on the Heiser 457 is very close, yet, with a hammer guard being on Sloan's, I'd say it's more likely that it was Heiser's 459. The former first appeared in Heiser's 1939 catalogue, and the latter in its 1951 catalogue.

On the other hand, on this forum we've determined that Threepersons holsters destined for the FBI type market, with hammer guards, go back into the 1940s by Myres. It was Myres who introduced the Tom Threepersons Style holsters beginning in 1931.

The Sloan family won't likely be aware that 1972, Elmer was fed up with his Magnums falling out of his Gaylords (he mentions Gaylord's holster in one of your attachments) and having several Sloans on hand (demonstrated by the Keith auctions) and Milt Sparks in his living room in Salmon ID, he had Milt Sparks copy the Sloan by incorporating the adjustable feature into a holster with the features of the Gaylord (cupped hammer guard and open muzzle and increased carry angle). This is all set out in Hell I Was There by Keith., with dating supplied from The Milt Sparks Story in American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1992.

Sloan himself died in '75 as you know, but his patent did not expire statutorily until 1983 (date of issue plus 17 years in those days). You may have read on forums that the addition of a hammer guard to the Sloan, for Keith's holster, has been incorrectly attributed to Milt.

[rednichols]

Forgot to mention -- Heiser's designer until 1945 later was Bucheimer's designer in the 1960s when the Sloan holster was created there: Al "Kip" Kippen.

Leaving Heiser he was one of the four founders of Colorado Saddlery 1945/46, then was at Bucheimer throughout the 1960s, at which point he shifted over to the new Smith & Wesson holster company where he remained.

This helps explain the styling that the four companies have in common.

During Sloan's era, Bucheimer was quite committed to the thumb snap for retention, of which Kippen was one of the patent's two inventors. They made the right choice because the thumb snap dominated holster design until this century.

[Bat Guano]

Originally Posted by rednichols

The Sloan family won't likely be aware that 1972, Elmer was fed up with his Magnums falling out of his Gaylords (he mentions Gaylord's holster in one of your attachments) and having several Sloans on hand (demonstrated by the Keith auctions) and Milt Sparks in his living room in Salmon ID, he had Milt Sparks copy the Sloan by incorporating the adjustable feature into a holster with the features of the Gaylord (cupped hammer guard and open muzzle and increased carry angle). This is all set out in Hell I Was There by Keith., with dating supplied from The Milt Sparks Story in American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1992.

Sloan himself died in '75 as you know, but his patent did not expire statutorily until 1983 (date of issue plus 17 years in those days). You may have read on forums that the addition of a hammer guard to the Sloan, for Keith's holster, has been incorrectly attributed to Milt.

I bought my first Milt Sparks Hank Sloan holster around 1980, wore it constantly on a Sparks belt until about 1996. I replaced it with a newer version that covered the trigger guard. Still have both.

Comfortable, secure, and fast. Great setup.

[crazyphil]

Here's my Bucheimer Hank Sloan holster
with S&W model 67 Combat Masterpiece.

[crazyphil]

Originally Posted by rednichols

Larry, superbly done and matches entirely with my own research records. This obituary of Sloan's sets out his career at length and should corroborate what you have:

"Seguin (TX) a Part of H.L. Sloan's Career", The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, 13 Nov 1975.

You'll find it, as I did, on newspapers.com.

Your deduction of Sloan's holster being an elaboration on the Heiser 457 is very close, yet, with a hammer guard being on Sloan's, I'd say it's more likely that it was Heiser's 459. The former first appeared in Heiser's 1939 catalogue, and the latter in its 1951 catalogue.

On the other hand, on this forum we've determined that Threepersons holsters destined for the FBI type market, with hammer guards, go back into the 1940s by Myres. It was Myres who introduced the Tom Threepersons Style holsters beginning in 1931.

The Sloan family won't likely be aware that 1972, Elmer was fed up with his Magnums falling out of his Gaylords (he mentions Gaylord's holster in one of your attachments) and having several Sloans on hand (demonstrated by the Keith auctions) and Milt Sparks in his living room in Salmon ID, he had Milt Sparks copy the Sloan by incorporating the adjustable feature into a holster with the features of the Gaylord (cupped hammer guard and open muzzle and increased carry angle). This is all set out in Hell I Was There by Keith., with dating supplied from The Milt Sparks Story in American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1992.

Sloan himself died in '75 as you know, but his patent did not expire statutorily until 1983 (date of issue plus 17 years in those days). You may have read on forums that the addition of a hammer guard to the Sloan, for Keith's holster, has been incorrectly attributed to Milt.

To illustrate your point about Heiser's 457 & 459, here, below
on the left is an old triple H Heiser with no marked model
number. However it is identical to the model 457 shown 2nd
from left.

3rd from left is the 459 with hammer protector.

[lw]

Thank you all for your input gents. I appreciate it.
larry wack

[jimmyj]

In the era 1962-1963 I purchased a Bucheimer "Federal Man"holster for my issue Model 10 4" .38 Spl. Revolver.
This was he first high ride thumb snap holster in my area.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by jimmyj

In the era 1962-1963 I purchased a Bucheimer "Federal Man"holster for my issue Model 10 4" .38 Spl. Revolver.
This was he first high ride thumb snap holster in my area.

Excellent. Bucheimer's preceding thumbsnap was this one; I briefly held one in my collection:

bucheimer thumb snap (5).jpg

bucheimer thumb snap (6).jpg

1957 bucheimer.jpg Bucheimer's 1957 catalogue.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by Bat Guano

I bought my first Milt Sparks Hank Sloan holster around 1980, wore it constantly on a Sparks belt until about 1996. I replaced it with a newer version that covered the trigger guard. Still have both.

Comfortable, secure, and fast. Great setup.

Sparks, back in Milt's time and now in Tony's, have long been happy to take credit for using Sloan's invention in that particular holster. But they have been unable to produce for me, any permission they had from Sloan to use it or evidence of paying him (or his heirs) the 5% royalty (calculated) that he was earning from Bucheimer until the patent expired 1983. That's a solid ten year period (since 1972 as mentioned) of using another man's patented invention for free.

sparks historical (1)a.jpg from an early Sparks catalogue. The description reads in part "it has the Hank Sloan welt that can be tightened"

[SG-688]

The article needs a picture of the Hank Sloan marking on the reverse of the early holsters. The later ones have only a "normal" Bucheimer model mark.

The only other holster that comes to mind having something similar is the late production Hume Jordan holsters.

Plus a couple of ads for the fun of it. The Federal Man prior to the new 1970 Federal Man had the outer strap sewn on rather than integral to the holster. The early Safariland 29 was the same way.

One interesting statement in the article is that one holster was at some point intended to work for both S&W and Colt revolvers.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by SG-688

The article needs a picture of the Hank Sloan marking on the reverse of the early holsters. The later ones have only a "normal" Bucheimer model mark.

The only other holster that comes to mind having something similar is the late production Hume Jordan holsters.

Plus a couple of ads for the fun of it. The Federal Man prior to the new 1970 Federal Man had the outer strap sewn on rather than integral to the holster. The early Safariland 29 was the same way.

One interesting statement in the article is that one holster was at some point intended to work for both S&W and Colt revolvers.

I will 'see' your early Sloan and raise you a really early one:

sloan pat pend (2).jpg Filed in Jan '65, issued May '66; so this one is in between.

sloan pat pend (3).jpg Note the square hardware nut vs a teenut, which may have been the very first use of the teenut on holsters (it's actually a timber item).

sloan pat pend (1).jpg the pointed corner of the leather, next to the adjustment screw, is seen in the drawing for it in an original ad, but not in general production.

And then a really late one:

sloan production (2).jpg notice that even the belt loop closure stitch pattern is different.

[SG-688]

Later still, maybe. The quality of this HS-8 is notably less good than my brown HS-7 with the Hank Sloan label. The top loop stich is parallel.

So -- does the S on that HS-7S marking mean that extra strap is really original? I've seen that or other similar pictures and guessed the strap was added.

And - to make it easily searchable - the fit chart.

HS1 = S&W J Chief Special, Charter Arms 2”
HS2 = Colt D Det. Special, Cobra 2”
HS3 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 2”
HS4 = S&W J Chief Special, Charter Arms 3”
HS5 = Colt Detective Special 3”
HS6 = S&W N .357, Colt Python 4”
HS7 = S&W M&P, Colt OP, Colt .357 4”
HS8 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 5”
HS9 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 6”
HS10 = Colt Python, S&W .357 2 ½”

Grrr. I came up with that chart 2-3 years ago for the Bucheimer fit chart thread. I forgot about the mixed frame sizes.
No way a Colt E/I frame would fit in my HS-7.

[-db-]

Originally Posted by rednichols

I will 'see' your early Sloan and raise you a really early one:

Attachment 321882 Filed in Jan '65, issued May '66; so this one is in between.

Attachment 321883 Note the square hardware nut vs a teenut, which may have been the very first use of the teenut on holsters (it's actually a timber item).

Attachment 321884 the pointed corner of the leather, next to the adjustment screw, is seen in the drawing for it in an original ad, but not in general production.

I thought I recognized that one.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by -db-

I thought I recognized that one.

Good catch :-). I don't pretend these are my images or pics of my own holsters. It is one of the considerations -- I won't call them 'issues', which is another word for 'problem' -- for The Book for which John Witty is providing the bulk of the pics: can't use someone else's pics for profit without their permission unless no copyright attaches. So what ends up in the book must be either those with permission, or that are in the public domain.

I understand that the folk at Sparks have a very early Sloan, too. Perhaps even a prototype. Makes sense, maybe it came from Elmer Keith via Milt himself (see my earlier story on that).

Always a pleasure.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by SG-688

Later still, maybe. The quality of this HS-8 is notably less good than my brown HS-7 with the Hank Sloan label. The top loop stich is parallel.

So -- does the S on that HS-7S marking mean that extra strap is really original? I've seen that or other similar pictures and guessed the strap was added.

And - to make it easily searchable - the fit chart.

HS1 = S&W J Chief Special, Charter Arms 2”
HS2 = Colt D Det. Special, Cobra 2”
HS3 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 2”
HS4 = S&W J Chief Special, Charter Arms 3”
HS5 = Colt Detective Special 3”
HS6 = S&W N .357, Colt Python 4”
HS7 = S&W M&P, Colt OP, Colt .357 4”
HS8 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 5”
HS9 = S&W M&P, Colt OP 6”
HS10 = Colt Python, S&W .357 2 ½”

Grrr. I came up with that chart 2-3 years ago for the Bucheimer fit chart thread. I forgot about the mixed frame sizes.
No way a Colt E/I frame would fit in my HS-7.

Your 'later still' image reminds: these don't have the patent number marked on them. But Bucheimer ran until at least 1985 and the patent made it almost that far, too. There will be a reason, and we can try to work it out :-).

[turnerriver]

Some related information:
First is a photo of Hank Sloan with a familiar revolver. I have a record showing a pair of these being shipped to Hank in 1949.

Next is a letter from Hank to then Col. George Van Orden of Evaluators Ltd. regarding the development of the Combat Masterpiece revolver.

The next letter is from now Brigadier General Van Orden to Heiser regarding convincing the FBI to switch from B.T. Crump to Heiser as the supplier of holsters.

These photos show the two Evaluators stamps with & without the FBI imprint. Note that one of the holsters is stitched at the top & one is riveted. This was a point of discussion in additional correspondence between Evaluators & Heiser.


As has been noted, Larry's website is a treasure trove of information and a fascinating way to spend as much time as you can absorbing FBI history.
Regards,
turnerriver

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by turnerriver

Some related information:
First is a photo of Hank Sloan with a familiar revolver. I have a record showing a pair of these being shipped to Hank in 1949.

Next is a letter from Hank to then Col. George Van Orden of Evaluators Ltd. regarding the development of the Combat Masterpiece revolver.

The next letter is from now Brigadier General Van Orden to Heiser regarding convincing the FBI to switch from B.T. Crump to Heiser as the supplier of holsters.

These photos show the two Evaluators stamps with & without the FBI imprint. Note that one of the holsters is stitched at the top & one is riveted. This was a point of discussion in additional correspondence between Evaluators & Heiser.


As has been noted, Larry's website is a treasure trove of information and a fascinating way to spend as much time as you can absorbing FBI history.
Regards,
turnerriver

Gorgeous. But for every clue, another question. Sloan is referring to Quick Draw shoulder holsters, yet I'm not aware of one (?) and Heiser generally reserved that term for its belt holsters (and your holster images show the marks on belt holsters).

The M. Ross Masson Co. still exists (no, I didn't know prior, I looked it up just now):

MRoss Masson

[crazyphil]

Originally Posted by rednichols

Gorgeous. But for every clue, another question. Sloan is referring to Quick Draw shoulder holsters, yet I'm not aware of one (?) and Heiser generally reserved that term for its belt holsters (and your holster images show the marks on belt holsters).

The M. Ross Masson Co. still exists (no, I didn't know prior, I looked it up just now):

MRoss Masson

I have that Evaluators holster on the left in my collection, thanks
to the generosity of our friend turnerriver.

The 3 letters FBI are ground out as instructed by General
Van Orden in the 3rd paragraph of his letter above.

It is made by Heiser model number 459. Same as the 457
except it has the hammer shield.

Below the model number there is CH 2 which undoubtedly
means made for S&W Chief with 2" barrel.

I don't have a vintage Chief, so I use it to carry my little
vintage Charter Undercover. (It starts with CH too).

Shown below with a model 94 Taurus.