I love to study the history of gun leather, and the so-called Brill holster is one of my favorites. There is the legend about Lee Trimble and Tom Threepersons, over a campfire, discussing what would be the ideal holster. Tom went to S. D. Myres and Lee went to Brill to have their holsters made. Legend or fact? Our resident "holstorian" Red Nichols has written extensively on the provenance of these 2 holsters.
Butch Cassidy's Colt Single Action Army was sold at auction in 2012, along with a holster for $175,000. The holster was a beautiful floral carved Brill. You can see it on California Auctioneer's web page. The holster belonging to Butch is another interesting story, but it can't be true. The dates just don't jibe.
So what is the real story? To give credit where it is due, most of what I know I learned here on the forum. If not for all of the research Red Nichols has done for his upcoming book, and generously shared with us, I would know very little.
In 1907 John Hughes was senior captain of the Texas Rangers headquartered in Austin, Texas. Sophisticated city folks did not appreciate Rangers and others promenading around the city with their "hog legs" hanging low on their hips in open carry.
So captain Hughes paid a visit to a saddle shop, W. T. Wroe & Sons, in Austin. There he met August Brill, who at 34 years of age was a salesman in the shop. Hughes had very certain defined ideas in mind about the holster he wanted. He explained that it should be light in weight and ride high on the hip, under a suit jacket for concealment. He referred to it as a "Sunday Holster".
Eighteen year old apprentice Newt Rabensburg was given the task of building the holster.
Fast forward six years, and by 1913 both August Brill and Newt Rabensburg were in their own businesses. It has been speculated that August bought W. T. Wroe & Sons in 1914. By that time Arno, August's son, was 16 and involved in the business with his dad. Newt was moving around Texas a bit, but Brill, Rabensburg, and others, were building the "Sunday Holster" that had become so popular with Texas Rangers.
By 1932 August and Arno Brill were up to their eyeballs in a real estate development called Brillsville. So, at the request of the Brills, Rabensburg moved back to Austin and went to work right next door to the Brill's shop. Most, perhaps all, of Brill's holsters were made by Rabensburg from 1932 until he retired in 1955. He passed away in 1961.
There has been some discussion on this forum about the Brill holster and the various renditions of it. We can thank Captain Hughes for the original ideas and Newt Rabensburg for making that first edition. I don't know if there was a maker mark on it, but it would not have been Brill. Newt probably made more of them, over the years, than anyone else.
We can thank August and Arno Brill for producing this wonderful old holster that is so desired by collectors today. But we can, and should, also thank Red Nichols for digging up all of the information, that otherwise would have been left to the spinners of legends.
I had about every holster I had ever wanted in my collection, except a Brill. Several years ago I was obsessed with hammer protector holsters. When turnerriver posted a photo of a beautiful Brill with a hammer protector here on the forum, I wanted one. But I soon realized it would be next to impossible to find one, and if I did it would be extremely expensive.
Mike "Doc" Barranti made me his Ranger model and added the hammer protector. "The Ranger model takes the classic lines of the Brill rig and adds a modern twist. The holster carries the gun higher, is cut to allow a proper grip, and the band (cuff) around the body of the holster is fit to the belt." It is shown below on the left with my S&W model 19 Combat Magnum, on a Haugen belt, with my Buck knife.
For a long time I admired photos, on this forum of David Keith's work. His holsters are influenced by the Brill look, and are enthusiastically recommended by his customers. A couple of years ago, Dave made a holster for my 1911 Colt Gold Cup. Here it is, 2nd from left, with belt and mag pouch by Haugen. The knife is a Case Hammerhead.
I was still looking for a "real Brill", but what I was finding were in pitiful condition and exhorbitantly priced. But about that time two miracles occured. A little voice in my head told me to take a look at Red Nichols web page. I clicked on Custom and found his updated Brill.
I tried to order one, but he wouldn't let me pay for it. He gives them to his friends. He once referred to me, here on the forum, as a lucky b------, and I must be, because he considers me a friend.
While eagerly awaiting the arrival of Red's holster, miracle #2 occured. I got a email from another good friend, the previously mentioned turnerriver. It seems that while putting things back together after the hurricane, he found a Brill that he thought he could live without, so he sent it to me. It is shown, third from left below.
It was made for an S&W M&P with a 4" barrel, so of course it's a perfect fit for my model 10. The belt loop is only 1.25", so it's a good thing I had previously bought this $30 gunbelt for the Chic Gaylord Combat Speed Scabbard. The knife is Marbles Damascus.
Finally, 4th from left is the "Brill-Persons" Red made for me. It is shown with my 1911 Colt Gold Cup. I told Red it's the crown jewel in my collection. I believe my collection is now complete thanks to my friends here on the forum. The silver Navajo buckle on the basket weave belt was made by O. Nezzie. The knife is my Piranha.
The discussion can, and probably will, go on and on about authentic Brills, replicas, re-productions, copies, counterfeits, or whatever. I'm just calling my little foursome "My Sunday Holsters".
"MY SUNDAY HOLSTERS"
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