RED NICHOLS GUNBELT

crazyphil · #1 01-04-2018, 05:12 PM

If you follow this gun leather forum you may remember Red
Nichols referring to me as a lucky b------. He was/is right because I am his friend.

When he made the replica of Tom Threeperson's personal holster he gave me the
#1 proto-type. Then when he developed the Brill-Persons he gave me the first one.

Most recently, Red thought I needed a Ranger style gunbelt for
the Brill-Persons, and of course he was right. The mail lady
brought it just an hour or so ago.

In the May/June edition of American Handgunner, Roy Huntington,
the editor, commented on Red's belts saying "It feels like the
curvy leather belt you've worn for 30 years - but it's new."
I couldn't say it any better. That's how it is.

I believe Roy referred to Red's belts as "triple curve" or
"sidewinder" because it has the curve at the back, that all
good gun belts have, but it also curves up over the hips on
both sides.

The belt is light and flexible enough, but it keeps the holstered
gun in position and it does not sag. It fits perfectly buckled
into one of the middle holes.

I wish my photgraphic skills were as good as Red's leather
working skills, but the two photos below will give you a rough
idea, until I can do better.

On the left is the Brill-Persons on the belt holding my Colt's
1911 Gold Cup. 2nd from left the belt will work just as well
with the Tom Threeperson's personal holster.

I don't know what Red charges for a belt like this, because it is
a gift. (I know. I'm a lucky b------.) But whatever he charges
it is worth it.

I was seriously thinking about changing my handle from crazyphil
to luckyphil. But then I got this damn cancer on my ear. They
are going to cut it off on the 12th. (i'm not always so lucky.)

6518John · #2 01-04-2018, 05:19 PM

Simply amazing! Beautiful, beautiful leather.

bmcgilvray · #3 01-04-2018, 05:48 PM

A real gun belt is so important. I see so many on another firearms forum who obviously haven't learned that and are struggling with a belt never designed for the load it is being asked to tote.

Looks good as does that 1911 holster.

Now you have some good luck with treatment of that cancer, ya' hear?!!!

les.b · #4 01-04-2018, 06:03 PM

That is one magnificent outfit you have there, Phil!! Red is a good man and a good friend.

Hope that all goes well with your ear surgery. Thanks for sharing with your forum friends...and Happy New Year!!

Best Regards, Les

jinx · #5 01-04-2018, 06:09 PM

You are a lucky b******!

Kansasgunner · #6 01-04-2018, 06:10 PM

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and that’s a really nice belt!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

oysterer · #7 01-04-2018, 06:47 PM

nice piece of kit, don't worry about the ear, you will be ok!

crazyphil · #8 01-04-2018, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oysterer

nice piece of kit, don't worry about the ear, you will be ok!

I'm not worrying. Like I told the Doc I don't particularly like
what I've been hearing anyway.

Old TexMex · #9 01-04-2018, 09:46 PM

Beautiful rig, Phil. That’s the work of a master, no doubt.
Here’s best for the surgery, too.
Jim

rednichols · #10 01-04-2018, 10:30 PM

Phil, they're cutting off the cancer, not the ear, I hope!

Phil does leave out some of the fun bits, in his tales. His belt is fitted with a period Roy Rogers belt buckle and matching metal keeper: each has Roy's RR brand imprinted into the metal. Both are from the 'junior cowboy' sets of the 1950s, and were stripped, polished, and re-plated a decade or so ago when I did reproduction sets.

The belt has the longitudinal basketweave that was Brill's trademark. Much harder to do than what is traditional these days though (so, as on his holster).

Original Brills, and Phil's Brillpersons, were/are fitted quite closely to the narrow belts they were worn on.

I don't make either the holster or the belt for commercial sale. 'What's life without whimsey?", Dr. Sheldon Cooper once said.

crazyphil · #11 01-04-2018, 11:01 PM

I did admire the buckle, and the keeper, but I was too dense to
think of Roy Rogers. I wondered for a minute what the RR represented.

The drawing the Doc showed me looks like they are taking about half
of my ear. Then test and take more if they need to. They said they
would send me to a plastic surgeon after, but I told them no thanks.
At my age looks are not that important. People will just think I was once
in the ring with Mike Tyson.

DevilDog72 · #12 01-05-2018, 12:41 AM

That is a fine pair of rigs....your all set for a big Texas BBQ.
Red is a very generous fellow.
Snubbyfan is making a BBQ gun belt to go with my holsters, can't wait to see how it works out.
Good luck with the surgery Pard

rednichols · #13 01-05-2018, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

I did admire the buckle, the keeper and the tip, but I was too dense to
think of Roy Rogers. I wondered for a minute what the RR represented.

The drawing the Doc showed me looks like they are taking about half
of my ear. Then test and take more if they need to. They said they
would send me to a plastic surgeon after, but I told them no thanks.
At my age looks are not that important. People will just think I was once
in the ring with Mike Tyson.

Pic of an original condition RR buckle and keeper set (Phil's is polished and re-plated). The running R was Roy Roger's ranch brand.

rr buckle w keeper.jpg

Say, your ear surgeon tale makes me think about the Original Tin Woodman of OZ. If you know the legend, he (TW, not your surgeon) was a woodcutter and that's why he carries an axe. As a human he falls for the beautiful daughter of a witch, who, not liking that idea much, curses his axe to cut off part of his body each time he swings it. Our hero attends the local tinsmith to have each part replaced -- until he is made entirely of tin.

So, is there any particular part of your body, in addition to your ear, that you would like to have made of solid metal whilst you're in there?

No, no, Phil, not your heart, you'll get a new one from the Wizard of OZ himself :-).

crazyphil · #14 01-05-2018, 08:51 AM

Here are a couple of closer shots of that beautiful buckle.
Sorry about the fuzz.

According to the Doc's drawing, I will look kinda
like an elf when done. After it heals I will try to
get a picture and post it for all to see the handsome
new me.

jeeps · #15 01-05-2018, 09:06 AM

World class art! Best in class with class.

dcopper · #16 01-05-2018, 06:37 PM

Beautiful Outfits. Remember Gods got this!

RobertJ. · #17 01-05-2018, 07:11 PM

Nothing compliments a nice handgun better than a beautiful holster!

Sorry about your cancer, I'll pray that your surgery goes well.

Funny, the song "Colorado Kool-Aid" comes to mind...

jeeps · #18 01-05-2018, 07:14 PM

God bless and may our Good Lord ,bless you and enable the doctors and medicine cure you. I have been cancer free for 12 years,Amen!

rog8732 · #19 01-05-2018, 07:36 PM

That holster for the 1911 is a thing of beauty. The design absolutely "flows".

I'm wondering if Red ever set up a holster or belt design that called for leather braided work ? Either as decoration or binding edges ?

crazyphil · #20 01-19-2018, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednichols

Pic of an original condition RR buckle and keeper set (Phil's is polished and re-plated). The running R was Roy Roger's ranch brand.

Attachment 319398

Say, your ear surgeon tale makes me think about the Original Tin Woodman of OZ. If you know the legend, he (TW, not your surgeon) was a woodcutter and that's why he carries an axe. As a human he falls for the beautiful daughter of a witch, who, not liking that idea much, curses his axe to cut off part of his body each time he swings it. Our hero attends the local tinsmith to have each part replaced -- until he is made entirely of tin.

So, is there any particular part of your body, in addition to your ear, that you would like to have made of solid metal whilst you're in there?

No, no, Phil, not your heart, you'll get a new one from the Wizard of OZ himself :-).

I posted an EAR UPDATE. The Moderator moved it over to the
Lounge. Lots of likes and well wishes. Thanks to all.

Got my stitches out today. There were two growths. The larger
one was a garden variety cancer. They got all of it. The smaller
one they said is "wierd", The Sawbones and the Pathologist
are going to have a conference. I might have to go back and
give them a little more of my ear. I told the Dr. if I had a pup
I wouldn't cut his tail off a little bit at a time. I'd take it all at
once.