Just won this a few minutes ago . Guessing it's a Heiser but not 100% on that . Opinions ? Looks like it was slotted to strap it on to something , maybe a steering column . Marked for a 6" Officers Model .

Eddie

Attached Images

	HeiserOM6.jpg (111.1 KB, 150 views)
	HeiserOM6#2.jpg (71.3 KB, 131 views)
	HeiserOM6#3.jpg (127.0 KB, 112 views)
	HeiserOM6#4.jpg (115.8 KB, 125 views)
	HeiserOM6#5.jpg (148.0 KB, 108 views)

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

You can pull the holster out of the pocket and see if the Heiser Maker's Mark is hidden underneath somewhere. I don't think I have ever seen a Heiser holster that was not marked by them. Hopefully, John will be along soon to help.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Saw that one. Agree with Boykin, not really a Heiser without their mark (which the company actually states in its old catalogues).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

The etching of OM 6 looks very much like markings I have seen
before on very old Heisers, but I have never seen a Heiser that
didn't have their maker mark.

But, I have heard, there is a first time for everything.

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In Omnia Paratus

I had the same thought as Phil. The "handwriting" looks just like others we've seen. I'm a weirdo who notices tiny details like this.

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SWHF #448

Not so weird. I call it diligence.

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In Omnia Paratus

I'm confident there will be a Heiser stamp on the toe of the holster skirt. I believe it is a Heiser model 512, I'll be surprised if it is not marked.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Like Phil said , not weird at all . That's what made me bid . Every Heiser marked for the OM6 looks like it was done by the same hand . I didn't think the seller knew where to look for the makers mark and I just happen to have an Officere Model Target so I took a small (very) chance and won .

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Just for the record, every Heiser I've ever owned with an 'OM' marking was actually a better fit for an N frame than an Officer's Model or K frame. I've got a few marked OM5 and OM6, and they're all too big for anything smaller than an N frame.

I'll be curious to see what that one actually fits (best). I'd guess it's a number 513 - if indeed it is a Heiser. Time will tell....

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Tracking shows its out for delivery in Minor Hill so I will have it within the next couple of hours .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Those slots that you referred to are, I believe, for the following:
Top slots for a piece of rawhide to go over the hammer to keep the gun
from falling out and to keep the hammer down.
Bottom slots for a piece of rawhide to go around leg for quick draw practice.

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In Omnia Paratus

Phil , the top slots are in the back flap . That would be the worse possible place for a hammer thong . It should be in the body of the holster and is almost always a single hole right in front of the hammer . I give you a maybe on the lower holes being for some form of tie down . Should be here anytime now my mail is almost never later than 1:30 .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

It has the 1910-1925 makers mark like the one pictured below and is marked 511 and OM 6 1/2 . My 6 1/2" second model HE .44 fits just about right except having to carefully wiggle the Wonder Sight in due to the adjustment knob on the side . Don't understand the OM reference in regards to what is obviously an N frame holster . The other holster I bought awhile back was marked OM 6 and fits my Officers Model Target just like it should and wears the same makers mark . I can say that I am more than happy with this holster for the less than $50 price I gave for it . I'll clean it up and treat it this week and maybe post some more pictures .

Eddie

Attached Images

heiser-mark12.jpg (28.3 KB, 57 views)

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

The 1910-1925 makers mark came from Vintage Gunleather I
believe. It is not entirely reliable. turnerriver has said he has
seen exceptions.

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In Omnia Paratus

You are correct on the Vintage Gunleather, I borrowed their picture because I knew exactly where it was and didn't want to have to hunt for it elsewhere. I'm not normally lazy but I can be when I want to .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

I've been curious about it ever since I got my first one with the OM marking. It's a #718 that fits my 5" HD perfectly. That one also has the 'bar-oval' maker's mark, but the holster just doesn't look - or feel like a piece of pre-1925 gunleather. As I said earlier, every Heiser I have or have seen marked 'OM' has been a perfect fit for an N frame.

I also question some of the info on the VGL site. They don't even know what most of their holsters fit. I tried to buy a holster from the original owner of VGL years ago, but raised the price - not once, but twice, so I pretty much told him what he could do with it.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Mark, I expected it to fit the OM Target like the other one did but couldn't be more pleased that you were right . MY .44 now has a good looking vintage holster instead of the plain newer Hunter that was all I could find to fit it . ...... I love this holster ,... But I won't be Boning it !

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

I had a similar experience with VGL several years ago. Paid
dearly for an old vintage holster. Didn't fit what they said it
would fit. Wrote a letter complaining a little bit and asking
what they might do. (Paper letter at that time) They didn't
even answer me. That was my last purchase from them.

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In Omnia Paratus

Here's an example of the bar-oval marking that couldn't possibly be from the 1910-1925 era. It's marked for a K-22, and K-22's didn't arrive 'till 1931.

photo by forum member 'bulletslap'


Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Anybody want to hazard a guess as to a ballpark age ? It actually is, as stated in the auction,.. brown . Dark but not approaching the black that it is pictured as . If I can find the picture of the one for my Officers Model I will post it below , they are pretty much the same color .

Eddie

Attached Images

Heiser1.jpg (41.2 KB, 38 views)

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Looks pretty much like regular ol' Heiser brown with 80 some years of dirt and grime to me. My wild guess would be it's from the 30's, and it's a # 507. Might even fit a 6-1/2" N frame.

I'd like to see before and after pics after you clean it up.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Mark

It's a 511 and does as stated above fit my 6 1/2" Second Model .44 . I just throwed the dawn and water to it and found some add on marks in ink that didn't show through the dirt . They are 9 17 23 and what looks like a capitol L with a long horizontal leg forming the center bar of a capitol H . Kinda like a 4 speed shift pattern but the vertical leg of the L is longer than it would be on the shift pattern . I will try to get it to show in a picture when it is dry but you have seen my pictures so you know not to expect much . I think the Heiser pictured in the single picture is a 507 that I bought last fall . Turnerriver said it is actually rather uncommon . More pictures to come .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

I have an HH Heiser 2710 for a SAA made in the lat 30's early 40's and it is clearly marked on the back with an oval stamping

How about some pictures !

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Okay, I got confused. I thought maybe you'd just found that 507. I agree with turnerriver about that being an uncommon model. Basket weave Heisers in general tend to be much less common than you might think. Not sure I've ever seen a 507. The 407 is much more common. It's the one that usually has the bull's head stamped on the loop, and most seller's will swear and be damned that they're 'ultra rare' and ask outrageous amounts of money for. But - not all 407's have that stamping. There's also a bull's head stamped #907 that is essentially the same as the 407, except it's made from a lighter weight leather. I believe Heiser's catalogs referred to it as "medium weight".

I think the only basket weave Heisers I have are a couple of 518's, and I believe they both have the mysterious OM6 marking...

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Could OM stand for Outdoors Man or Outdoorsman Model?

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Give that man a Cigar! I think you may well be correct . Maybe the one that fits my Officers Model is just mismarked ?

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Mark ,

Here it is cleaned up but I still need to hit it with the Blackrock . Need to do a serious cleaning on the .44 also .

Eddie

Attached Images

	IMAG0152.jpg (109.1 KB, 33 views)
	IMAG0153.jpg (110.3 KB, 32 views)
	IMAG0154.jpg (105.7 KB, 28 views)

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

That's a fine lookin' pair ya got there Eddie. Now get some old lumber for that ol' shootin' iron.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Got the originals numbered to the gun . They are about past beat and I prefer the magna style . I'm kinda thinking about having it stripped , markings touched up and have it blued . Bone , Stag or Ivory if I can ever run up on a set when I got the scratch to pay for them is what I'm after .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Winne winner chicken dinner!