ARE "DOG EARS" UNUSUAL?

crazyphil · #1 03-30-2018, 03:57 AM

The other day a lady made a comment about a holster, saying
it has an unusual flap covering the hammer. I told her that it is
not unusual at all.

Way back in the 1930s FBI Agents and other law enforcement
folks wore suits. The hammer spur on their revolvers would
shread the lining of their suit jacket. Some of them would slip
a rubber pencil eraser over the spur to protect their jacket.

By the early 1940s, some smart maker had developed the
"dog ear". I'm still not positive who it was, but it's probably
not too important. Some of the earliest photos are in Myres
catalogs.

Most of the makers called the gadget a hammer protector, but
actually the purpose is not to protect the hammer. Others
called it a hammer guard. That's better. Tex Shoemaker got
it right. He called it a clothing protector. I believe it was the
Texas Rangers who called it a "dog ear". That's the one I like.

I was kinda fascinated with the "dog ear" holsters, so I started
collecting them. To date I have them by about 29 different
makers. Although they are not easy to find, they are not all
that unusual either.

My latest acquisition is the Maverick paddle shown below
with thanks and appreciation to my friend -db-

It is shown hosting my little vintage Charter Undercover.
The knife is a Puma Prince. The belt is by Simply Rugged.
The buckle has the silver dollar of my birth year (1935).

keith44spl · #2 03-30-2018, 04:29 AM

Phil,

I sometime sport a dog ear.

clang444 · #3 03-30-2018, 09:24 AM

Here is one sold by Colt:

It's for a 3" Detective Special, but my 3" 60-10 fits nicely and the flap also guards the adjustable sights.

crazyphil · #4 03-30-2018, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clang444

Here is one sold by Colt:

It's for a 3" Detective Special, but my 3" 60-10 fits nicely and the flap also guards the adjustable sights.

That one from Colt was made by Wally Wolfram.
I have one just like it in the 2" version.
Neat holster.

cbore · #5 03-30-2018, 02:36 PM

I remember the sights on my Browning Hi power ripping the inside of two sports coats at Court appearances. The model 60 and 66 we were issued didn't help. So can't blame it on a auto, a non-SW revolver. Still carry my revolver only to old to feel like I need the extra rounds

REM 3200 · #6 03-30-2018, 02:48 PM

ARE "DOG EARS" UNUSUAL?

No Phil, I don't think they are. Every dog has a pair of them.

ISCS Yoda · #7 03-30-2018, 02:50 PM

I have dog ears around all the time.

Sorry. Hard to resist.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

LoboGunLeather · #8 03-30-2018, 04:46 PM

The extension of the holster body forming a shield over the hammer to protect suit coat and jacket linings is generally credited to Hank Sloan, who also was one of the pioneers in applying adjustable tension adjustment screws to the holster body.

Many holster makers produced holsters with these features from about 1960 to about 1985 or so, when semi-auto pistols seemed to dominate the market and LEO's started retiring their revolvers.

My avatar displays one of my personal holsters for a 6" Model 19 featuring the Hank Sloan style hammer guard.

crazyphil · #9 03-30-2018, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM 3200

ARE "DOG EARS" UNUSUAL?

No Phil, I don't think they are. Every dog has a pair of them.

Yep I've got 2 pair running around my house.
And by the way, thank you for your service.
4 and 4 was enough for me. 4 active & reserve.

crazyphil · #10 03-30-2018, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISCS Yoda

I have dog ears around all the time.

Sorry. Hard to resist.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Me too, and I'm quite fond of the living breathing (and barking)
kind.

crazyphil · #11 03-30-2018, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoboGunLeather

The extension of the holster body forming a shield over the hammer to protect suit coat and jacket linings is generally credited to Hank Sloan, who also was one of the pioneers in applying adjustable tension adjustment screws to the holster body.

Many holster makers produced holsters with these features from about 1960 to about 1985 or so, when semi-auto pistols seemed to dominate the market and LEO's started retiring their revolvers.

My avatar displays one of my personal holsters for a 6" Model 19 featuring the Hank Sloan style hammer guard.

It is a common mis-conception Ray, that Hank Sloan invented
the "dog ear".
His patent was for the adjustable welt not the hammer protector.
Myres, Heiser, and Wally Wolfram all had holsters with dog
ears long before Hank Sloan.
A lot of folks have come to refer to the Hank Sloan style.
Probably because Bucheimer sold so darn many of them.
The FBI was issuing holster from Evaluators (Heiser) and
Crump with hammer protectors in the early 1950s. Hank's
holster didn't come along until the 1960s.

Here below is a beautiful T3P with dog ear that you made for
me several years ago, on the left.

2nd from left is an old Myres #624
made earlier, but I believe in 1950 catalog.

3rd from left a Heiser #459
from the 1950s.

4th from left a very old Wolf by Wolfram,
probably late 1940s.

5th from left a Hank Sloan by Bucheimer from
the 1960s.

digi-shots · #12 04-03-2018, 08:07 AM

Here's 2 that I have... J Frame and N Frame:

turnerriver · #13 04-03-2018, 11:10 AM

This Myres catalog cut is from a pre-war catalog-1940 I think, I'm away from home & can't check. It is the earliest cataloged hammer protector I've found.

Early post-war, 1950 maybe.

Regards,
turnerriver

bruce5781 · #14 04-03-2018, 01:17 PM

Heiser K frame dogear.
Edit: Maybe Myres, I'll have to look.

boykinlp · #15 04-03-2018, 11:52 PM

I don't have one of this style holster for my collection yet. It is not through lack of trying though. One thing I have found out about them is that they must be made of gold!!

The auction prices for them gets really high!