So I’m in the local pawn shop this morning and sitting in a pile on the counter is a bunch of old leather - belts, holsters, etc. This one was amongst the rest. It looked like it would fit a K frame so we tried it out with one in the display case and the fit was perfect. As it happens, I have an older Combat Masterpiece that I thought might work OK so I asked him “How much?” He said “Make an offer,” so I said “$10.” That worked for him so I brought it home. It’s had a little use but the leather is supple with no cracking and the stitching is 100%. I think I did pretty good on it for $10. Your thoughts?





By the way, if any of you have any idea when this might have been made I’d appreciate any information you might provide.

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Everybody could shoot

At $10 you stole it. Go back and pay the man the rest of his money

Wanna triple your money

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On the Oak Savannah

I sure hope you had your mask on. That was robbery. That holster was
probably made by Newt Rabensberg after 1932. It is easily worth ten
times what you paid for it on a bad day. Twice that on a better day.
It is definately a keeper.

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In Omnia Paratus

nice catch !

Wyo,
That is definitely quite a deal! It looks to be in really good shape too. Please show us a picture of the back of your gem. BTW, I would guess that it would bring about $200 in an auction. Nice Brill's are difficult to find these days.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Great looking brill hard to come by as already mentioned. One question
Did it have a strap and snap at one time, it appears in the photo to have a hole where a snap may have been at one time.

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SWHF #595

Nice find Wyo! Can we see a photo of the back?

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Tim
SWCA #2697

Big bonus, it’s carved and not the more common Basketweave which makes a massively collectible holster even better.

WOW! Put me in the 'jump on it camp"!! A bit of cleaning and a couple coats of ' TAN KOTE' will make a WORLD of difference. CONCRATS!!!

Here’s the backside. No markings that I can see but everything is nice and solid. No cracks or tears. Andy52 asked if it had a snap/strap at one time. Actually, it still does but the female half on the holster is gone. I might try to replace it some time. Kings Saddlery is here and I’m sure they could do it.

Attached Images

26D64068-7ECD-4C81-91E2-CEEB019216F2.jpg (45.7 KB, 117 views)

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Everybody could shoot

Well, I normally don't do "black" holsters, boots, belts, etc., but that is a really nice looking holster. You must have a bit of larceny in you for that purchase. Nice job!

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Kevin in Oregon

I believe the stitching will help someone smarter than me to give you an idea of when it was built and by whom.

The original holster probably did not have a strap. They were built without them and the fit of the welt to the frame of the gun was the only retention needed.

Also, the rivets are not original. It appears the owner decided he wanted a holster that rode lower on the belt so added to the cuff.

I do like the carving and my boots and belts are black so when you tire of it, get in touch. Of course, I will need to find a K frame.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

crazyphil is spot on, that holster was made by Rabensburg. The cuff was added after the fact, likely to make the holster fit a duty belt. AW Brill holsters were usually made for 1” or 1 1/4” pants belts. You got a great deal on it even with the modification.

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Tim
SWCA #2697

Here are my AW Brills, for 4 & 6 inch K frames and 4 inch LH N frame. The N was made prior to 1932 by a different maker whose name escapes me.

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Tim
SWCA #2697

If your willing to try to put the snap on yourself I've got plenty I could send you in brass or nickel, just PM me your mailing address.
I'm pretty sure the one missing on the outside of the holster would be the "male" half of the snap.

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SWHF #595

Something strange about the modification with rivets. It now fits a wider belt than usual Brills. I think Red Nichols said Brills for wider belts always had the cuff around the holster in the same place with the fender folding over at a higher point (like this holster) to accommodate a wider belt. I’m trying to figure how the fender in back in original yet there’s a piece added riveted to it. Can you take a picture of the inside of the holster without the gun?

Nice pick there Jeff. Them ol boys in Sheridan are going to have to learn to watch out for you...

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Eccentric old coot

That's the steal of the century -- a carved Brill in good shape for $10.

Congrats!

Sure. See attached. It appears to me that the inside of the holster was not changed but the fender was modified as shown in the second photo.

Attached Images

	92732247-BD55-4A5B-8D14-F7CF42F533FE.jpeg (79.6 KB, 45 views)
	314FF9C1-7D01-4020-A29C-89402C4279D1.jpeg (75.6 KB, 49 views)

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Everybody could shoot

This holster seems unusual because there is no evidence that I can see that there was ever a “fender” lining going down into then stitched to the inner holster. Look at the back and the top original fender has no stitch holes. But the rest of the fender it’s riveted to IS lined! I wonder if this holster was modified by Rabensburg himself. Or someone used a partial fender from a trashed Brill holster and riveted it on. If the fender was never originally lined, maybe that is a way to date the holster. I never saw a K frame S&W on a belt that wide which was probably packed with rifle AND pistol ammo. Why else have such a wide belt like this holster was modified to fit?

Wow!!! Just Wow!!! Sincerely. bruce.

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